GIGA-BYTE 6Sxxx-FZ

[dramir]

Good Afternoon all!

I am new to this forum and like everyone else, have a few problems.

I was asked to replace the hard drive on a computer of a friend and having done so in the past, didnt think it was going to be problem. I went out, purchased a new HD and placed it correctly. Loaded windows and now am having the problem....

1. The system starts, loads windows and then shuts off by itself...sometimes a few minutes, sometimes even before the hourglass appears. Sometimes it does not even get to the point of loading windows and reboots....as if unstable????

2. I tried booting the computer several ways in order to prevent it from shutting down spontaneously: I replaced the battery, I loaded fail-safe defaults from the BIOS, I unplugged all the unnecessary devices, I even reformatted the hard-disk....nothing I have have done keeps the computer running for more than a few minutes....

All help is appreciated. If this has been discussed before, I apologize for my ignorance. Thank you.

[mjc]

The first thing, which version of Windows?

If it is XP there may be error logs that will be able to give some clue as to what is happening.

Second, this sounds almost like a heat or power supply issue...you may want to try running it with the side cover off and a small fan blowing into the machine.

[dramir]

I have windows XP loaded on the machine. I dont know how to get the error logs, since the machine reboots as soon as it turns on. Also, I have both side panels removed and I agree it might be a heat problem, but how do I figure that out and then fix it?

Thank you for the prompt reply.

[mjc]

Place a small fan blowing into it, to increase the airflow, because with the panels removed the internal fans aren't moving all that much air.

Also make sure that all of those fans are properly working (or working at all). Make sure that they are are free from dust and collected grime, the same for the heatsinks.

Try safe mode...if it stays up longer in safe mode then it may not be heat, but a driver/other hardware problem.

[dramir]

OK. Thank you for the help so far. However, I set up a small fan and the results have not changed a bit. The computer automatically shuts down sometimes after loading windows and sometimes as the hour-glass is appearing.

I did a deep cleaning as recommended and nothing has changed. I just cant seem to figure out what is wrong. I have noticed that as soon as I put in a CD once windows has started, the computer shuts down. It might be a heat issue, but with two computer fans and one pedestal fan, its difficult to imagine, but I dont much about computers.

Finally, I noticed that the BIOS is the latest version avialable through giga-byte.com.

I am also embarassed in front of my friend, that the computer with a dysfunctional hard-drive, now is completely dysfunctional.

[Sylvander]

Sylvander’s Diagnostic Flowcharts
Download a copy of my diagnostic flowcharts from here
www.erniek.eclipse.co.uk/downloads/sylvanderdiags.zip
and print them to leaf through.
Begin on the STARTUP chart.
You should end up on the DF6: Hard Disk Drive chart with a recommendation to use a diagnostic program loaded from a floppy.
You could use the HDD manufacturers utility to check the HDD functionality.
You could make a free bootable KNOPPIX (http://www.knoppix.org/) CD and load Knoppix from that. If it runs with no problems, then you know all of the hardware other than the HDD is ok, and an OS will run ok on it [no heat or any other problem with the HDD not included in the setup being used].

"I went out, purchased a new HD and placed it correctly. Loaded windows and now am having the problem...."
Does that mean you properly installed Windows on this HDD while it was connected to this set of hardware?

[mjc]

Disconnect the CD drive...

[chrisling]

I'm having the same view as mjc had mentioned before. Which is fan problem. Try keep your eyes on the processor fan whether it's spinning strongly or not. If not change it's power supply cable directly to the power supply. That's mean disconnect it from the power supply at mother board.

Don't feel shame in front of your friends, you had tried your best to help them.

[dramir]

Thank you for the overwhelming help. This is what I have so far:

1. I disconnected both CD and DVD drives and the same problem.
2. I put one panel back on and had the fan blow at the CPU from the motherboard side and that actually got me twenty minutes out of it. I was even able to install microsoft office. But once it crashed, it kept rebooting itself.
3. I tried the diagnostics utility that came with the Western Digital HD and it seems to say everything is okay.
4. If I dont use the computer for several hours, it seems to run a little longer and then start auto-shutting off.

I am starting to think it is a heat problem, but when I checked the BIOS, the CPU temp ranges from 24-31 C. Is that normal?

I cleaned out the heat-sink of the processor, couldn't figure out how to get the fan off :( I am going to get back to it once I get off of work today.

Thank you for the help.

[mjc]

If the temps are in that range then there is the chance that the fan is the problem.

Some motherboards not only monitor the temps but also the fan speed and if the speed is wavering they will do the same thing as if the temps were getting too high.

[saphalline]

Try disconnecting all drives and running MemTest86 off a floppy. See if it comes up with any errors. If MemTest86 can complete at all or allow the system to run longer, then it's a safe bet that the core components are working. The problem would then be with the drives or the PSU.

I'm leaning towards the RAM and PSU right now. Rebooting of this nature is usually a hardware problem. Is this a custom-built system or OEM?

[amysiko]

i'm not so sure this should be acceptable or not,...at least try...:p
try to check the gap between HSF and CPU, do the thermal paste play it job there,..??


sorry,,bad language..(semester break, not using english at home) :)