System restarts for no reason

[nilknarf]

I'm sure there's a reason, I just can't find it.

I have Win2KPro running on a Soyo SY-7ISA+ m/b with a PIII@933. Every now and then, it just restarts for no apparent reason, and without warning. I think this was happening when the system was configured with Win98SE, so I don't think it's an OS problem. It's like someone hit the reset button, and it's real annoying.

Any bright ideas? This one will be tough to diagnose, as it doesn't appear to be consisitent with anything. Nor has it been reproducible. To my knowledge, this is the only machine with this problem, out of about 30 with a near identical config, except for the OS.

Tim

[Mighty Mike]

Dont try with the case open. It makes the computer run even hotter :-)

[daveleau]

Well, in most cases here at home and at work, in 20 systems, running witht he case open does lower temps. (sorry to dispute your post but...)

I have a friend here at work that had a similar problem because of his video card. His system would spontaneously reboot and games would often pop back to the desktop without a word. He got added cooling for his video card and lowered the fsb from 133 (he has a 866 PIII EB) to 128 (found 130 to be the swweetspot).

Could also be the RAM, if it is not rated to do PC133. I would check the CAS settings in the BIOS for the RAM. Try it at both 3 and 2.

Good luck
Dave

[Mighty Mike]

Thats ok Dave. I work with a lot of Compaq's and they all seem to run a little hotter with the cover off... Go figure

[eagle1]

I'm probably sure that it must be cooling or Ram! It could be that the PSU is damaged but I think that's a distant possibility. I had that problem in games, the system would just reboot.!

It turned out my videocard was hot as hell (a voodoo 3 2000) so I added a 486 fan and it never crashed!

Try better cooling oh .. and you can open the case, it really improves temps. (without case panel my cpu runs at 48 at full load -- AMD 1.2 thunderbird..... with case closed, i go up as high as 55C)..!

just my .02 cents.

[nunyadam]

I recently had a similar problem with mine . It turned out to be something simple . the power plug to the mother board was loose .(just barely) it was plugged in and clipped but not firmly seated . all I had to do was touch the case and it would restart.
I never dreamed it would be that , but after unplugging it and replugging it the problem is gone.

nunya

[GroundZero3]

put a common house fan next to the computer with the side open. sounds likes its a heat issue. my bros system was doing that and as soon as i put the fan presto. no more!

Jason

[bhess]

Are you overclocking? Too much heat? Try it with the case open. Tried win2k repair? Power supply? Maybe even the powerstrip/surge protector?

[ts0nda]

If your running win2k pro then i had the same problem.

The default option for win2k is to restart whenever an error happens, instead of a standared error screen. I cant exactly remember where the option to change it is as i dont run it anymore, but i think it is in the ctrl + alt + del manu.

Just one thing that could be the reason.

[NDC]

Do you have another PSU laying around the house you can try using in the system? If so, give it a try...

[nilknarf]

not o/c

could be running too hot, but I doubt it, as no one else in the hotter ares of the office is reporting a problem.

could be a power issue, except for one detail, Soyo re-engineered our boards so they work with our p/s, which were causing a problem when we first got these systems.

I'll try few more things, see what happens.

Tim

BTW, the case open will cause problems for any system whose cooling design is dependent on the case closed. In most cases, however, it should allow more air in, but it will disrupt the designed airflow, both of which impact cooling ability.