Web Hosting Talk : Other Forums : Computers and Peripherals : Computer Reboots Automatically

[silvereagle510]

I am running a pretty damn good computer and I've had it for about a couple years. I don't know if it's time to let it go or it's something that can be easily fixed. First off, the computer randomly restarts it self when used and even when booting it will restart about 6 times before Windows load screen finally appears. I am running a Dell Precision 650 Workstation. Contents are...
Dual Intel Xeon Processors 2.66GHz
3 Gigs Ram
3 36GB SCSI Hard drives (15,000rpm ea)
Another problem I am having is when the computer is booted and until I want windows to began loading it prompts me to press F1.
Can someone please tell me what I can do. If there is nothing I can do I wil just trash the system. I NEED SOMETHING RELIABLE.

[bear]

Trash it?
Send it here, I'll take it.
Chances are the rebooting is something simple, like a power supply that's failing, or overheating. Could also be corrupted system files...any number of things.

[arbet]

Try the following:
1- Download ubuntu, boot it and perform the memory test to detect memory faults.
2- Open your case, your PC might be overheating. If that's the case, then you'll need to add some heatsink to your CPU
3- Try changing your power supply.
4- Try a fresh install of windows and check if the problem persists.

[SenseiSteve]

I think the symptoms lean more to a failing power supply than overheating because it's occurring repeatedly during power on.

[bear]

...unless it was the CPU that's overheating. Loose heatsink...etc.

[Rageki-John]

It's possible that your CPU is overheating. Try cooling it off first to see if it stops the problem. If that doesn't stop the problem, most likely there is something wrong with your power supply and it's recommended that you just get a new one. I think it's more of a hardware issue than a software issue unless you got some kind of nasty virus.

[Patrick]

...unless it was the CPU that's overheating. Loose heatsink...etc.
I agree, having worked in a computer repair shop most random reboots are attributed to overheating. Very rarely was it a power supply issue and typically bad RAM will give a BSOD or lockup, not a reboot.

[silvereagle510]

If it's overheating what exactly do I need to do in order to fix this problem? How much will this cost and what's a heatsink?

[bear]

The heatsink is the gadget that helps pull heat away from the CPU so a fan can remove it from the immediate are. There's a ton of varieties of heatsinks, so yours could look like anything (it will likely be located in the upper right of the mobo, with a fan on it, facing away from the mobo). Determine where the CPU is located on the motherboard, and make sure the fan works and isn't clogged. If you're handy with computers, you should be able to remove the heatsink, clean out the old compound and reinstall new.
I'd try that before throwing money at it. Arctic Silver and the cleaning kit is cheap.

[Patrick]

Have you also checked the BIOS to see what your CPU and motherboard are running at? (Usually DEL or F10 / F12 when your computer starts up to enter the BIOS menu...)

[silvereagle510]

I checked behind the computer and it felt as though the fans were still functioning properly but the system still restarts its self and I don't know why it does this. The system said something about a disk error. What does this mean for me and how can it be fixed?

[silvereagle510]

Also, I don't have any major programs. Only a genuine Windows XP Professional disc.

[silvereagle510]

Try the following:
1- Download ubuntu, boot it and perform the memory test to detect memory faults.
2- Open your case, your PC might be overheating. If that's the case, then you'll need to add some heatsink to your CPU
3- Try changing your power supply.
4- Try a fresh install of windows and check if the problem persists.
I will check all of this out but I don't know how to install or add some heatsink. I am still not too sure what that is but I see people mentioning it a lot.

[Mr. Obvious]

Seems as if your best option might be to take it to a local computer repair shop

[bear]

I will check all of this out but I don't know how to install or add some heatsink. I am still not too sure what that is but I see people mentioning it a lot.
Here's some Google image results for cpu and heatsinks (http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=cpu+heatsink&btnG=Search+Images&gbv=2). Once you have a look at those (yours will probably look quite different), from that same page, at the top click the "web" link. This will show results of where to get them, how to install them and more.
It does sound as though this is above your current skill level, though, so the recommendation to seek a repair shop is a good one.