Windows problems... (Updated)

[shamrock_uk]

Originally posted by Zebodog: Re-install, re-format it's the same thing.

A slightly odd comment - the two are not exacly interchangeable.

It's generally accepted that Windows XP requires a nice reinstall every 6-12 months to prevent it from getting sluggish. If only it was just on a motherboard change!


As for troubleshooting, if your computer is turning itself off then I would put the power supply at the top of my suspect list - your computer only turns itself off because your PSU stops supplying power.

Why? Possible reasons could be:

i) New hardware that is overloading a weak PSU
ii) A PSU that's getting old
iii) Heat/ventilation problems - check that your PSU fan is moving and that case temps aren't suddenly high.

Do you have a spare one? Can you try this power supply in another computer?

Next on the list is the CPU - check your CPU temps in the BIOS or using a utility like speedfan. Ensure that there is no noise coming from the CPU fan and it can move freely.


You say that temperatures aren't the problem as it only happens on a cold boot, but there can still be issues. Fans can get wear and tear first thing when the computer is cold, before the metal expands and it can move freely. Listen out for a funny noise when you turn it on.

Also, turning on the power is quite a shock to the computer. In the same way that lightbulbs blow when you turn them on, a similar effect will happen inside your power supply. Low temperatures = momentarily high current which again would lead me back to your power supply.


Double-check your connections if you've moved your computer - a loose one could possibly cut the power.

Memory follows, but I would expect faulty memory to lock the computer rather than to turn it off. Memtest86 will give it a thorough thrashing nontheless.

It's possible, but unlikely, that a dying hard drive is causing this - it would be unusual for the effect to be intermittent if it was physically failing and modern drives would warn you. It does seem a little coincidental that it happens when it goes to load Windows (ie it accesses the drive) but I would be slightly surprised if this was the case.

Oh, and it's definitely not a virus in case you were worrying.


Edit: additions

[ 04-07-2006, 08:47 PM: Message edited by: shamrock_uk ]

[Zebodog]

Originally posted by shamrock_uk: quote: Originally posted by Zebodog: Re-install, re-format it's the same thing.

A slightly odd comment - the two are not exacly interchangeable.

It's generally accepted that Windows XP requires a nice reinstall every 6-12 months to prevent it from getting sluggish. If only it was just on a motherboard change![/QUOTE]Windows 98 or ME perhaps, but you should never have to reinstall XP unless you conduct a major hardware change.

[Bungleau]

Sorry, Zebo, but it feels like you're troll-baiting here. Luvian asked for ideas, and got many. They range from easy (reviewing logs) to extreme (reformatting HD). Depending on the real issue, it could fall anywhere along that spectrum. I'm sure Luvian will decide what he'd like to do, and as many folks do, will start with easy things before moving on to extreme ones.

I haven't seen anyone tell Luvian what to do to fix his problem. I have seen many people offering ideas on things he can change or adjust that may address the problem.

Who's qualified to give ideas? Depends on your viewpoint. I've built my last six PCs from the case up. I regularly do Doctor Frankenstein operations to change them around. I may or may not know a thing or two about PCs... and if Luvian wants to take my suggestions, that's great. If he doesn't, that's great too. Doesn't bother me at all.

If someone else offers up an idea that I consider dangerous, I'll mention it. If I do the same thing, I expect them to do the same. Luvian can still decide what he's going to do. After all, at the end of it all, it's *his* computer...

So come on over to the Cafe, chill out a bit, and smile. [img]smile.gif[/img] It's not worth getting all worked up about. [img]graemlins/nono.gif[/img]

[Hivetyrant]

Heheh, it's obvious what you are aiming for Zebodog, and its stupid to do it, not only in a thread where someone is asking for help, but I think you fail to see that the person asking for help is a moderator

Anyways, if I could tell exactly when the PC shutsdown, I could probably tell you which part of the windows loading process it is going through.

As people have said here, I would be 98% certain that the problem is a hardware problem, so virus's and whatnot would not come into play here

As for the exact bit of hardware......That's a tough one, it could literally almost be any bit of hardware in your system.

That device that's not installed *could* be a problem, but it is unlikely.


To help out, can you tell us how often it does this? Was it after a long powered session? what are the temperatures like?

[Luvian]

It does it when I first turn it on the first time in the day.

I think I have figured it out. I have a second drive, but it's been broken for ages and doesn't even show up in windows. I let it inside because I have a data recovery program I want to use, when I get a new hard drive with enough free space.

Well... I think I forgot to disconnect it's cables, that's probably the problem. It probably every once in a while manage to work some, and that crash windows when it get to that part. What do you guys think?

[Zebodog]

Nah, I'm not troll baiting. I may be the only one to tell it as it is, but I'm willing to admit it.

I recognize that Luvian, a mod, is asking for help but half this thread is dedicated to "hints and tips" that won't solve the problem.

[Mirac Honorguard]

Originally posted by Luvian: It does it when I first turn it on the first time in the day. I think I have figured it out. I have a second drive, but it's been broken for ages and doesn't even show up in windows. I let it inside because I have a data recovery program I want to use, when I get a new hard drive with enough free space. Well... I think I forgot to disconnect it's cables, that's probably the problem. It probably every once in a while manage to work some, and that crash windows when it get to that part. What do you guys think?

worth a try, what hdd is set to be the first drive to boot from in the bios settings?

[Hivetyrant]

Originally posted by Luvian: It does it when I first turn it on the first time in the day. I think I have figured it out. I have a second drive, but it's been broken for ages and doesn't even show up in windows. I let it inside because I have a data recovery program I want to use, when I get a new hard drive with enough free space. Well... I think I forgot to disconnect it's cables, that's probably the problem. It probably every once in a while manage to work some, and that crash windows when it get to that part. What do you guys think?

Who knows, the best way to tell is to just disconnect it nad see if it happens again

[Hivetyrant]

Originally posted by Zebodog: quote: Originally posted by shamrock_uk: quote: Originally posted by Zebodog: Re-install, re-format it's the same thing.

A slightly odd comment - the two are not exacly interchangeable.

It's generally accepted that Windows XP requires a nice reinstall every 6-12 months to prevent it from getting sluggish. If only it was just on a motherboard change![/QUOTE]Windows 98 or ME perhaps, but you should never have to reinstall XP unless you conduct a major hardware change. [/QUOTE]Errmmm....Shwa?

[Luvian]

Originally posted by Mirac Honorguard: worth a try, what hdd is set to be the first drive to boot from in the bios settings?

It's the second drive that's broken. The one I used as storage for all my important files.