Help!

[michaeldenna]

hi
i'm in a bit of a bother

my computer is being gay and is playing up

it spontaneously reboots for NO apparent reason. its starting to sh[t me up the wall (esp when i'm doin homework)

can anyone help? any advice will help greatly

thanks

denna

[nicko]

i'd say virus check everything straightaway. maybe check that no unwanted dodgy programs are starting, a program like startup cop is good for this. apart from that>???

[NismoR31]

michael we need some more information to troubleshoot that..

things like:

what operating system?
computer specs? ie processor speed, RAM
are you on the internet at the time it reboots? if yes is it an internal or external modem?

it could be from a driver conflict, hardware fault, something like the modem using too many resources & windows shitting itself as a result.

[michaeldenna]

i have

pentium celeron 433mhz
128mg
os win 98
internal modem
soundmax sound card
aopen motherboard
8 mg video card (intel 810e)

the modem is not external, and i'm not on the internet when it reboots. thats not to say it doesn't reboot when i'm on the net

ummm thats all i can think off

anymore??

[michaeldenna]

i almost forgot

this isn't the first time this has happened

bout 6 months ago, the computer started do this same very thing. we took it back and they chucked in a new motherboard. it hadn't done it for a while, but now has started again


its soooo annoying.

please help

[michaeldenna]

please help

[NismoR31]

more than likely windows has developed a complex.. probably has some kind of conflict somewhere. it's too hard to tell from what you've said.

do a search for files - find and delete *.tmp and ~*.* on C drive. sometimes windows' temp files cause spontaneous reboots &/or programs not functioning correctly. try running scandisk on & defragmenting ALL your fixed drives. you could even download micro$oft's regclean program to clean up your registry a bit.

if none of that fixes your problems, "format C:" is lots of fun :)
reinstall windows. if it still happens after that, then get your hardware checked.

[Caliber]

no need to format, just delete your entire windows directory from dos and reinstall it. the amount of times i had to reinstall win9x back in the day for no apparent reason.. well, ive lost count anyway :) id suggest installing Win2k or XP but looking at your setup you probably dont have the horsepower

boot to dos and run a file called deltree.exe from your c:\windows\command directory

deltree c:\windows

that will delete all your windows content. careful with the command.. it can delete ya entire drive otherwise

after that, reinstall windows. dont bother installing a copy over the top of your existing one, that wont fix anything. delete it first.

[nicko]

i don't know whether the post above is a joke, but if you are going to do this make sure your personal files on your desktop and all the directories under c:\windows\* are backed up. i always used to resinstall win98 when it started to do stupid stuff without deleting everything, and that seemed to work fine

[Caliber]

it was just an alternative to formatting.. im assuming he knows how to backup.

[nicko]

oh kool. did you find there was a lot of stuff not being uninstalled when you just wrote over the top of windows?

and michael, how did you go?

[MadMike]

Guys,

Whilst people meant well, a gentle warning... Please don't offer technical advice if its going to be half-arsed. Suggesting that someone deltree their windows directory is negligent if you have no idea of their technical skills.

Generally, if you arent a qualified technical support professional I'd suggest you refer these sorts of questions to someone more suited to solve these problems.

For example http://forums.overclockers.com.au has a massive community of technically savvy users who will help you out.

Cheers,

MM

PS If you think you genuinely can help someone then go ahead. However, if you offer advice to someone and you present yourself as knowledgeable, you can be held legally liable for damages if you are negligent in your advice. I've not seen this followed up on an internet forum, but I can see no reason why the law wouldnt extend to cover it. Cover your arse. :) :)

[Caliber]

michaeldenna, with the prospect of you sueing me for negligence, i will refrain from offering any further "half-arsed" advice and request you disregard any of my previous suggestions.

[nicko]

following on from the good example set by caliber, i'd suggest that you stick your wang in the power slot. that should fix the problem :)

[alakaboo]

fix the wang problem or fix the computer problem? :)

[DJ Fusion]

Wow, I didn't realise that gay people spontaneously rebooted for NO apparent reason.

#$&@head.

[alakaboo]

keep it clean.
peace out.

[michaeldenna]

just a bit of an update on the situation

the computer was driving me up the wall so i decided to pay to get it repaired. i took it in and the guy diagnosed it as "a problem with the power supply". so he replaced it.

got it back yesterday with a new power supply thingy in it and was workin like a charm.

but i was on it doin an english essay and boom, it restarted again, and again and again.

i was on the verge of getting an axe. what to do now?

p.s the replacement of parts and labour = $160 :-O :-O

[nicko]

have you done the other stuff first - all the software fixes suggested already?

[DJ Fusion]

Do you get a blue screen with an error message just before it restarts?

Also, have you checked your event viewer to see what the PC is doing?

[Caliber]

michael, i would be going back to that shop and questioning what exactly he has "fixed". be especially pissed off considerng a power supply costs around $40 and the labor takes little more than five minutes.

and i wouldnt have picked it as a power supply fault to begin with.. usually when those things go they go for good.

i still say reinstall Windows. first install over the top of your current copy and if that fails to fix it, private message me and ill try and help you (out of sight of pubic scrutiny :|)

[DJ Fusion]

Nah, do it here so I can pick your support strategy to bits!

[nicko]

i want to hear what happens. hurry up michael.

ps where did you get it fixed?

[NismoR31]

Originally posted by michaeldenna
the computer was driving me up the wall so i decided to pay to get it repaired. i took it in and the guy diagnosed it as "a problem with the power supply". so he replaced it.
.......................................
but i was on it doin an english essay and boom, it restarted again, and again and again.
.......................................
p.s the replacement of parts and labour = $160 :-O :-O
i'd be taking it straight back there & telling them to get their act together. obviously they haven't fixed shit & charged you $160 for it.

[MadMike]

What kind of power supply did he replace it with?

A no-name brand? 250W? 300W? 350W 400W?
Why did he think it was the power supply? Were the 5 and 12 volt rails dropping massively? How many and what kind of devices do you have plugged onto your motherboard and into your power supply?

Personally, I run an Enermax 430W power supply. Its a beast, but certainly not cheap.

[michaeldenna]

hey

well i took it back (with the "i'm can't believe i'm back here again" tone). he gave me a full refund and took another look at it. he admitted that it wasn't the power supply and that it must be something else.

i dropped it in on wednesday and on friday they still hadn't found what was wrong. so i asked to take it home cause i have media and french to do. he said that he has disabled the two cd rom drives and see how it goes.

i take it home, plug it all in and still fing restarts. :mad: :mad:

the power supply is definately a new one as it only has one plug unlike the one i had previously with two. i have formated it before, reinstalled windows 98 twice and have had virus checks and registry checks done on it. nothin wrong.

*note when the computer restarts, there is no warning. the monitor goes black and the computer *beeps*. the store is in eltham which narrows it down to one.

denna

p.s thanks for all ur help!!