Random Restarts and BSODs

[Pi rules]

I'm having some major problems with my PC (self-built). I'm getting many restarts and BSODs. I have some dump files that I can include if somebody would like. I've finally narrowed it down to hardware, because sometimes it doesn't start properly, and it malfunctions in Linux as well (freezes or restarts). I can't even name all the BSOD STOP codes, but some include 0x0A, 0x50, 0x7E, 0xBE, 0xD1, 0x24, etc.

When it first started, I put in a different power supply (currently Aspire 500w, replacement: Rosewill 400w) and it did the same thing, but I may try again this weekend if I find some spare time. I tested RAM (failed on one LRAM test one pass, but 9 other passes found nothing), reseated it, put one stick in, then the other, all to no avail.

I finally got some motherboard beeps:
__ _ _ pause __ _______ (length shows approx. length of beep). I believe it is Award BIOS, and 1 long 2 short (first series) is a video adapter failure. The only problem is that I don't have an AGP card to test.

So, any thoughts/suggestions welcome. I'm just about out of ideas (I have a nice migrane today). :(

Edit: Sorry, this may be better placed in hardware, since it looks more hardware-related. Also, I reset the CMOS jumper, it didn't help.

[dbarrow]

More than likely a hardware problem.
You can't really tell from the stop codes as they are about as random as a slot machine depending at what point something failed to load.

I went through something similar on my old box.
Turned out it was a bad ram slot and very intermittant.
The ram was ok and would test each stick as ok.
Drove me nuts for weeks until I noticed it running sluggish one day and ran Everest. Found it was only running on 256.
Finally pinned it down by running one stick at a time in each slot with Prime95 and determined the second slot was bad. Replaced 2x256 with 1x512 in the good slot and it has been fine ever since.

[mylanta]

Possibly reseat the video card PI, could just have bumped looking at other things in case. Not so sure about one bad test with memory, that sounds like where to start as it could be a slot and not the stick itself. Those intermittant ones like DB describes, are "killers".

[dbarrow]

As long as you are in the case...
Pull and inspect all your cards, including brushing any dust and dirt off them, re-install/re-seat.
Same for all cables.
It only takes a tiny bit of corrosion or loose fit in a slot to get those intermittant failures.
Sometimes, just pulling it all apart, cleaning and inspecting, and putting it all back together cures those problems.

[Poconos]

Been lurking for a while. About a year ago built a system with an Intel MB (D865GBF). Thing would run for weeks at a time, then crash. Did all of the above and still crashed randomly. Finally got into BIOS setup and just watched the clock ticking and started tapping around the the MB. Between the RAM and processor there was a sensitive area where the clock would freeze. Probably an intermittant run on the board. Intel replaced and no problem since.
Hope this helps.
Al

[Pi rules]

I just got two error reports: one said the report itself was corrupt, and other other said that it was a graphics driver. I have integrated graphics :( (I have an AGP slot and don't want to buy an AGP card). I'm not feeling so great, so I'll have to wait to open up the case and take another look around. Still, it looks like a motherboard problem to me.

Thanks for the suggestions. :)

PS: Welcome, Poconos.

Also, could a moderator please move this to the hardware forum?

[Terry Hanushek]

Pi rules

Also, could a moderator please move this to the hardware forum?
Done

Since there is a strong suspicion that the problem is with the integrated graphics, is there any chance that you could borrow a video card to prove one way or another whether this is the problem?

Terry

[Pi rules]

Thanks for moving it.

All my friends have PCI-express or integrated. We have an old Dell Dimension XPS T600r with a 32 MB card, although I don't know if it is AGP 4x/8x. Also, I looked inside once, and the card looked like it would be difficult to remove.

Maybe I'll see if I can find some cheap AGP or PCI card from Wal-Mart to stick in there, but it will probably be worse than current integrated graphics.

[casey]

PI, Here's something to look at. I don't know what shipping will be but it's something to check into. And it would be better then what you have now...

Geeks (http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=mx440-64DDR-8X&sourceid=qIbARGDDtho2AknDZA5v&cm_ven=CJ&cm_pla=0038388580&cm_ite=mx440-64DDR-8X)

MSI GeForce 4 MX440 64MB DDR 8x AGP DVI w/ TV-Out Only $10.99


Part #: MX440-64DDR-8X
Warranty: 90 Days
Condition: New Pull
Packaging: Plain Box
Ship Weight: 0.75 lb
Manufacturer: nVidia
MFG Part #: NA
Supported By: Geeks

Price: $10.99

Features/Specifications:
GeForce4 MX440 64 MB 8x AGP Video Card

[Pi rules]

That's cheap, but if I have to buy a video card, I might as well make it almost decent. Ground shipping (I don't know how many days) was $7, and 3-day was $13. Thanks for the suggestion, I'll think about it. :)

I was looking at this (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16814130008) one maybe.

[photolady]

I had two of those in the EVGA brand and both of them dead on arrival. Find another brand. I have the 6200 but it was made by Asus, and it has 256mb video ram. Haven't had any problems with the Asus one.

[Pi rules]

Just got a BSOD with pic.sys. Looks to me like an overall motherboard failure. What do you guys think?

[photolady]

Pi, I just read a possible answer to your problem. You said you tested the ram and the LRAM failed pass one. How long did you leave the tester running? BSOD's of pic.sys indicate bad ram. Over at "The elder geeks'" website, I found someone else was having the same problems as you and said they cured the problem by removing the bad ram.

http://www.theeldergeek.com/pci%20and%20ntfs%20dot%20sys%20errors.htm

[Pi rules]

A while back I tried putting in just one stick, then the other, then both. It happened with every possible combination, but I could always try again if you think it would help. Or, it could be a bad slot, in which case I would still need to get a new motherboard. :(

Edit, sorry, that test ran 3 other passes OK, then later I ran 9 passes that were also OK. I also tested with memtest86 with no failures.

I was going to wait until summer to build a new PC, but I might not be able to; I'll start planning in case...

[dbarrow]

One last thing... The bad capacitor problem
Google the subject and look to see if your mobo was one of the ones most subject to it.
Read a few of the articles on identifying both the specific caps that were problems and the appearance of a bad one.

With good light and a magnifying glass, take a close look at the caps on your mobo to see if any fit the description with leaks or bulges.

Bad or failing caps can cause an undervolt which will act very much like a memory error.

In any case, starting to sound like replacement time for the mobo.

[Pi rules]

My mobo isn't listed, but, yes, I think I'll have to do something with the motherboard. Took me 7 tries to finally get it started. :( The only problem is that I have a huge paper due Tues and the other computer is being used for most of the weekend. I think I'll RMA this one and build my next PC early. (I'll make a new thread since it's a new topic, if it shouldn't be, could a mod. please merge them?)

Thanks, everyone. :wave:

[Pi rules]

Just remembered that the motherboard is well over 1 year old, so I guess I cannot replace it. :( I already took out the CPU and took off what remained of the thermal paste (now just gray & caked).