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General discussion (archive)My PC just randomly restarted...(40 posts)solved(40 posts)solved
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Posted October 05, 2012
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haydenaurion: Here's the scratch in question. http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/259/mbdamage.jpg/

I've seen some suggestions about going into safe mode and such, what should I do?
This might sound disheartening, but it's usually really difficult to pinpoint the source of the problem, and might take ages and a bunch of money. It took me 4 months of buying extra components and checking by switching a component at a time before I came to the conclusion that it must be the motherboard, and I went and bought a cheap new one (that could handle the components) to test if it was the case. After that, I returned the faulty motherboard to the store, they tested it and came to the same conclusion. The testing took 4 months because the problem went away for some time every now and then, and I thought I had fixed it multiple times.

I later gave the testing components to someone I know who was building their own computer (or rather collecting components for one. I was the one who put it together :p ). Testing that way was slightly expensive, but at least the components found use later. Might not be the most optimal way, but it's the one I know.

It's really unfortunate that it happened with your first self-built PC.
Posted October 05, 2012
If you're concerned about shorting the mobo through the standoff, install a non-metallic washer between the standoff and mobo. If you don't have specifically any tiny plastic or bakelite washers made for this purpose (in the old days, you'd get some with the mobo), you can pick something up from Ace Hardware (check near the plumbing parts).

Other than that, try the free stuff first:

Linux boot CD
Memtest86 boot CD
re-seat cables and components (especially if you keep hearing the noise)
remove the video card and switch to integrated graphics (if your hardware allows)
ditto sound card if you have one
disconnect all drives but the hard drive
power cable tight? (yes, it could be that simple)

Are you overclocking? If so, try going back to defaults.

Are you running on a decent UPS / battery back-up (NOT a power strip or surge-suppressor)? If so, then the UPS will scream at you if you're getting power blips from the wall and you can probably rule out the incoming power if it stays silent. If not, try another power outlet. And get an UPS.
Posted October 05, 2012
This might be a silly question (I am very non-technical), but my previous laptop did the same, shutting down and restarting windows, it turned out that the fan was blocked so it kept overheating and when it reached a certain temperature it restarted. Are your core temperatures OK?
Posted October 05, 2012
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amok: This might be a silly question (I am very non-technical), but my previous laptop did the same, shutting down and restarting windows, it turned out that the fan was blocked so it kept overheating and when it reached a certain temperature it restarted. Are your core temperatures OK?
I also had that problem a few computers ago. At least that'd be my first guess.
Posted October 05, 2012
As others have mentioned, it could be many things.

Were you doing anything when it restarted? Anything graphics intensive?
How long have you had this computer?
Have you dusted it out lately?
Have you added any hardware to it recently?

You might check the Event Viewer to see if anything happens before the restart that looks suspicious.
Posted October 05, 2012
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amok: This might be a silly question (I am very non-technical), but my previous laptop did the same, shutting down and restarting windows, it turned out that the fan was blocked so it kept overheating and when it reached a certain temperature it restarted. Are your core temperatures OK?
I think my temps and fans are ok, check my stats in my first post. I have the PC backed off from the wall and while I do have a shelf above the top case fan it should still be clear enough.
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adambiser: As others have mentioned, it could be many things.

Were you doing anything when it restarted? Anything graphics intensive?
How long have you had this computer?
Have you dusted it out lately?
Have you added any hardware to it recently?

You might check the Event Viewer to see if anything happens before the restart that looks suspicious.
I was posting on the GOG forums when it restarted, just before I clicked to confirm a post.
I've barely had the PC a week.
Haven't had it long enough to need to dust it. I checked inside and the only thing I found that might be causing this is there was a black cord touching one of the unused connector pins on the motherboard.
The only thing I added were my old Dell speakers which connect via audio cable and USB, Windows did give me a warning about a power surge to the USB 3.0 port in the back that the speakers were connected to, but the next time I started up the PC the warning was gone and never came back so I figured it was a Windows fluke.
Post edited October 05, 2012 by haydenaurion
Posted October 05, 2012
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adambiser: You might check the Event Viewer to see if anything happens before the restart that looks suspicious.
Can you give a detailed instructions on how to get to Event Viewer? I'm not even sure the PC will stay running long enough.
Posted October 05, 2012
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haydenaurion: Can you give a detailed instructions on how to get to Event Viewer? I'm not even sure the PC will stay running long enough.
Click the round Windows logo at the (usually) down left corner, type "event viewer" in the search bar that appears right above it, and pick the program.

