new pc, new problems...help once more

You should try with a different power supply and memory stick. If you can, borrow a power supply and a stick of ram. Swap the power supply and try to reinstall Windows. If the problem continues, try swapping the ram and reinstalling Windows.

Something to try is to go into the control panel and into System. Then go to Advanced and then Startup and Recovery (click on Settings). Under System Failure, uncheck Automatically Restart. After you've done that wait for it to crash again. If it still reboots, it's probably the power supply. If instead it gives you a blue screen of death then it's probably the memory that is bad, but you should copy down the error mesage and then search the Microsoft site or Google to figure out what it means.

 

Those codes can give a technical person insight to the cause of the issue. If it happens again, try to record just the first line or two. You don't need any of the hexadecimal numbers. Most important is the actual message in the first line which usually has the wording of the error.

The exact message you get here is very important to a technician.

Newer machines have controls for excessive heat. Even to the point of shutting down your machine without your consent, but not without warning.

A faulty power supply could cause this. Does the power actually go off and then come back on? One thing you can look for and report is whether the computer does a complete POST (Power On Self Test). That means, does it go through every thing like you just powered it on (that is a called a hard boot)? Or does it appear as a restart? A restart is very different and you will typically see less POST messages during what is called a warm boot.

In reality any piece of faulty hardware could cause this strange phenomenon. Try installing XP on the minimum hardware. All you need in there is a video card and some memory. Take out any extra add in cards.

You got me on that one. Is it a USB keyboard?
Honestly, this one is the most strange to me. Try a different keyboard if possible.

Dave.

 

During the interview for my current position, I was asked about my Information Technology career choices.

I responded honestly, unplanned and told my interviewer: I like this work so much that I would do it for free if I could afford to.

He replied: I've never heard anyone say that before.

I was surprised when they made me a great offer. It's a great job and I'm having some fun too.

I was just honest and of course, I prayed.

Dave

 

Since the rebooting stopped the ram could very well be the problem. You should copy the error message so that you can post it here or try searching for it on the Microsoft website and/or Google to find out what it means. Also now when it gives the blue screen instead of rebooting take note of whether or not the error message is the same/similar or completely different.

 

Silly question: did the computer not come with free technical advise in the warranty? We got three years worth with ours.

Sheila

 

You are very wise. I encouraged my parents to buy a name brand computer system and they also bought extra warranty coverage. It paid off and kept me from having to hop a plane to go down and fix an issue with their modem.

I put my systems together from scratch. I am the kind of person that you would call for support. So, I can skip the warranty, because if I cannot fix my own computer, it cannot be fixed.

Now, ask me to build a wooden fence in the back yard and I am in trouble. And this I don't understand about myself

Dave

 

I certainly am a novice compared to the great help you are getting here... but I would like to add that one time I was having similar problems and it turned out to be a bad driver issue, and I found this out by going to control panel/system/hardware/device manager and looking for any exclammation marks beside any of the hardware... if so, maybe updated drivers would help?

and thanks for the help several of you have given, I learned some things as well

blessings all

 

Hi Aki,

I'm glad they swapped out the memory.

I wanted to reply to let you know that I am still interested in helping. But to be honest, I'm so overwhelmed with the issue that I can't make any good suggestions. I am not a gamer at all. So when it comes to games I am useless.

At any rate, I sympathize.

Dave

 

The problem is simple, You bought a PC with windows. Had you purchased a Mac, even with OS9 you would have never had any of those issues.

 

There are a lot of technical things that can make a 'bleeding edge' system not work well. (Though, I wouldn't call a 1.8G Athlon Bleeding Edge. )

I had a system once that rebooted randomly and had me going for weeks, literally.

Until I noticed it happened one day when the cat ran behind the desk.

So, I got to looking and the female end of the power cord seemed to have the metal contacts too far recessed. A small jiggle and loss of power!

I replaced the cord and fixed that problem. Lucky me.

However, memory modules are a different matter.

I work where we test Chip sets, and memory of all kinds has to be used to ensure that they will work when a customer finally gets their hands on a system with 'our' Chip Set...

There are several sets of memory that simply will not work on certain systems. And, all our tech gear can't tell us why, either!

{If you are not a tech (A very patient tech). Do a tech a favor and buy a pre-built guranteed to work, like you want it system.}

DDR and DDR2 are the worst offenders.

But, given the frequencies the memory is running at these days it doesn't surprise me that a little heat or a little cold would mess it up...

I know of no other company that puts as much pre-sales testing of it's Chip Sets than Intel.

If it's not simple...

I'd still bet against the motherboard. The Chip Sets are SO0000oooooo complex...

And, you've got an Athlon Chip Set...

So, I don't know how much compatibility testing it actually got before it was sold.

Sorry, I was an Intel proponent before I ever became a contractor.

 

Having 256MB of RAM will slow ya down a lot. I upgraded mine last year in 2003 too 1GB, it runs so much faster. I also run Windows XP - Home Edition. Be careful not all older programs work because it's based on NT technology.\




Kristi Ann