Computer keeps restarting

[norty303]

Gigs and vibration from large PA's can bring out all sorts random issues that don't present themselves on the test bench.
Are you able to replicate the environment at all? (probably don't need to turn the lights down and fill with intoxicated people though... )

[m0f]

I second (or third) the memory. Seems to be the most common cause of random reboots. Definitely worth running memtest86 and prime95 to see what shows up. Often memory issues will show up fairly intermittently particularly if it's an upper area of memory that isn't often used. If it passes both without issue, then I'd look into the power supply as being potentially faulty or overloaded.

[neutrino]

True that. Will be difficult to replicate the environment. In fact finding the intoxicated people is the easy part!!
I'll wait for the next party and take the computer along and see what happens

Cheers
Rich

[LEDpaint]

You can try flashing the BIOS if there's a newer version, but I third the memory as the culprit, especially if you're seeing weird things on the screen during POST related to memory.

[neutrino]

New memory it is then. I will get some ordered asap.

Thanks guys

[chad]

Also if it beeps a set number of times when booting that might be a code to tell you what is wrong. Look up the motherboard and see if there are any beep error codes.

chad

[neutrino]

yea 3 beeps. According to American Megatrends 3 beeps is an error with the first 64kb of the RAM.
I reseated it again and it still has the same beeps.
I am going to the mainland on Friday so will see if I can pick some up there rather than having to have it shipped.

The three beeps are followed by a single (slightly different pitch) beep when the bios screen goes blank and Windows starts to load. I am assuming this is a normal beep saying that the bios boot has finished.

I am going to see if I can find a latter version of the bios firmware

Cheers
Rich

[steve-o]

Mine kept restarting, it ended up being the power switch. Stuck a DMM on it and measured 150Kohm (out of circuit). Must have been enough to think the switch was closed. These switches arent sealed I guess and after a while coffee steam, smoke or stuff in the air will get in there. Now I have an ugly toggle switch sticky-taped to the side lol. I'll fix it right one day :]

[neutrino]

Ill check it out. The switch is only used to turn the unit on though.

Thanks

[steve-o]

Yes but on the one I have (Dell) if the switch (momentary pushbutton -normally open) is held in the on (closed) position, it will shut back down in 10 seconds or so with random error messages like "failure to boot , step xxx) iirc.