repeated reboot. help troubleshooting the problem.

[Sam]

so my pc restarts continuously. sometimes even before entering bios. but sometimes work flawlessly for many many hours. heres my config:

Athlon II X4 635 (stock @ 1.2V)
Gigabyte GA-MA785GMT-US2H (rev 1.1)
Corsair 2X2Gb value DDR3-1333Mhz
WD green 500Gb + Seagate 160Gb PATA
Sapphire HD5670 512Mb
FSP saga II 400W + EPS 12V extension cord

i have checked running the pc on IGP & restart problem continues. used individual ram stick & problem still not solved. so either problem is with HDD or the PSU (or the extension cord). if problem is with HDD, i'll send it for RMA tomorrow. but how to check PSU?

[thetechfreak]

Do you have iso of any Linux Distribution? if yes check using that.
Since you can use PC for hours sometimes I am pretty sure the trouble is with the extension cord. are they very expensive? What are you using the cord for

[008Rohit]

First to-do is to check if the processor HSF thermal paste and still there and if the HS fan is spinning and the processor is not getting overheated.

The next thing to suspect is the PSU. Try plugging it in the main electric socket without the extension cord.

[Sam]

^^ its a EPS cord. not the normal extension cord. will try it soon.

Originally Posted by thetechfreak

Do you have iso of any Linux Distribution? if yes check using that.
Since you can use PC for hours sometimes I am pretty sure the trouble is with the extension cord. are they very expensive? What are you using the cord for

s**t. yes. its a must try. thanks for reminding. will do next

cleared CMOS now trying to boot from Ubuntu 11.04 LCD.

UPDATE 1: will boot to windows now & to check list:
1. HDD bad sector.
2. remove EPS cable.
3. run mem test.
4. some how check if PSU is culprit.

till now no reboot. live cd working just fine. i feel its not a PSU problem. will further check front panel header if anything went wrong there. all data already backed up to my external drive.

UPDATE 2: pc restarts as soon as the windows splash screen appears. can't install windows as it restarts. my pata cable got some problem so can't install windows in the second drive.

UPDATE 3: reinstalled windows7. no more reboots. erased entire HDD. lets hope no more problem creeps up

thanks a lot to techfreak for the linux tip

[dashing.sujay]

@Sam- If your PC is restarting "sometimes" even before entering BIOS, then of course its not a software problem, so trying Linux makes no sense IMHO. Though the more troubleshooting, the better. But I can smell something fishy in your old HDD, have you tried booting with just the newer HDD?

[Sam]

yes, sometime during boot loop, monitor just starts up & than blanks out. after powering off UPS & turning it back again, it'll goes to BIOS or max windows splash screen. i tired installing linux, WinXP & finally somehow installed windows7 (3-4 restarts while installing). and this was with my new HDD (WD 500Gb green). my old 160Gb is just used as spare.

googling showed 1 possible cause for this. the spindle motor is having problem. also HWMonitor shows HDD temperature at 40C (now its 38). i have both the side panels open & during winter it should be in the mid 20s. i'll run error scan using HDD Tune or some other app to check for disc error.

UPDATE: no luck till now. trying to install Windows 7 in my 160Gb PATA & it continues to restart. totally clueless as whats the problem. removed the EPS extension cord but no help. cleared CMOS. still same. running on IGP now. & pc just restarts. 500Gb SATA HDD is disconnected to help troubleshoot the problem faster.

[The Sorcerer]

Check the main plug and the surge protector for starters, use another one. If that doesn't seem to be the issue, start the system without any of the drives connected to the board- even the PATA and the dvd drives...

[mithun_mrg]

before sending the hdd for rma check two things 1.the temps of the processor ok &
2. update the bios to latest & load fail safe defaults & see

[Sam]

temp is ok as shown in bios. max is 40. about bios, downloaded a previous version but PC restarts at windows startup screen. will try flashing from pen drive if possible.

Originally Posted by The Sorcerer

Check the main plug and the surge protector for starters, use another one. If that doesn't seem to be the issue, start the system without any of the drives connected to the board- even the PATA and the dvd drives...

use another PSU cord? i don't have any surge protector.

will try starting system without any drives.

google search showed multiple result for boot loop problem. cause: same gigabyte motherboard. but most are unaswered some suggest running the memory at lower clock. tried & fail.

@Sorcerer, pc started without any drive. after displaying "insert boot media" for around 5min, monitor goes into power saving mode & won't get back.

[delhiuser]

I've same problem with my old pc with both sata & pata drive, Intel D celeron processor, 865 intel motherboard. I was unable to find the reason & it is almost dead & fail to boot. In fact, when I connect power cable, a small led lit up on mobo & when i pressed power switch of cabinet, cpu fan starts to run but suddenly stopped, thereafter nothing happened & everything looked dead. Any suggestion will be highly appreciated.

I also consulted a local assembler & he think mobo have fault & needed repair. Can I check myself whether mobo is dead or not?

[dashing.sujay]

^^Mobo problem for sure. We can check if we know how to. I have seen local technicians checking mobo with a small LED device costing under 100 I think, but no idea how to use it.

[delhiuser]

Thanks a lot.

[008Rohit]

@ delhiuser

similar problem as mine. Mine motherboard died after 15 days from purchase due to the bad power supplied to it by my PSU. The green LED lit up but it just won't post. Technician also told me its a mobo problem and intel replaced the thing after an month.

