PC keeps rebooting help! - Page 8

boroboi · 21-06-2012, 23:39

Do what peanut says, and remove a stick of memory. If it crashes, remove and swap with the other. If all is well then you have a faulty memory stick. you could also try them in each DIMM slot just to make sure you don't have a dodgy slot, but thats less likely.

The images of the board look fine, tbh, i haven't come across a board with a bulged or blown cap in over two years, it happens on really ancient machines though, i wouldn't put yours quite in that category.

Does the machine BSOD? With auto-reboot turned off, you should be able to write down any error codes which should help diagnose the problem.

tizmeinnit · 21-06-2012, 23:42

Ok it could be a trick of the light but the cap just above the ide cable looks like its bulging to me . Can you have a look and see if it is not longer flat. As I say it could be the light

Tinky · 22-06-2012, 10:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by boroboi

Do what peanut says, and remove a stick of memory. If it crashes, remove and swap with the other. If all is well then you have a faulty memory stick. you could also try them in each DIMM slot just to make sure you don't have a dodgy slot, but thats less likely.

The images of the board look fine, tbh, i haven't come across a board with a bulged or blown cap in over two years, it happens on really ancient machines though, i wouldn't put yours quite in that category.

Does the machine BSOD? With auto-reboot turned off, you should be able to write down any error codes which should help diagnose the problem.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tizmeinnit

Ok it could be a trick of the light but the cap just above the ide cable looks like its bulging to me . Can you have a look and see if it is not longer flat. As I say it could be the light

When the PC reboots I get a black screen saying that the machine wasn't turned off properly and do I want to start in safe mode etc.

Sorry I don't know what an ide cable looks like Tisme. I am about to open the tower probably for the last time as it seems it needs professional attention which I can't give. I will remove the memory sticks and swap them over etc. I have noticed that I can't download any updates, is this because I no longer have service packs one and 2?

peanut · 22-06-2012, 10:09

Ignore the message about safe mode etc, that's totally normal in the circumstances. Try the memory, take one out, turn on, see what happens, then if it still reboots, swap over over and take the other one out then retry.

Tinky · 22-06-2012, 10:10

I just went to see what games if any I had and this is the message I got, what does it mean please?

tizmeinnit · 22-06-2012, 10:39

its the cable that plugs into the optical drive. Where the ribbon cable connects to the motherboard ( blue oblong socket) just above there is a capacitor ( cylinder type thing) the top should be flat with a cross on it. If it is raised then it is bulging. There is light on it in the pic so it could be that but it looks raised to me

---------- Post added at 11:39 ---------- Previous post was at 11:38 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tinky

I just went to see what games if any I had and this is the message I got, what does it mean please?

this most likely means you are missing a graphics driver do not worry about that at this point

Tinky · 22-06-2012, 17:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by tizmeinnit

its the cable that plugs into the optical drive. Where the ribbon cable connects to the motherboard ( blue oblong socket) just above there is a capacitor ( cylinder type thing) the top should be flat with a cross on it. If it is raised then it is bulging. There is light on it in the pic so it could be that but it looks raised to me

---------- Post added at 11:39 ---------- Previous post was at 11:38 ----------

this most likely means you are missing a graphics driver do not worry about that at this point

Thanks Tizme I will have a look at that tomorrow, now I know what to look for. If it is bulging can I just press it back or do I have to replace, if I have to replace what is it called?

I got the graphics sorted.

Updates are the problem, keeps crashing!

tizmeinnit · 22-06-2012, 18:02

it will be a certain capacitor it will be written on it. You need to find someone good with a soldering iron to replace it. It does look different to the rest in the pic but it could be the light

Have you tried the memory yet?

Tinky · 22-06-2012, 19:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by tizmeinnit

it will be a certain capacitor it will be written on it. You need to find someone good with a soldering iron to replace it. It does look different to the rest in the pic but it could be the light

Have you tried the memory yet?

Not yet Tizme, plan to test the memory first thing tomorrow, will let you know the outcome.

tizmeinnit · 22-06-2012, 20:07

humour me check the cap first

Osem · 22-06-2012, 20:51

Look on the bright side Tinky, you'll be an expert after this episode...

Hope you get it sorted ASAP!

Tinky · 22-06-2012, 21:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Osem

Look on the bright side Tinky, you'll be an expert after this episode...

Hope you get it sorted ASAP!

Thanks Osem you're not wrong, I was going off to the land of Nod, but decided to humour Tizme. I can't see anything sticking out, and I have taken the memory thingies both out tried them separately and together and swopped them, it works no matter what. At the mo only one mem stick in the slot.
If you can stand it here is more photos:- (Now off to watch The Godfather part2)

Tinky · 24-06-2012, 18:18

I've still got the problem, seems it doesn't like downloading especially updates. Still struggling, if anyone can come up with anything further I can try before it goes to the menders I'd be very grateful.

Osem · 24-06-2012, 18:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tinky

I've managed to get it restarted again this morning but it rebooted after about 5 minutes. However I have rebooted in safe mode and it has stayed on for half an hour now. So would that mean a hardware problem Halcyon?

What's a gfx card Tizme? Looks like my faithful PC will have to be looked at by a professional sigh!

Graphics card?

I had a problem with a graphics card on an old PC which stopped it booting up properly. Simply pressing it down into its slot did the trick.

Tinky · 24-06-2012, 19:05

Graphics card? What to look for?

Looked on Youtube and I don't appear to have one like they show.
I've pressed every knob and button on here lol. Could it be the ethernet jack, my cable plug seems to do an awful lot of blinking and when the PC goes off the noise (a click) seems to come from around there? Is it expensive/or difficult to install another?