Any suggestions?

[Praxeas]

My pastor's PC started to act up. It would not send a signal to the monitor, looking like it shut down, but the LED was on.

Sometimes it would reboot, it sometimes did it as the bios was loading so I ruled out an OS problem. I tried everything, removed everything and still it would reboot, infact it got so bad it would never make it to the OS boot process. It was a cheap MB and I read they used really inferior capacitors so I went ahead and replaced the MB.

Well it's no longer rebooting in BIOS but it will randomly reboot in Windows.

My two thoughts are I need to try to update all the MB drivers or from rebooting so many times or just dying and being turned off and back on the file system is just totally jacked up.

BTW it did this once before and I figured out the PS was bad. I replaced it and it worked great for a while then started the issue. Could there be something wrong with the case where it's not grounding properly?

[Praxeas]

Well this was a lemon. First the PS went bad. After that I wasn't sure if it was the ram or not so I swapped them out and the thing still was rebooting. I replaced the MB and reinstalled the OS and it did not reboot anymore before the OS loaded but I kept getting windows errors and then some reboots. So I tested the ram and sure enough errors.

I replaced the ram with really good ram this time, none of that value crud, and the PC flies.

Im thinking something about the PS or the MB made the others go bad. That or a surge but if so why not mess up the CPU?

[Azzan]

The P/S and memory issues may not be related. Our company once had a server that was shipped with faultly RAM from the factory but ran fine for awhile because the computer wasn't using that portion of memory. But it eventually appeared as we added more drivers and load to the server. Just a thought.

[Praxeas]

The P/S and memory issues may not be related. Our company once had a server that was shipped with faultly RAM from the factory but ran fine for awhile because the computer wasn't using that portion of memory. But it eventually appeared as we added more drivers and load to the server. Just a thought.
Hmmm but I did a complete reinstall of the OS...formatted and nothing else added but the original specs and then I got the window issues.

Kinda weird, PS, MB then RAM

[Azzan]

Hmmm but I did a complete reinstall of the OS...formatted and nothing else added but the original specs and then I got the window issues.

Kinda weird, PS, MB then RAM

I'm a little confused with the chain of events. Based upon your posts it sounds like you did:

1. replaced PS
2. replaced RAM set 1 with set 2 on MB 1
3. replaced MB 1 with MB 2, kept RAM set 2
4. replaced RAM set 2 with RAM set 3

Do I have that correct?

Was the CPU replaced with the motherboard or did you resuse it?

[Praxeas]

The ps went bad and I replaced it
It worked fine
Later it acted like the ps was bad again.tested it and it was ok
Swapped ram to test it but still acted up and decided to replace mg
was no longer rebooting during bios but lots of windows errors
. Ran memtest found errors.replaced ram.runs fine

[Donna Thomas]

Are you still having problems with the computer? Sounds like it might need reimaging or might just need a new computer. I have discovered when you start having lots of problems with a computer, it sometimes is easier to replace it. Our computer tech at the office told me this after I had worked on my computer and then had him work on it. I hope you can fix the problem.

[Praxeas]

Are you still having problems with the computer? Sounds like it might need reimaging or might just need a new computer. I have discovered when you start having lots of problems with a computer, it sometimes is easier to replace it. Our computer tech at the office told me this after I had worked on my computer and then had him work on it. I hope you can fix the problem.
No it runs better than before.

I just don't know if it was one thing that led to another or just a lot of bad hardware to begin with.

It started with the PS. After that it worked fine for a while then it would random reboot, which was the original symptom.

I checked the PS and it was fine..eventually it got so bad it rebooted during POST.

I figured it was the MB and replaced it. It no longer rebooted in POST, but It reported a ton of windows errors and it would randomly reboot.

I took it home and ran memtest and found the ram was bad too. Earlier I swapped the ram to test it but since the MB was bad too (I suspect capacitors) it didn't really matter.

Now with a new MB (a much better one) and ram (again much better), no more problems and it flys...I might even OC the CPU too ha.

Still Im wondering if a bad PS caused problems or a bad MB or is it really just a coincidence?

[Donna Thomas]

I have to admit you are over my head. If it wasn't for Brent, our computer tech, I would be lost. I only know what I am doing after discussing it with him. LOL. He maintains all the computers on one of the riverboats.

[seekerman]

It's possessed. Cast the devil out of it!!!

[Azzan]

I'm thinking it was just coincidence. I don't know if this computer was built out of parts or not but I am assuming so based upon you saying cheap MB and RAM. You may have had marginal hardware to begin with that just went south over time.