[Sam]

sent my mobo for RMA through Accel Frontline on 27th November (forgotten to update here) & a replacement was sent within 2weeks. dad collected it today (my last exam was today) & VOILA!!! 880GM-USB3 with AM3+ socket, 100% solid caps & 2 USB 3.0 slot (will test them soon). that was some RMA

thanks to everyone who replied here will post a few pics soon.

but damn board don't have any PATA slot time for a new DVD drive + farewell to my PATA HDD.

[thetechfreak]

sent my mobo for RMA through Accel Frontline on 27th November (forgotten to update here) & a replacement was sent within 2weeks. dad collected it today (my last exam was today) & VOILA!!! 880GM-USB3 with AM3+ socket, 100% solid caps & 2 USB 3.0 slot (will test them soon). that was some RMA

Congo
Looks like mods are getting lucky. Clius got a 80+ PSU as replacement and you got this awesome Mobo
Looks like I should try to make my 9500 Gt so that I get a GTX260 or better

[Sam]

thanks. lucky after 23yrs

maybe they didn't have stock of any 785G chipset based mobo & repair failed too. hence sent me this.

[topgear]

Originally Posted by Sam

sent my mobo for RMA through Accel Frontline on 27th November (forgotten to update here) & a replacement was sent within 2weeks. dad collected it today (my last exam was today) & VOILA!!! 880GM-USB3 with AM3+ socket, 100% solid caps & 2 USB 3.0 slot (will test them soon). that was some RMA

thanks to everyone who replied here will post a few pics soon.

but damn board don't have any PATA slot time for a new DVD drive + farewell to my PATA HDD.

congrats

You can use the PATA HDD using a external 3.5 inch IDE casing costing around ~400 bucks and same can be done with DVD RW drive as using a 5.25 inch External IDE casing costing around ~500 bucks

[Tarun]

Athlon II X4 635 (stock @ 1.2V)

from when is 1.2v the stock voltage for Athlon II X4 ?????? it was 1.35v to 1.4v i guess???

[vaibhav23]

I think it means that the clock speeds are at stock but the voltage has been decreased

[ico]

Originally Posted by Tarun

from when is 1.2v the stock voltage for Athlon II X4 ?????? it was 1.35v to 1.4v i guess???

or may be he undervolted.

[Sam]

yup. undervolted.

Originally Posted by topgear

congrats

thanks

Originally Posted by topgear

You can use the PATA HDD using a external 3.5 inch IDE casing costing around ~400 bucks and same can be done with DVD RW drive as using a 5.25 inch External IDE casing costing around ~500 bucks

will try to exchange the HDD with a friend instead as i need it as internal will check for the dvd casing though.

but today again same problem started. pc reboots while loading windows. can't repair as i don't have any sata drive except my boot drive. yesterday pc was getting stuck a lot & virus scan was slow too. maybe this time its the HDD

[whitestar_999]

post a screenshot of your HDD S.M.A.R.T values using software like crystaldiskinfo just to be on safe side.

[dashing.sujay]

Congos Sam.

Originally Posted by dashing.sujay

@Sam- But I can smell something fishy in your old HDD, have you tried booting with just the newer HDD?

[Sam]

thanks but old HDD can't be used as its pata & new motherboard doesn't have any PATA port

shook the hdd few times & banged once as TG said doing this should solve hdd platter getting stuck but sound has increased since.

Originally Posted by whitestar_999

post a screenshot of your HDD S.M.A.R.T values using software like crystaldiskinfo just to be on safe side.

pc can't boot past windows. will take drive to a friends place & check there.

[asingh]

Seems like a failing HDD.

[dashing.sujay]

Originally Posted by Sam

thanks but old HDD can't be used as its pata & new motherboard doesn't have any PATA port

shook the hdd few times & banged once as TG said doing this should solve hdd platter getting stuck but sound has increased since.



pc can't boot past windows. will take drive to a friends place & check there.

Can you see it now?

[topgear]

Originally Posted by Sam

thanks but old HDD can't be used as its pata & new motherboard doesn't have any PATA port

shook the hdd few times & banged once as TG said doing this should solve hdd platter getting stuck but sound has increased since.

pc can't boot past windows. will take drive to a friends place & check there.

This trick is useful for HDDs which are not used for ling but 2-3 times this worked on some semi new HDDs as well.

Third party HDD tools are good but are not always accurate and most of them requires you to boot into windows.

Download HDD diagnostic tool from your HDD manufacturer website, create a bootable CD and check the HDD with that - it's the most effective and accurate way to test HDDs.

[Sam]

Originally Posted by dashing.sujay

Can you see it now?

shows in bios but then problem starts.

Originally Posted by topgear

This trick is useful for HDDs which are not used for ling but 2-3 times this worked on some semi new HDDs as well.

Third party HDD tools are good but are not always accurate and most of them requires you to boot into windows.

Download HDD diagnostic tool from your HDD manufacturer website, create a bootable CD and check the HDD with that - it's the most effective and accurate way to test HDDs.

my friend too said to do the same. i banged the HDD once. first time it booted & then restarted in 5min. next time banged 4-5 times & now its fully dead.

Originally Posted by asingh

Seems like a failing HDD.

not failing. failed

applied for RMA & did a print of the RMA form. do i need to wrap the HDD in anti-static package only or in cardboard package too?

[ico]

^ anti-static.

[Sam]

thanks. will try to dispatch the package today.