Why would a PC's power reboot?

ski · 08-16-2007, 09:23 PM

Symptoms:
- After being on for a while, power recycled while playing an online 3d game.
- Computer automatically restarted, started game again, 5 minutes later the power recycled again
- Same events and results x2.

I reinstalled the game, and while I was downloading the patch, power recycled. FRUSTRATION!

What should I look at to troubleshoot? What kind of trials can I run to narrow down if it's a Power Supply, CPU, or Video card problem?

Devhux · 08-16-2007, 09:36 PM

Firstly, follow these steps:

1. Right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.
2. Click the Advanced tab.
3. Under Startup and Recovery, click Settings to open the Startup and Recovery dialog box.
4. Clear the Automatically restart check box, and click OK the necessary number of times.
5. Restart your computer for the settings to take effect.

This will determine whether the reboot is being caused by a BSOD or not. If it crashes with a BSOD after this, see if it actually gives a reason (IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL, for instance) -- along with any driver files it lists.

If it's not a BSOD, and the system just reboots, then it's something else. Download and burn an ISO of the Ultimate Boot CD which has a few utilities to test memory (Memtest86) and CPU (Prime test).

Hopefully this will help narrow down the issue.

InfiniteNothing · 08-16-2007, 11:39 PM

Instant reboots? usually means bad ram or bad pci cards.

Cheesypuff · 08-17-2007, 12:12 AM

or cat pressing your reset button

Showtime · 08-17-2007, 12:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cheesypuff

or cat pressing your reset button

stupid evil cat's pressing buttons...

zippyjuan · 08-17-2007, 12:57 AM

Could you be overheating something?

Jeffbx · 08-17-2007, 05:33 AM

Random rebooting, especially while really taxing your system (with, say, a 3D game), is a good indication of overheating. If your system supports it, you might try loading up a copy of MBM or a similar tool that will let you monitor your temps.

DarkFury · 08-17-2007, 07:32 AM

What kind of system are we talkin' about here? Please list the specs of your PC (also, do you have good airflow/ventilation to your CPU, video card, RAM, and North/South bridges?)

ski · 08-19-2007, 08:38 PM

Just to fill in what worked in case someone does a search if they have a similar problem...

I had physically removed the video card a couple weeks before the spray the dust out of the fan. So when I cracked open the case, I took the card completely out of the slot and unplugged the power lead to it. Plugged everything back up and I have no problems.

I don't want to think science at 10:39pm on a Sunday night, but maybe there was degraded voltage going to it by something not seated properly.

Showtime · 08-20-2007, 10:32 AM

how dusty was it? if there were even a thin blanket of dust, that would have been enough to cause overheating. for future reference, the other thing that would give away overheating is if there were any artifacting or snow.

08-16-2007, 09:23 PM	#1
ski Admiral Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Utah Posts: 5,420	Why would a PC's power reboot? Symptoms: - After being on for a while, power recycled while playing an online 3d game. - Computer automatically restarted, started game again, 5 minutes later the power recycled again - Same events and results x2. I reinstalled the game, and while I was downloading the patch, power recycled. FRUSTRATION! What should I look at to troubleshoot? What kind of trials can I run to narrow down if it's a Power Supply, CPU, or Video card problem? __________________ And closer...

08-16-2007, 09:36 PM	#2
Devhux Rear Admiral Lower Half Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Calgary Alberta Canada Posts: 2,511	Firstly, follow these steps: 1. Right-click My Computer, and then click Properties. 2. Click the Advanced tab. 3. Under Startup and Recovery, click Settings to open the Startup and Recovery dialog box. 4. Clear the Automatically restart check box, and click OK the necessary number of times. 5. Restart your computer for the settings to take effect. This will determine whether the reboot is being caused by a BSOD or not. If it crashes with a BSOD after this, see if it actually gives a reason (IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL, for instance) -- along with any driver files it lists. If it's not a BSOD, and the system just reboots, then it's something else. Download and burn an ISO of the Ultimate Boot CD which has a few utilities to test memory (Memtest86) and CPU (Prime test). Hopefully this will help narrow down the issue. __________________ 0118 999 881 999 119 725... 3

08-16-2007, 11:39 PM	#3
InfiniteNothing Chief of Naval Operations Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: San Diego Posts: 10,086	Instant reboots? usually means bad ram or bad pci cards. __________________ As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals.

08-17-2007, 12:12 AM	#4
Cheesypuff Vice Admiral Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Cali, but missing Hong Kong and Texas Posts: 4,782	or cat pressing your reset button __________________ Life is like toilet paper, long and useful! The stars at night, are big and bright clap 4x deep in the heart of TEXAS!

08-17-2007, 12:57 AM	#6
zippyjuan Picture of the Day Guru Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Sunny San Diego Posts: 8,756	Could you be overheating something? __________________ I add new pictures to my photo gallery pretty regularly. You can see them here if you are interested: http://www.pbase.com/jeffryz

08-17-2007, 05:33 AM	#7
Jeffbx Fleet Admiral Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Michigan Posts: 9,390	Random rebooting, especially while really taxing your system (with, say, a 3D game), is a good indication of overheating. If your system supports it, you might try loading up a copy of MBM or a similar tool that will let you monitor your temps.

08-17-2007, 07:32 AM	#8
DarkFury Secretary of the Navy Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Chillin' N Da 'Hood Posts: 34,997	What kind of system are we talkin' about here? Please list the specs of your PC (also, do you have good airflow/ventilation to your CPU, video card, RAM, and North/South bridges?) __________________ DarkFury's Pimptopia - Don't Hate the Playa, Hate the Game! Home of the Original OG Pimp (accept NO imitations)

08-19-2007, 08:38 PM	#9
ski Admiral Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Utah Posts: 5,420	Just to fill in what worked in case someone does a search if they have a similar problem... I had physically removed the video card a couple weeks before the spray the dust out of the fan. So when I cracked open the case, I took the card completely out of the slot and unplugged the power lead to it. Plugged everything back up and I have no problems. I don't want to think science at 10:39pm on a Sunday night, but maybe there was degraded voltage going to it by something not seated properly.

08-20-2007, 10:32 AM	#10
Showtime Lakers fanatic Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: L.A. ->SoCal<- O.C. Posts: 7,338	how dusty was it? if there were even a thin blanket of dust, that would have been enough to cause overheating. for future reference, the other thing that would give away overheating is if there were any artifacting or snow.

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