My personal experience with spikes has usually resulted in toasted hardware rather than hardware that still works but is flaky.

[Donna Thomas]

It's possessed. Cast the devil out of it!!!

:toofunny:toofunny:toofunny

[Praxeas]

I'm thinking it was just coincidence. I don't know if this computer was built out of parts or not but I am assuming so based upon you saying cheap MB and RAM. You may have had marginal hardware to begin with that just went south over time.

My personal experience with spikes has usually resulted in toasted hardware rather than hardware that still works but is flaky.
the MB was a left over MB from a "kit" where the owner never used the board. But the board itself is a cheap brand and I read enough to discover they use cheap capacitors.

The ram was new but was "econo" or "value" from Corsair...normally I wouldn't have an issue with Corsairs. I replaced them with OCZ, which is what I pretty much use normally on my own PCs. Everything else was brand spankin new

[BeenThinkin]

Get a Mac! :ursofunny :grampa

BT

[Azzan]

Get a Mac! :ursofunny :grampa

BT

Oh, don't get me started...

[RandyWayne]

It looks like you fixed it, but when I see random glitches like reboots and freezes I immediately suspect the power supply and RAM. Granted the RAM is the easiest to test (using Memtest86) but I have seen my share of bad -usually because they are underpowered, PS's. After checking for those two, I immediately bring out my copy of Spinrite and let it have a run at the HD. If THAT doesn't fix things, I will start the tedious process of swapping SATA/IDE cables.

[RandyWayne]

Get a Mac! :ursofunny :grampa

BT

I work on Mac's all day long. Trust me, they go bad too and WHEN they go bad the only solution is to ship them back to Apple since they practically embed their hard drives in epoxy and weld their cases shut to keep people like me from being able to fix them.

The older macbooks had removable drives and I quite often took them out, hooked them to a SATA-to-USB bus and proceeded to fix and recover data using a whole tool chest of hard drive repair and recovery tools I personally own -using a PC. But no more... Now in order to even get your grubby little hands on those tools for Mac's you need to be Mac certified through Apple.

[Praxeas]

It looks like you fixed it, but when I see random glitches like reboots and freezes I immediately suspect the power supply and RAM. Granted the RAM is the easiest to test (using Memtest86) but I have seen my share of bad -usually because they are underpowered, PS's. After checking for those two, I immediately bring out my copy of Spinrite and let it have a run at the HD. If THAT doesn't fix things, I will start the tedious process of swapping SATA/IDE cables.
Yep...that's why the PS was the first to be replaced. Since I've had some funny results with bad/loose SATA cables I checked those too. My experience though has been freezes not reboots.

I should probably buy Spinrite. It would be nice to install to my boot disk
http://www.ubcd4win.com/

[BeenThinkin]

I work on Mac's all day long. Trust me, they go bad too and WHEN they go bad the only solution is to ship them back to Apple since they practically embed their hard drives in epoxy and weld their cases shut to keep people like me from being able to fix them.

The older macbooks had removable drives and I quite often took them out, hooked them to a SATA-to-USB bus and proceeded to fix and recover data using a whole tool chest of hard drive repair and recovery tools I personally own -using a PC. But no more... Now in order to even get your grubby little hands on those tools for Mac's you need to be Mac certified through Apple.

Well I barely know how to use one, so I never try to work on them. If one acts up that's just a good reason to get a new one. At least that's what I tell my wife! Sure love my ipad!

BT

[RandyWayne]

Yep...that's why the PS was the first to be replaced. Since I've had some funny results with bad/loose SATA cables I checked those too. My experience though has been freezes not reboots.

I should probably buy Spinrite. It would be nice to install to my boot disk
http://www.ubcd4win.com/

Spinrite was a hard purchase for me considering it is only a 170k download (it downloads so fast that you assume it didn't work!) and costs 89.00. But it does work and has pulled off a few minor miracles since getting it -including <drum roll please> on some Mac hard drives!

[Azzan]

It's been years since I used SpinRite (prob late 80s). It was an awesome product back then and performed some minor miracles. Haven't supported hardware in years so I am not familiar with the current version but I think it probably still rocks.

[RandyWayne]

It's been years since I used SpinRite (prob late 80s). It was an awesome product back then and performed some minor miracles. Haven't supported hardware in years so I am not familiar with the current version but I think it probably still rocks.

