Help troubleshoot my resets!

[Dr. Spankenstein]

Within the last week I had developed a strange issue where my computer with reset when two conditions are in place: 1) It is a cold boot. 2) a large application is opened.

After the first reset, the computer is stable. No more resets no matter how much load is on the CPU/RAM/HDD.

I have already resorted to a fresh install of XP, but I still have my Intel RAID intact with my other partitions: Vista, Program Files, Wife's work, storage and pagefile. Everything with the exception of my Wife's work is on a RAID 0, she's on a RAID 1.

Went to the System tab and deselected "Restart automatically" to see if I could blue-screen and get some leads on the issue. No luck. It's just a quick "click" and it restart.

Not a lick of evidence in the Event Viewer either. I litterally have no issues there.

Temps on the GPU and CPU are normal.

One piece that I find curious, is that there has been a very faint "buzz" coming from the PSU that I never noticed before. It comes and goes. This PSU is a 5 month old PC Power & Cooling 750.

Any other tips or questions to help me get this sorted out. It's very annoying!

Thanks.

 

[Kursah]

I'd say either get a proggy to watch voltages under load or get a DMM and find points to measure...and load the piss out of your PC and see what drops and how far.

I had a similar issue when my Buffalo Firestix was going tits up...took about a month then I was getting BSOD's and Memtest failures like no tomorrow...so maybe run a Memtest also.

Hope that helps, and I hope it's a quick and easy fix man!

 

[Dr. Spankenstein]

Guess the DMM would be the easiest... since I still have half of my power cables hangin out the side of my case. (I always take projects to about 95% completion. I suck!)

I wonder if the PSUs OVP or OCP could be causing these resets, since it seems if it were software based, I'd see some reports in the Event Viewer.

Thanks for the suggestions!

Keep 'em coming people!

 

[CrackerJack]

if you think it might be the psu, test it on another computer or swap it out with another one. Does it do it in safe mode?

 

[Kursah]

Get a notepad and see what notes you can take by replicating the issue. See if you can get even software voltage readings to write down, then if OC'd try stock speeds and see if it still does it. Maybe try removing things not necessary to boot into windows, like more than one stick of RAM, sound cards, NIC, CD/DVD drives, see if it still does the same thing after cold boots.

Definately wanna get some voltage readings though, and since you're not stuffed completely into a case yet, it'll be easier to attain those readings with a DMM. Keep us posted!

 

[Dr. Spankenstein]

if you think it might be the psu, test it on another computer or swap it out with another one. Does it do it in safe mode?

Haven't tried doing anything in Safe Mode. If it didn't reset then, looks like a software issue then, huh?

Fortunately, I do have a spare PSU. Just not feeling like swapping just yet. Was going to be my last resort, since obviously I'd have to RMA the Silencer.

Thanks!

Get a notepad and see what notes you can take by replicating the issue. See if you can get even software voltage readings to write down, then if OC'd try stock speeds and see if it still does it. Maybe try removing things not necessary to boot into windows, like more than one stick of RAM, sound cards, NIC, CD/DVD drives, see if it still does the same thing after cold boots.

I think my lady is going to give me some time to try this approach tonight. Good ideas!

 

[CrackerJack]

Haven't tried doing anything in Safe Mode. If it didn't reset then, looks like a software issue then, huh?

Fortunately, I do have a spare PSU. Just not feeling like swapping just yet. Was going to be my last resort, since obviously I'd have to RMA the Silencer.

Thanks!

Well it could still be hardware, more likely either ram, hdd or maybe video drivers but i doubt it's the video drivers. What app where you opening when it reset?

 

[Kursah]

Keep us posted on your results man! I've had enough issues with my newer builds that I try to think out of the box anymore for diagnosis...plus I get to do similar things to newer cars at the dealership I work at, shit the 07 Tahoe's have up to 27 different computer modules in them...with miles of wire harnesses, connections, they even use "GMLAN" to communicate lol.

I've had more issues in my newer rig than my still running strong P4 rig(s), but that's the way things go sometimes. My most failed items are MB's and RAM, but even at that, I was within RMA...I just hate waiting, but don't have the budget to do anything but in such a situation!

Again, keep us posted, if I get anymore ideas for you to try, I'll letcha know, but I also know you're experienced with stuff like this, which is why I didn't suggest more.

Best of luck to ya!

 

[Dr. Spankenstein]

It didn't matter. Once Photoshop, once a Coach website, once PowerDVD, once while loading a level in Crysis.

Does kinda-sorta seem like it could be a memory issue. Time to whip out my CD of Memtest v1.7. (I'm so out of touch!)

 

[Mussels]

i sense hardware problems in the force!

This doesnt seem software, and cold boot situations are nearly always PSU related. Its possible a capacitor has leaked in the PSU - this often causes some kind of noise, and it would probably have a temp it works best at (neither too hot nor too cold, causing the reboot)

Its also possible to be a million other things, such as bad bios settings - i've had similar from slightly too tight ram settings, that still passed memtest/orthos/OCCT

 

[CrackerJack]

have you tried the memory test tool for vista, i don't know if it's worth anything. But it might help

 

[Dr. Spankenstein]

i sense hardware problems in the force!

LMAO!

This doesnt seem software, and cold boot situations are nearly always PSU related. Its possible a capacitor has leaked in the PSU - this often causes some kind of noise, and it would probably have a temp it works best at (neither too hot nor too cold, causing the reboot)

That makes alot of sense! I tried to explain the situation to the Support at PC P&C.

To say their demeanor was "luke"warm (had to make a Star Wars tie-in, considering your hilarious quip!) would be an gross understatment. Swapping PSUs would certainly give me something to wave in their face if it solved the problem.