As it sez above, It has even reset while on here, and i'm sure thats not taxing the CPU? there is no set time when it does this, sometimes 5 mins sometimes 2 hrs, sometimes longer. 1'st i thought it might be the graphics card, so i swapped that and it still happened, guess i would just lose any picture rather than a reset if it was that. I'm gonig for it overheating, though the fan seems to be working ok. I'm running it now with the side panel off, though it has reset once today, it seems more stable. Any imput much appreciated.


System is.

AMD 1700 xp
Motherboard BN790T with VIA KT-266 chipset
Gainswood Ti4200
Win XP Pro

:confused:

Thx.

It's most likely that your computer is running too hot.
A better fan/heatsink could help.

First make sure that your fan is spinning, it could be that the power cable isn't plugged in properly to the mobo. You could see if the Heatsink is on properly as well. but like gambit says this looks like a CPU overheating problem. HTH

Or it might be as simple as a currupt dirver. Or maybe bad ram, or powersupply.

Use a diagnostic software like SiSoft Sandra to check temps and voltage. My guess is that your PSU is not up to par. What's the voltage on the drive rails?

mine has the same prob only IT HAS TURNED ON before on its own! it turns off on its own and on, on its own when it wants to!

have u installed anything recently? make sure it supports xp by getting updated s/w. it could also be that some1 deleted an important file. on the sys restore, there is a tab like < at the top of the calendar to go back to last month. i recommend putting the settings for sys. restore up to the max. i had to learn this the hard way.(lol)

The other thing is a program in the background maybe making XP crash, and XP by default has an option to reset the machine in the event of a major crash or conflict. Try disabling this option by going to Start,Control Panel, System, Advanced, Startup & Recovery and remove Automatically Restart. This will then show a Blue Screen of Death at the point of crash, that's if it is a software problem, otherwise refer to the other peoples comments.

Cheers,

Ace

BlackDiamondJr: What's the voltage on the drive rails? where do i find this?
Acerickford: Taken your advice will see what happens.
jdzworld: only 1 week of sys.restore is highlighted, and Windows won't let me back-up to any of those days?

For all the other help and info THX GUYS

will keep posted.

Originally posted by P0stiepat
BlackDiamondJr: What's the voltage on the drive rails? where do i find this?

That information can be obtained from the BIOS or if you download the SiSoft Sandra (http://www.sisoftware.co.uk/) diagnostic utility and run the Mainboard Information module it should generate a report with that information. You will then be able to determine if any of your rail voltages are suspect. Here's mine as an example:


Voltage Sensor(s)
CPU Core Voltage : 1.68V
Aux Voltage : 1.23V
+3.3V Voltage : 3.30V
+5V Voltage : 5.03V
+12V Voltage : 12.46V
-12V Voltage : -12.03V
-5V Voltage : -5.20V
Standby Voltage : 4.95V
Battery Voltage : 3.01V

Run Sisoft and as far as i can see this is whats come up:

Voltage sensor(s)
cpu core volt : 1.750v
+5v : 4.81v
-12v : -14.91v
-5v : -7.71v
standby voltage 4.85v

Don't know if these are suppose to be set like this ?

Power management

vid voltage control : no
fid frequency control : no
ts thermal sensor builtin : yes

do these just say whats built into the mainboard?

Since my last post i have left 1 of the side panels off, the computer has run fine and trouble free, guess my next test is to put the cover back on and see what happens?

Thx BlackDiamondJr for the info.

THX

I have a similar problem running XP home on a ASUS A7S333 motherboard with a AMD XP2000 with XFX GeForce 4 MX 420 or 440 with a single 256Mb 2700 DDR memory, I have switched virtually all the hardware, hence the two video cards, but I haven't changed the processor fan, I have monitored it with asus own software and it seems ok. I haven't switched the automatic reset off yet as I've only just read this thread, and the computer is a friends who lives a few miles away, but I built it and purchased the parts !!!

Your 5 volt supply looks a bit on the low side, but I don't know how much use is made of it these days, and you don't show a 3.3 volt figure. you could try a good quality voltmeter on the power supply connection. wouldn't worry to much about the -5v, -12v or even the +12v being to much out but the +5v and +3.3v would ideally be within 5% at any point on the board. I think most quality boards use a layer of the PCB for the main voltages so there should be minimal drop.

I have now aquired enough parts to make a duplicate computer, it may take a while as I'm going to install the OS try it for a few days and then gradually install the software, to see if it is a software problem.

As for the possibility of it being a temperature problem I've got an Akasi AK821 cooler fitted. and it appears to be running at around 45 degrees with internal case temperature at around 10-15 degrees cooler.

On a similar point I have another two computers one with the same motherboard but AMD Duron 1.3Ghz, and another with an MSI 266 FSB motherboard with a AMD Athlon 1.4Mhz 266FSB both running XP home which reset when switching users, ie, not logging of the first user. the only reference I've found to this so far, refers to a special keyboard driver, which I haven't got installed.

If there has been a thread on the last paragragh maybe somebody could let me know.

On the point of the fan not spinning, I've seen some motherboards that start up for a few seconds and shut the computer down if the fan isn't spinning, I forgot to reconnect the fan when trouble shooting one system !!!

Originally posted by AceRickford
The other thing is a program in the background maybe making XP crash, and XP by default has an option to reset the machine in the event of a major crash or conflict. Try disabling this option by going to Start,Control Panel, System, Advanced, Startup & Recovery and remove Automatically Restart. This will then show a Blue Screen of Death at the point of crash, that's if it is a software problem, otherwise refer to the other peoples comments.

Cheers,

Ace

Have you tried this its the most common problem for xp machines rebooting. Why on earth M$ didnt put a warning of this on before the machine reboots god knows.

Hi P0stiepat

From my experience it is one of two things that is causing your poblem;

1) the heat sink on your CPU is dirty or the fan aint working, make sure it is clean and the fan spins.
2) The PSU has gone faulty, swap it with another one of similar/larger size, talk to you mates and borrow one for a few hours if you don't have a spare.

If Sisoft diagnostics are correct your -5V and +12 is way too high, therefore I suspect your PSU has gone faulty. These voltages may have damaged other components, don't use the comp till you have changed the PSU.

Id say those voltages could be down to inacuracy you could try double checking them and posting the results that would help.

And try the 1st suggestion by demo no need to try another psu yet unless it starts whirring noisly. Which reminds me I need to clean my psu fan it stopped completely to day. Which brings me to another thing have look see if any of the ball bearings have come oout of place mine has thankfully its on my very old pc (AT psu) otherwise Id replace it.