Random Restarts

[EndersShadow]

So I have been running Vista for around 6 months with no problems. All of a sudden my computer will randomly restart for no apparent reason. I might be in the middle of a firefox session, be watching a movie in VMC or letting it just sit idle and it will restart.

The CPU and Mobo temps are well within their limits when this happens so I cannot see it being temperature related (but I can always be wrong).

I have installed a fan controller by NXZT. It lists that each fan can pull a max of 4 watts. I currently have 5 SilenX 90 CFM fans connected to it. Each one per the manufacture draws 3.88 watts. It is possible that if the fans draw to much power it would restart the computer?

I have done virus scan's all over the place, run as many diff utilities to verify its not a HDD issue, but I am at wits end.

I do have my computer Overclocked, spec's are in my sig.

Any help would be appreciated. This gets quite annoying let me tell you!

 

[lowteckh]

Reformat

 

[Dangman]

Download Memtest+ v2.10 or whatever the latest version is, unzip it, burn the ISO file to a CD, and then boot from it, just like you would do with the XP/Vista install CD. Let Memtest+ run for at least three hours on each stick of RAM separately as well as test the RAM all together. Go for a full 24 hours if you want to be completely sure that the RAM is not a problem. If you start seeing errors, than your RAM is defective or you have incorrect settings for the RAM.

 

[EndersShadow]

Reformat

Trying to avoid that with a passion!

Download Memtest+ v2.10 or whatever the latest version is, unzip it, burn the ISO file to a CD, and then boot from it, just like you would do with the XP/Vista install CD. Let Memtest+ run for at least three hours on each stick of RAM separately as well as test the RAM all together. Go for a full 24 hours if you want to be completely sure that the RAM is not a problem. If you start seeing errors, than your RAM is defective or you have incorrect settings for the RAM.

Will give this a go. Any other suggestions?

Some other info on the odd chance this will help. The computer passed 30 runs of IntelBurnin and went for a week on Prime95. Also no issues with Orthos.

 

[JaYp146]

OP, try disconnecting your internet connection (whether it's wireless or wired) to the computer, see what happens.

 

[Bigbacon]

turn off the overclock

 

[krayz]

First disable your overclock and run on all stock settings, with everything disabled in windows except the necessary goods. (Either safe mode or msconfig) If it works, slowly turn everything back on to locate your problem. It could be one of a million things.

 

[EndersShadow]

OP, try disconnecting your internet connection (whether it's wireless or wired) to the computer, see what happens.

What is the reasoning on that one? I can give it a shot, just wondering why.

turn off the overclock

What would cause it to stop working now? Its been stable for 6 months in addition to all the tests listed in my above post.

First disable your overclock and run on all stock settings, with everything disabled in windows except the necessary goods. (Either safe mode or msconfig) If it works, slowly turn everything back on to locate your problem. It could be one of a million things.

I can turn off the overclock but what problems would that be causing? Its a pretty mild overclock for that CPU. I only changed the FSB from 333 to 400.

I will give all these a shot after the Memory test in the above listed posts. Thank you for your input. Please keep them coming!

 

[JaYp146]

What is the reasoning on that one? I can give it a shot, just wondering why.

*shrug
I've endured enough difficulties with Vista + wireless drivers to the point where I'm practically expecting it to be the problem. At the very least you're crossing something off a list of culprits.

 

[Dangman]

What would cause it to stop working now? Its been stable for 6 months in addition to all the tests listed in my above post.

I can turn off the overclock but what problems would that be causing? Its a pretty mild overclock for that CPU. I only changed the FSB from 333 to 400.

Ehh sometimes problems with OCs occur long after they've been proven "stable"

 

[EndersShadow]

Download Memtest+ v2.10 or whatever the latest version is, unzip it, burn the ISO file to a CD, and then boot from it, just like you would do with the XP/Vista install CD. Let Memtest+ run for at least three hours on each stick of RAM separately as well as test the RAM all together. Go for a full 24 hours if you want to be completely sure that the RAM is not a problem. If you start seeing errors, than your RAM is defective or you have incorrect settings for the RAM.

Did that computer passed it fine

OP, try disconnecting your internet connection (whether it's wireless or wired) to the computer, see what happens.

Did that still nothing, also I am wired straight to the modem. Only wireless things are my keyboard and mouse.

turn off the overclock

Overclock has been turned off.

From what it looks like to me its something with Firefox. Earlier today before work I hooked back up the internet to get on [H]ardOCP and after opening a few tabs the computer crashed again. Currently its in safe mode running more virus scans (thought I doubt it would get anything). Anyone know if Vista 64 bit doesnt play well with Firefox? It is a problem with the 32 bit emulator in Vista when running Firefox? I am at a complete loss here.