sudden restart?

[aylau]

My PC often restart itself all of a sudden without any sign. There is no error or warning message. The computer would just restart itself, even during the booting process. Sometimes when i just let it sit by itself it will also restart. There is no pattern to it, seems to me it just randomly happen. What is wrong with my computer? Can anyone help me??
Thanks a lot.

[Paleo Pete]

My first guess would be heat. Open the case and clean out all dust, I use a camera brush and a small fan to blow everything clear of the case. Pay close attention to the fins of the CPU heat sink, and be careful. A can of compressed air from Radio Shack will blow any leftover dust clear.

Then leave the case open, and set up the computer, place a small fan so it can blow into the case while it runs. Keep the cat out of the room... hehe...Try it for a day or 2 and see what happens. If it runs ok, put the cover back on and try it. If the problem starts again, try putting the fan where it can blow into the area where the computer sits, especially if this is an enclosed cabinet area in a desk. You can get extra case fans at computer shops, or CSO and they're not more than about $10. If you try and install one, make sure it moves air the same direction as the existing power supply fan does. Most cases have a secondary fan mount, but most companies are too cheap to put one in it.

By the way, check to see that the power supply and CPU fans are both working...and clean...

If it turns out to be heat, you might need move the computer to a different location where it can get better airflow. I hate to say it, but heat problems can also damage the CPU and power supply...
If it's not heat, those are the most likely culprits.


------------------
If you had everything...Where would you put it?

Computer Information Links

[aylau]

....it wasn't hot for sure....i clean out all the dust already and it is pretty cool in my room. So it shouldn't be the hot.

My friend told me that maybe its the power supply. Could it be??
What else would cause this problem? Thanks a lot

[Matt]

I have had similar problems on my computer except that it will only spontaniously restart when I am online. In fact that is the only time it happens to me. If your problem is caused by a similar situation a certain ISA or PCI card might be the culprit. Also if you can check you power supply's rating see if it is a 200 watt power supply. If it is and you have a lot if devices plugged into than that might be part of the problem. However my power supply maxes at 200 and I have two hard drives, two CDrom drives, and two PCI cards plugged in and it doesn't seem to cause any problems. yet

[Paleo Pete]

Potential causes:

CPU
Motherboard
Memory
ROM Chip
Power Supply
Power Switch
Heat
Video, Modem, Sound Card, or other internal component.

And sometimes, although not likely, software...usually heat is the first thing to check. Now it gets tough...To check the other components, you have to have suitable replacements on hand to test with. I'd start with memory.

------------------
If you had everything...Where would you put it?

Computer Information Links