/edit: you can just press enter after typing it
Post edited October 05, 2012 by Adzeth
Posted October 05, 2012
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haydenaurion: Can you give a detailed instructions on how to get to Event Viewer? I'm not even sure the PC will stay running long enough.
Start->Run-> type "eventvwr.msc" and that should pop it open. You probably want to check out the Application log.

Ninja'd by Adzeth. That will work with Win7.
Post edited October 05, 2012 by adambiser
Posted October 05, 2012
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haydenaurion: Can you give a detailed instructions on how to get to Event Viewer? I'm not even sure the PC will stay running long enough.
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adambiser: Start->Run-> type "eventvwr.msc" and that should pop it open. You probably want to check out the Application log.

Ninja'd by Adzeth. That will work with Win7.
I unplugged my speakers but I also found another problem, I didn't plug the power cable back into the PSU good enough, it was loose when I touched it. I'm back on my new PC now, guess well see if that was the problem.
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haydenaurion: Can you give a detailed instructions on how to get to Event Viewer? I'm not even sure the PC will stay running long enough.
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adambiser: Start->Run-> type "eventvwr.msc" and that should pop it open. You probably want to check out the Application log.

Ninja'd by Adzeth. That will work with Win7.
Here's one event, is that the correct type of event?
Attachments:
event10.png (51 Kb)
Post edited October 05, 2012 by haydenaurion
Posted October 05, 2012
Here's another event, I believe this was when the power went down. Seems like I read about this event type online.
I'm gonna feel like such a damn idiot if it was just because of me not plugging the power cord back in properly, but at least this idiot will have peace if mind. :P
Attachments:
event41.png (50 Kb)
Post edited October 05, 2012 by haydenaurion
Posted October 05, 2012
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haydenaurion: I'm gonna feel like such a damn idiot if it was just because of me not plugging the power cord back in properly, but at least this idiot will have peace if mind. :P
I'm going to be super happy for you if that solves it :D
Posted October 05, 2012
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haydenaurion: Here's another event, I believe this was when the power went down. Seems like I read about this event type online.
I'm gonna feel like such a damn idiot if it was just because of me not plugging the power cord back in properly, but at least this idiot will have peace if mind. :P
Well, that event is after the reboot starts. You'd want one before the reboot starts Neither you posted stick out as something serious, but I'm no expert there.

Hopefully the cord was the problem. :D
Posted October 05, 2012
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haydenaurion: I'm gonna feel like such a damn idiot if it was just because of me not plugging the power cord back in properly, but at least this idiot will have peace if mind. :P
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Adzeth: I'm going to be super happy for you if that solves it :D
Yep, and as I turn 30 years old in a few days (October 10th) i'm going to feel senile if that was the problem. I told my family I was getting old, but they don't believe me, lol. If this were back in my younger console days, I wouldn't have made such a silly mistake. :P
Posted October 05, 2012
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haydenaurion: I unplugged my speakers but I also found another problem, I didn't plug the power cable back into the PSU good enough, it was loose when I touched it. I'm back on my new PC now, guess well see if that was the problem.
Could very well be, if it was loose enough to lose connection when something was jostled.

If you do have to troubleshoot components, start by removing everything non-essential, including the graphics card, since you have on-chip GPU with that MB/CPU combination. Also, turn off onboard LAN and audio and unplug any USB connections (other than keyboard/mouse, though maybe try changing them or trying a different USB port if you can). If everything is running fine, add/turn on components one at a time until you discover the problem. If you still have problems, it's something to do with your PSU/MB/CPU/RAM, which you can only test by switching out components. It might not even be one component is bad, but a combination that is causing conflicts. I once had a tuner card that caused trouble with one computer it was in, even though it just worked fine in others.
Post edited October 05, 2012 by Tallin
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General discussion (archive)My PC just randomly restarted...(40 posts)solved(40 posts)solved
(40 posts)solved