It is up to 6.0

www.grc.com

[Azzan]

It is up to 6.0

www.grc.com

I don't remember the version. But it was a DOS app. Geez, I am old! :D

[Praxeas]

does that price include any upgrades? Is it bootable?

[Azzan]

does that price include any upgrades? Is it bootable?

I dont see any mention about upgrades. Skimming through the FAQ, I kind of get the impression that people buy this product to fix an immediate problem and then they probably never use the product again.

Also from the FAQ, it can be bootable: "SpinRite is self-contained, including its own bootable FreeDOS operating system".

Randy may be able to shed light on your upgrade question. I've not used it for many years.

[Praxeas]

I dont see any mention about upgrades. Skimming through the FAQ, I kind of get the impression that people buy this product to fix an immediate problem and then they probably never use the product again.

Also from the FAQ, it can be bootable: "SpinRite is self-contained, including its own bootable FreeDOS operating system".

Randy may be able to shed light on your upgrade question. I've not used it for many years.
Oh cool. I bet I can add it to my boot disk too

[RandyWayne]

Oh cool. I bet I can add it to my boot disk too

When you run the program it creates its own .iso file which includes Spinrite itself as well as the FreeDos boot disk. So yes, it is STILL a DOS program. LOL
So while it may be possible, it would be really difficult to include it on a collection of other programs on one boot CD. Actually, your given the option to create the ISO, a bootable 3.5 floppy or a USB image.

All upgrades within a given .x are free such as 5.0-5.9, but he has VERY few other than major ones.

It is also a good program to run once in a while and not just when you have problems. I'm currently running it on a school laptop and it has already detected several hundred thousand errors (which is actually normal).

[Praxeas]

When you run the program it creates its own .iso file which includes Spinrite itself as well as the FreeDos boot disk. So yes, it is STILL a DOS program. LOL
So while it may be possible, it would be really difficult to include it on a collection of other programs on one boot CD. Actually, your given the option to create the ISO, a bootable 3.5 floppy or a USB image.

All upgrades within a given .x are free such as 5.0-5.9, but he has VERY few other than major ones.

It is also a good program to run once in a while and not just when you have problems. I'm currently running it on a school laptop and it has already detected several hundred thousand errors (which is actually normal).
Yeah that's what I would use it for. I think Im gonna get it

[Azzan]

I don't think you'll go wrong.

And as Randy said, it doesn't hurt to use it even when you see no problems. I remember running against a working hard drive once and it found some bad spots and locked them out.

Check this out:
http://www.pcguide.com/ref/hdd/geom/error-c.html

[Praxeas]

I don't think you'll go wrong.

And as Randy said, it doesn't hurt to use it even when you see no problems. I remember running against a working hard drive once and it found some bad spots and locked them out.

Check this out:
http://www.pcguide.com/ref/hdd/geom/error-c.html
I wonder if it can detect a bad cable too or if there is some app that can. I know I know,simple thing to open of the case and change cables. But honestly it isnt always that simple to crawl under a desk and unplug cables,then drag the case out, open it and change cables lol...yeah Im lazy

[Azzan]

I wonder if it can detect a bad cable too or if there is some app that can.

I don't know. The only way I think you could know if it were a cable is if you had a second hard drive attached and it was flaking out too. Of course the controller could be going south too.


I know I know,simple thing to open of the case and change cables. But honestly it isnt always that simple to crawl under a desk and unplug cables,then drag the case out, open it and change cables lol...yeah Im lazy

No, you're human! :thumbsup

[Praxeas]

Well that would be nice too, to detect if it was the controller...bad sata connector or bad cable.

I discovered on my home PC I had a bad cable. It would not seat right. From time to time my PC would freeze, unfreeze,then freeze

I found reseating the sata cable usually worked. I just thought that from vibration it was getting loose..and maybe it was but that should not happen.

I replaced it and problem solved. I thought at first my hard drive was going bad lol. But the axiom I learned a long time ago goes cables first lol

[Azzan]

Definitly cables first!

This brings back memories of my hardware days... oh the good ol' days! LOL

[RandyWayne]

It is important to remember (and I'm probably telling this to lurkers more than the people posting on this thread) is that when repairing a hard drive you need to do it in the following order:

1) Spinrite. Spinrite works at the lowest level of data on the hard drive platter current possible. It is NOT an undelete utility nor does it do any logical reconstruction of the file system although it DOES do a logical reconstruction of the data at the sector level.

2) Scandisk/Chkdsk should be run next. This works at a little higher level than Spinrite and deals more with the actual file system.

3) Run the virus scanner, or two of them.

4) Defrag!