Problems With My Pc...

[sorrowman]

Good point to disconnect some hardware. I would advise to do it one at a time, so don't disconnect all hardware at once, but one piece at a time, you'll might be able to find the cause of ur problems through a process of elimination, if u know what I mean.

If you happen to have a second PC within reach, I might also be helpful to try some hardware on that other machine (such as soundcards, videocards, HD's, memory-banks if they fit, DVD-rom/RW drives etc.)

Do u per chance know how old the machine is, in what year did u buy it? It's important in regard to the thing I've said about the leaking capacitator stuff, cause a few years back there was a periode when a LOT of motherboards of a lot of different brands had problems with leaking capacitators (there's a bit of a story to it). Depending on the age of ur machine it's possible that the leaking capacitator stuff occurs now on ur machine.

Also, do u have some more specs on ur Machine

Motherboard brand, type
brand and amount of memory
soundcard type and brand
videocard type
brand, type and size of your HD
brand and type of DVD-ROM/DVD-RW drives

Here u can download a trial-version of Everest Ultimate Edition, it's a system diagnostics program that might help to determine some of the specs of ur hardware.

[Sepu]

Hey sorrowman, thanks for all the replies.
I already posted and discussed my problem on bleepingcomputer.com board, but finally we didn't find the solution.

My PC is around 4 years old, not more...

Software: Windows XP Professional SP2

CPU: Pentium IV 1.8 Ghz processor

Hardware:
Motherboard ASUS P4B (already changed 1 time because it crashed 1 year ago)
Audio card: NVIDIA FX5200-T128 (I've 2 different video card to try, just one is installed)

HDs: 1 Seagate Barracuda 120Gb (directly connected to the MOBO with an IDE cable, MASTER)
2 Maxtor 120Gb (usually on the same IDE cable connected to the Promise PCI, MASTER+SLAVE) REMOVED

RAM:
1 bank of 512 MB ACER CL3
1 bank of 512 MB ACER CL2
1 bank of 512 MB of another trademark (originally into the PC)

PCI: Promise Ultra 133 TX2 (correctly installed) REMOVED

CD/DVD-ROM (on the same IDE cable):
Samsung writemaster DVD double-layer 16x
Pioneer DVD master double layer 8x

[sorrowman]

Too bad the others couldn't help ya out with this, let's see if I can help you

OK, so ur PC is about 4 years old right, then there's a possibility the problem of leaking capacitators is occuring. During the periode 1999 - 2002 a lot of faulty capacitators, and I really mean a lot, ended up in PC MOBO's and all kids of other machinery (TV's, Stereo's Microwaves etc)

Given the way ur rig is configured it might also be the PowerSupply (PSU)

So you've got:
- A MOBO
- A Processor
- A Videocard
- A Master HD connected directly to the MOBO IDE controller
- an additional PCI IDE-controller with 2 more HD's connected to it
- 2 CD/DVD-ROM/RW drives.

Especially the fact that you've got 3 HD's installed might lead to the PSU being overloaded. A PSU can take some beating to a certain extent, but when overloaded for too long the PSU can sustain damage, which causes unstable behaviour of the PC (sudden reboots, hardware not functioning properly ect), and ultimately a fried PSU which might even take other components of the PC with it down the drain. What's they brand/type/wattage of ur PSU. Here is a handy tool to somewhat determine the wattage ur PSU needs to keep things running.

At first I would advise to strip ur PC to it's barest bones and start testing stuff. So start with just MOBO, CPU, 1 memory bank (test each memory-bank seperately), 1 HD (containing the OS) and a videocard. Then test the system with 1 of the two external drives added and then with the other HD. Add one thing at a time and check out wether it works, or not.

Did u inspect ur MOBO for leaking capacitators already BTW. It might take some serious looking before u see 'em, but it's worth trying, or at least excluding the possibility. Look for bulged capacitators (caps) or caps with black/brown-ish goo coming out of it.

[Sepu]

hi again man, you're very friendly guy to spend all this time to help me out, I really appreciate that.
This weekend I will try to resolve the problem.
1st, I will try with to check the capacitators on the MOBO
2nd, I will start to disconnect every hardware like you said:)


Just to say, right now I've only 1 HD connected, and the problem is still there!, so, I don't think it's important that I HAD 2 more HDs connected...(yes, ok, before I've all the 3 HDs installed, but finally I removed them).

Later for news this weekend
For the moment, thanks so much!

Chris

[dmegametal#1]

Sorrowman...could it be the Fan or build up of dust in the back of the PC??
because that is what happened to mine..i had to get a new powersupply and new FAN!

[Sepu]

really weird...

I checked today the capacitators, all seems to be OK.
I tried to remove every hardware, I checked every RAM bank, but the problem doesn't disappear.

So I moved only the HD into another PC that I've here, but the problem is still here!! (a working PC that was in the office time ago)
I thought about the HD finally, but first I've to check another HD maybe?

I moved the HD into another PC in the office, and there it worked fine at the 1st time...

All the hardware is correctly attached into the MOBO, so finally it can be a problem with the PSU...

Shit, this problem really sucks..

[sorrowman]

I guess the problems could have initially been caused by a faulty fan or dust build-up in the system (preventing certain fans to run like they are supposed to). But by the time u really run into trouble (like Sepu is experiencing now) it might be too late.

If a Fan doesn't work OK (for whatever reason) for a while the PC may have been running (apparently OK) but actually with lack of air-flow and insufficient cooling for a while. Lack of airflow and insufficient cooling may have gradually damaged certain heat-sensitive components such as the CPU. So, by the time u start noticing things going wrong it might be too late.

The same goes for the PSU. If for some reason a fan inside the PSU is not working corrently the lack of cooling and airflow in the PSU may have gradually damaged the PSU, up to a point where it can no longer supply enough energy for the PC.

[Sepu]

yes it could be a problem of the fan on the CPU...

I tried to remove it and put it back, but I can't understand how to remove it. I've to check the manual of the MOBO...

Finally I'm thinking about stole the PC here in the office , and destroy the other one that doesn't work, removing first the hardware like video-card etc eheh

Another thing I can try is to put my videocard and RAM on this PC in office, and see if it works again or not...so, I can understand if is the MOBO, the CPU or the PSU of my old PC.

Later
Chris

[sorrowman]

If all these parts work in that other PC then u can be pretty shure it's either the mobo, the CPU or the PSU of ur own machine.

As for removing the Fan/heatsink on the CPU, if u have the stock fan/heatsink installed there are probably two light grey-ish clips on top of the thing. U can lift these and then u can easily remove the fan/heatsink from the CPU.

I've been dropping a few lines regarding this problem on my favourite Hardware Forum as well. They suggest testing ur rig with a different PSU next. I think there's a distinct possibility it turns out to be the PSU

[Sepu]

we will see!:)
I will post some pics later

Chris