Computer keeps restarting
THere is something really weird going on with my computer. The past week it randomly shut down every so often, and now the most recent time I tried to turn it back on, it kept restarting. It would go to the "safe mode/last configuration/normal start up" page first and then once I selected an option it started up where the little progress bar is under the Windows XP symbol and then restarted again. This happened for about 30 minutes while I left my computer unattended. Before all this happened it also took about 15 minutes to start up my computer. Also my zone alarm caught a few virus attacks coming from another computer on my network so I wonder if they have anything to do with it...maybe one got through? Reguardless now, I can't seem to start my computer. I'm hoping time will be the answer, but is there anything you guys can go? I can't post a HJT log or anything else unless my computer will restart for real. Thanks for the help in advance! You guys are the best!
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If you have a spare PSU laying around it would be worthwhile to try that, too.
Get those out of the way and we will move on to the next step.
I had one dying recently and it even made me think that my harddrives were dying. Having a good PSU is a nice investment.
I would try one of the "Live" Linux CDs, like Knoppix.
I believe Knoppix even includes a Memtest utility.
You boot up into Linux and check to see if Linux sees your hard drive(s) and other hardwares.
If you are not familiar with Linux (or *nix), get a friend to help you or find a good book (library, bookstore or one of the online books) or as last resort try DOS.
This way you will be able to see if the problem is with the hard disk, memory, or other stuff that Linux tests for.
Furthermore, wth Linux you could fix some hard drive problems, backup your hard drive data, even check for viruses. Of course this assumes it is not a hardware problem, like a loose cable, or loose/bad memory stick.
Hope this helps!
As for the eMachines advice, I am always wary of tech support from the manufacturer. They don't care two hoots about your data; they just want to get the call answered as quickly as possible in order to get rid of you and move on to the next helpless victim. Testing a hard drive by formatting it is like testing the bumper on your car by driving it into a brick wall.
Answer these questions and we can give you the best advice:
1) What brand is your hard drive? (Open the case and look at the label on it if you don't know.)
2) Look on the Power Supply and tell us the Amperages on the 3.3V+, 5V+, and 12V+ rails.
3) Tell us exactly which program you are using to test the hard drive.
4) Tell us the exact file you are using for Memtest and exactly how you are going about making the floppy or CD.
Don't be afraid to write lengthy responses to these questions. The more we know the more we can help you. And - don't call eMachines anymore.
2.) The Amperages on the 3.3V+ is 16.0A (ORG), on the 5V+ is 22.0A (RED) and on the 12V+ is 6.0A (YEL)...not sure if that is exactly what you were looking for, kinda a shot in the dark there. I am replacing my PSU (hopefully) and this is what I got from the new one.
3.) the program I got from Emachines for the hard drive test was called "GWSCAN511". I had to extract that and copy it to a CD. The guy did it for me by taking control of my mouse and keyboard and what not...When I started up teh computer, it didn't work at all...i tried it in both drives.
4.) For the memtest, I used the memtest 86 or whatever from your download site that you referred me to. In burning it to the CD, I just said to save to the CD when it prompted me to open or save the file. Once that was complete, I wrote the CD when it asked me to and then tried it in the computer to no avail.
That is the story in full...am I doing something wrong?
3.3V+ 20A
5V+ 25A
12V+ 13A
It is a bestec if you wanted to know.
For Memtest, when you burn the program to CD, make sure you make the disc bootable.
For both programs, make sure the correct drive is set as the first boot device in the BIOS; floppy if it's a floppy disk, cdrom if it's a CD.
See if that gets things started.
No wonder your system wont stay on! I had problems running mine with this radeon9800pro on a +12V with 18 amps.
His problem is going to be that since the PSU is non-standard, replacing it is going to cost more. Even then, he's not guaranteed that it will solve the problem.
Before we recommend that he fork over money that he may not have, let's try and test the things which can be tested at no cost.
Since you're running the test from a CD, make sure the cdrom drive is set as the first boot device.
Do you have Service Pack 2? If so, it sounds an awful lot like a problem I experienced this weekend, the dreaded MUP.SYS error. The thread at hardwareanalysis listed lots of possible fixes, but for me, I needed to enable ECSD rebuilding and unplug all my USB devices before trying to start it up.
Main Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) XP 2600+
Memory testingL 491520k OK +32768k Shared Memory
BIOS Guardian(R) enabled. You will need to disable BIOS Guardian to update BIOS
Primary Master: (lists something, i didnt copy it down)
Primary Slave: None
Secondary Master: (lists something, I didn't copy it down)
Secondary Slave: (lists something, I didn't copy it down)
Floppy disk(s) fail (40)
That was all that was on my screen, and then at the bottom of the screen it said to hit "F1" to continue or hit "del" to enter setup.
Now for gargoyle...I don't know how to enable ECSD...can that be done without getting to windows? Is it a good idea to mess around with this stuff prodfdlp?
The FDD problem is due to one of the following:
1) The BIOS is set improperly.
2) The data cable is defective, unhooked or backwards.
3) The power connector to the drive is bad or unattached.
4) The FD Controller on the motherboard is defective or disabled.
5) The drive has gone to meet its maker.
Seeing as how your computer will not run properly, do you have a choice?