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PC problem ....

Posted: Sun 12 Sep 2010 10:52
by mpprh
Since returning home about 1 week ago, my PC is randomly (as far as I can tell) stopping and restarting. At first I thought it was EDF power cuts as it was after the storms, but it is still happening.

I've had this twice with new PC's. In 1987, it was caused by a faulty motherboard. In 2001 it was caused by a faulty disk drive. Both were rectified by the supplier.

Anyone got any ideas why this has suddenly started ?

Peter

Posted: Sun 12 Sep 2010 10:56
by thumbelina
Mine has been doing that about three times in the last three months. I just assumed that is was doing an automatic mise a jour :oops: :oops: :oops:

Posted: Sun 12 Sep 2010 10:58
by Kathy
It can happen if the computer is overheating due to a build up of dust. Give it a vacuum then see if it still happens.

Posted: Sun 12 Sep 2010 11:00
by thumbelina
:lol: :lol: ha ha!
That's sure to be the problem chez Thumbers then! :D :D :D

Posted: Sun 12 Sep 2010 11:09
by mpprh
Kathy wrote:It can happen if the computer is overheating due to a build up of dust. Give it a vacuum then see if it still happens.
Good thinking.

I'll do that after I've cleared Mrs mpprh's list of jobs for today.

I didn't get where I am today by playing on the PC when there are lawns to be mowed, etc .....


Peter

micro sort updates

Posted: Sun 12 Sep 2010 13:35
by bikeriderfrance
hi it just could be microsoft, downloading up dates, some require a randon reboot after install ,,(if left or not used for a week or so )..or you could have a virus which shuts down a computer after a few minutes, you should run your anti virus on the "full scan "" cdlm geoff

Computers

Posted: Mon 13 Sep 2010 06:42
by Robert Ferrieux
Why don't you all get MACs? Never any problem, no viruses, no hiccups, no tantrums, no sulking.
I have a MAC OS X 10 6 4 Snow Leopard which goes like lightning…
RF.

:D:D:D

Re: Computers

Posted: Mon 13 Sep 2010 11:27
by polremy
Robert Ferrieux wrote:Why don't you all get MACs? Never any problem, no viruses, no hiccups, no tantrums, no sulking.
I have a MAC OS X 10 6 4 Snow Leopard which goes like lightning…
RF.

:D:D:D
Exactement, Robert.
I have the same and really appreciate the speed of mine whenever I have to use a different machine.

Re: Computers

Posted: Mon 13 Sep 2010 13:49
by russell
Robert Ferrieux wrote:Why don't you all get MACs? Never any problem, no viruses, no hiccups, no tantrums, no sulking.
I have a MAC OS X 10 6 4 Snow Leopard which goes like lightning…
RF.

:D:D:D
Or keep your PC, scrap Windoze, and install Linux free of charge. See for example: http://www.pclinuxos.com/

You can keep Windoze if you're nervous and dual boot. Both MAC OS and Linux are derived from UNIX. The difference is that Linux is free, it will run on almost any hardware, and there is lots of free software to run on it, while you have to buy MAC software and it will only run on Apple hardware.

Russell.

Posted: Wed 22 Sep 2010 22:17
by mpprh
Image

Well, I removed the case, chip heat sink, hard disk drive, and power pack together with the three fans. They were filthy having run for around 12hrs per day for over 5 years. The environment was pretty vile - window left open in summer, smoking etc. So, all were cleaned and the PC reassembled. All works well, but it still reboots albeit possibly less often.

I'm loading all the stuff on to a spare lap top "just in case".

It was due for change.

I'm going to use a Dell laptop through a docking station (so existing keyboard, screen, etc) for a while.

I will have another laptop for sale shortly. It is an Acer with plug in wifi card. It is over 5 yrs old, but virtually never used ( it was a backup for audio visual presentations at university seminars and rarely needed). Think about €100 with charger, manuals, etc if anyone is interested. Ideal as a 2nd PC in a 2nd home ?

As I need to sort the reboot out to sell it, I've been to techy forums.

Seems the answer may be "thermal paste" - it is not something available in an Amsterdam sex shop, as I first thought. It is actually described here : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermal_grease "

More info here : http://tech-pc.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=72022

My local PC shop (and assembler) is on conge annuelle, so two steps forward, one step back !

I've put out feelers to get hold of this elexir

Peter

Posted: Thu 23 Sep 2010 05:38
by blackduff
Peter
You might find your thermal grease at Maplin in London.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/StoreLocator.as ... regionid=8

Blackduff

Posted: Thu 23 Sep 2010 10:44
by mpprh
Edit : I've just acquired a free tube from a secret source !

Peter

Posted: Fri 24 Sep 2010 16:04
by russell
There are many possible causes of the system rebooting itself. CPU temperature is one of them. Have you checked the CPU temperature? You can download a little program to monitor the temperature here: http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php
Alternatively you may be able to monitor the temperature in BIOS depending on the version.
The CPU temperature should stay below about 60C.

Another common cause is a virus. What OS are you running? If it is Windows try running a full virus scan.

Another possibility is a piece of software crashing the system. There is a setting under control panel (Windows XP) system settings that gives you a choice of automatically rebooting if there is a system failure so you could disable it but the cause will remain.

Memory failure is another possibility. If you have more than one memory module installed try removing one and see if the problem goes away. If not replace it and remove the other and try again.

Have fun!

Russell

Posted: Fri 24 Sep 2010 19:17
by mpprh
The BIOS confirmed that it was overheating.

Don't know if that was the cause - I am re-assembling it at the moment


Peter

Posted: Sat 25 Sep 2010 08:36
by mpprh
Image

Seems to have worked. The CPU is running at 50C - 55C instead of 80C+ , and no reboots so far.

The thermic paste is a high tech device with 8 pages of notes about it's use :

http://www.arcticsilver.com/pdf/appmeth ... t_v1.1.pdf

Thanks for the help and ideas.

Peter