Computer keeps restarting

[neutrino]

oh I see, I'll check it out. At least it is an easy swap.

Cheers
Rich

[norty303]

If it was working fine beforehand, I would not do the BIOS until you've exhausted a few other possibilities first.
The disk will naturally start to get messed up with sudden shutdowns so that is more likely a symptom of whatever else is wrong, rather than the source.

[neutrino]

Ok, Ill do they memory swap first and then do another gig and see what happens. Hopefully it will get rid of the 3 BIOS beeps too.

[tadawson]

Check the owners/bios docs - beeps from the bios are typically indicators of hardware test failures - it's likely trying to tell you what it sees as wrong!

- Tim

[m0f]

3 beeps on an ami bios does indeed indicate memory. Not a good idea to flash the bios until it's sorted out though, as bad memory could potentially lead to a bad flash and then it's pretty much game over (or at least much harder to fix)..

[Jimboy3625]

If you have multiple sticks of RAM try one at a time. This will tell you which stick is the culprit, then you can eliminate that one bad stick until you can replace it. If they are all bad then it may not be the RAM, it would be quite a coincidence for all the sticks to go bad, although not impossible.

[neutrino]

I am going to hold off the idea of flashing the BIOS as it sounds pretty scary and I dont want to screw the machine.

The motherboard only has one slot with a 4Gb chip. It is a micro board.

Hopefully i can do more testing over the weekend.

Cheers
Rich

[buffo]

Did the new RAM help?

Adam

[neutrino]

Hey Adam,

I have put the new RAM in and I still get the beeps when the BIOS boots.
I haven't had chance to take the computer out to put it in a similar environment to see if I can replicate the fault.

I am off island for two weeks tomorrow so it will have to wait until I get back.
I'll have a 1W green to slot into my big RGB too!!!!

Cheers
Rich

[neutrino]

So here is a little update.

I can have the unit run all day and all night in my office, with and without A/C, and a plethora of USB accessories and all is fine and dandy.

I took it to a friends bar last night and fired it up with the laser on the ground so I could check the beam alignment hadn't bounced out - I thought all was good and then shut everything down. At this point the music wasn't playing.

I positioned the laser and ran the cables and turned the computer back on but this time it wouldn't even get to load windows before it kept resetting! Now the music is playing. I know for a fact it is not vibrations.

My new theory is that the EMI from the speaks is having an affect on the PC or PC PSU. The last two times it has been out on a 'gig' and has failed it has been within 5 feet of the speaks. The other times, including the Caribblem, it has been 10+ feet away.

The speakers here are probably made from toilet rolls and sticky back plastic or shit and sugar and have zero shielding.

The first time this happened I was slightly further away from the speakers which could explain why I got a few hours use out of it early doors. When the place got busy and the music got louder the EMI got bigger and then affected the computer.

Could this be the cause?
I am going to take the computer out again on Friday night and plug it in on the other side of the bar and see what happens.

If it is EMI is there anything I can do about it? Wrap the computer in tin/aluminium foil!!

I'll update on Saturday

Cheers
Rich