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Computer randomly crashes and restarts


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#1
RyeChips

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My computer keeps randomly restarting. It doesn't matter if I'm browsing the Internet or playing games it will just happen randomly. It crashes most frequently during the boot up after the initial crash. system repair will give me a few extra minutes but it eventually crashes again. When rebooting it will turn off and on and ONE of my case fans which is connected to my motherboard will flicker on and off. i have other fans connected to the board that do not do this.
I've never posted here so I'm not sure what I should include in this post but here are my parts.

Motherboard: gigabyte GA-970A-UD3 AM3+ 970 R
Video Card: Radeon HD 7770 1G
Power Supply: Corsair HX750 750W
CPU: AMD Phenom II 3.4G AM3 R
Memory: 4Gx2 Vengeance
Hard Drive: 1TB SATA 6.0 32M
Windows 7 Home edition 64bit

Things I've done:
-booted in safe mode (still crashed and restarted)
-system restore (still crashed but less frequent)
-checked and secured power connections to the mother board
-system repair (same as restore)
-Began a virus scan but computer crashed before it could finish
-checked CPU heat (remains 35-45 degrees Celsius even while playing games)

let me know what information I need to add.

Edited by RyeChips, 21 October 2012 - 01:07 PM.

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#2
rshaffer61

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Hello RyeChips.... Welcome to
GeeksToGo, :thumbsup:
:ph34r: :yes:

I'm sorry to hear about your issue. We will try to help you resolve this as soon as possible.
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Download Speedfan (The download link is to the right), and install it. Once it's installed, run the program and post here the information it shows.
The information I want you to post is the stuff that is circled in the example picture I have attached.
To make sure we are getting all the correct information it would help us if you were to attach a screenshot like the one below of your Speedfan results.

To do a screenshot please have click on your Print Screen on your keyboard.
  • It is normally the key above your number pad between the F12 key and the Scroll Lock key
  • Now go to Start and then to All Programs
  • Scroll to Accessories and then click on Paint
  • In the Empty White Area click and hold the CTRL key and then click the V
  • Go to the File option at the top and click on Save as
  • Save as file type JPEG and save it to your Desktop
  • Attach it to your next reply

Posted Image




Please download and run Hardware Monitor
Installation (setup version only)
HWMonitor is a hardware monitoring program that reads PC systems main health sensors : voltages, temperatures, fans speed. Please get a screenshot and attach of the temps and voltages for me please.
The program handles the most common sensor chips, like ITE® IT87 series, most Winbond® ICs, and others. In addition, it can read modern CPUs on-die core thermal sensors, as well has hard drives temperature via S.M.A.R.T, and video card GPU temperature.



Tutorial for running chkdsk in Vista\Win 7 located HERE.
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#3
RyeChips

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I can't actually boot it up all the way at the moment but I did get this info from CMOS. I hope it's acceptable

Attached Thumbnails

  • photo (6).JPG

Edited by RyeChips, 21 October 2012 - 02:16 PM.

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#4
rshaffer61

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Good picture but the problem is it doesn't have a load on the PSU to actually show voltages.
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#5
RyeChips

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Here we go.

Attached Thumbnails

  • speedfan.jpg

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#6
RyeChips

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Also a screenshot from CPUID HWMonitor.

Attached Thumbnails

  • Hardwaremonitor.jpg

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#7
rshaffer61

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The problem is not heat or voltages. What about the chkdsk?
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#8
RyeChips

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I ran the CHKDSK two times. The first time with only the "automatically fix file system errors" box ticked which completed. The second time I had the "scan and attempt recovery of bad sectors" ticked as well but my computer crashed before it could finish.

Could the problem be a malfunctioning power supply perhaps?
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#9
rshaffer61

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According to the readings you posted your PSU is working perfect.
I would be more inclined to say a bad hard drive or memory at this point but I am only speculating. First I would like you to test the HD. This test does like the memtest runs in memory or the cd you will be creating.

Run hard drive diagnostics: http://www.tacktech....ay.cfm?ttid=287
Make sure, you select tool, which is appropriate for the brand of your hard drive.
Depending on the program, it'll create bootable floppy, or bootable CD.
If downloaded file is of .iso type, use ImgBurn: http://www.imgburn.com/ to burn .iso file to a CD (select "Write image file to disc" option), and make the CD bootable.

NOTE. If your hard drive is made by Toshiba, try the Hitachi DFT CD Image version of the software

Thanks to Broni for the instructions
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#10
RyeChips

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I ran the diagnostic and there is no problem with my hard drive.
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#11
RyeChips

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I'd also like to mention that I built this PC about 3 weeks ago with brand new parts.
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#12
rshaffer61

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I'd also like to mention that I built this PC about 3 weeks ago with brand new parts.

I understand but the age of a component has no bearing on if it is good or not. I have had bad hard drives straight from the retailer. Next I would like to test the memory.

A If you have more than one RAM module installed, try starting computer with one RAM stick at a time.

NOTE Keep in mind, the manual check listed above is always superior to the software check, listed below. DO NOT proceed with memtest, if you can go with option A

B. If you have only one RAM stick installed...
...run memtest...


1. Download - Pre-Compiled Bootable ISO (.zip). If you prefer to use the USB version then use this link USB KEY
2. Unzip downloaded /memtest86+-4.20.iso.zip file.
3. Inside, you'll find /memtest86+-4.20.iso file.
4. Download, and install ImgBurn: http://www.imgburn.com/
5. Insert blank CD into your CD drive.
6. Open ImgBurn, and click on Write image file to disc
7. Click on Browse for a file... icon:

Posted Image

8. Locate memtest86+-4.20.iso file, and click Open button.
9. Click on ImgBurn green arrow to start burning bootable memtest86 CD:

Posted Image

10. Once the CD is created, boot from it, and memtest will automatically start to run. You may have to change the boot sequence in your BIOS to make it work right.

To change Boot Sequence in your BIOS

Reboot the system and at the first post screen (where it is counting up memory) start tapping the DEL button
This will enter you into the Bios\Cmos area.
Find the Advanced area and click Enter
Look for Boot Sequence or Boot Options and highlight that click Enter
Now highlight the first drive and follow the directions on the bottom of the screen on how to modify it and change it to CDrom.
Change the second drive to the C or Main Drive
Once that is done then click F10 to Save and Exit
You will prompted to enter Y to verify Save and Exit. Click Y and the system will now reboot with the new settings.


The running program will look something like this depending on the size and number of ram modules installed:


Posted Image

It's recommended to run 5-6 passes. Each pass contains very same 8 tests.

This will show the progress of the test. It can take a while. Be patient, or leave it running overnight.

Posted Image

The following image is the test results area:

Posted Image

The most important item here is the “errors” line. If you see ANY errors, even one, most likely, you have bad RAM.
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