Reboots for no reason

[TheGreatSatan]

That I can tell. My new system:

Q9400
8GB DDR2-800
3870 X2 1GB
74GB raptor
1TB secondary
Vista Ultimate 64-bit SP2

Just reboots during online dowloads, gaming, whatever. It may be heat or bad RAM. I'm not sure. It doesn't blue screen either, just reboots. No updates in the que. No nothing. When it comes back up, it's like nothing ever happened. No error reports. Nothing. Where to begin?

[nevermind1534]

First, check your temps, if they're good, then try each memory module separately or a known working one. If that's not it, it could be the mobo, PSU, or any number of other things.

[Eclecticos]

Reseat the processor. Check the FSB Heatsink, and fan.
Add some thermal paste. Replace the memory modules separately
as suggested by nevermind1534. Or RMA maybe a bad mobo.

I would also check all cable connections, it could be shorting out somewhere.

[Crazy Buddhist]

1. Check for a BIOS update from the manufacturer .... if there is one flash it

2. Run long memtest diagnostics on the memory.

... if it comes out clean you are down to faulty CPU, MOBO or PSU. I think you know the routine from there but if there is still an issue I would bet it's the PSU so next I'd check the voltages for stability etc.

CB

[Luke122]

Make sure that the option to automatically restart on system failure is disabled. That way, if it does bluescreen, you can at least see the faulting file/device/module.

[TheGreatSatan]

VCore?? I ran Sandra and this is what I found:

Mainboard


System Fan 149rpm
Notice 224 SMBIOS/DMI information may be inaccurate.
Warning 2508 All memory slots are full. Upgrading the memory may be difficult or expensive.
Warning 2519 One of the system fans has failed or is spinning too slowly.


Processors


Notice 224 CPU 1 [Processor 0, Core 0, Thread 0] : SMBIOS/DMI information may be inaccurate.
Warning 236 CPU 1 [Processor 0, Core 0, Thread 0] : Vcore higher than rated maximum. Check Vcore setting!
Notice 224 CPU 2 [Processor 0, Core 1, Thread 0] : SMBIOS/DMI information may be inaccurate.
Warning 236 CPU 2 [Processor 0, Core 1, Thread 0] : Vcore higher than rated maximum. Check Vcore setting!
Notice 224 CPU 3 [Processor 0, Core 2, Thread 0] : SMBIOS/DMI information may be inaccurate.
Warning 236 CPU 3 [Processor 0, Core 2, Thread 0] : Vcore higher than rated maximum. Check Vcore setting!
Notice 224 CPU 4 [Processor 0, Core 3, Thread 0] : SMBIOS/DMI information may be inaccurate.
Warning 236 CPU 4 [Processor 0, Core 3, Thread 0] : Vcore higher than rated maximum. Check Vcore setting!


Buses and Devices


Warning 1209 PCIe : ATI (AMD) R680 [Radeon HD 3870 x2] : Video card does not have an interrupt assigned.
Warning 1209 PCIe : ATI (AMD) R680 [Radeon HD 3870 x2] : Video card does not have an interrupt assigned.
Error PCIe : No devices found. : No devices found.


Power Management


Notice 224 SMBIOS/DMI information may be inaccurate.


Displays and Display Adapters


Tip 2221 Video Adapter : ATI Radeon HD 3870 X2 (2x 320 SM5.0 825MHz, 2x 512MB DDR3 2x901MHz, PCIe 2.00 x16) : Driver is not certified.
Tip 319 Video Adapter : ATI Radeon HD 3870 X2 (2x 320 SM5.0 825MHz, 2x 512MB DDR3 2x901MHz, PCIe 2.00 x16) : A refresh rate of at least 75Hz is recommended. Increase it if possible.
Warning 300 Monitor : Generic PnP Monitor : Unknown monitor. Install the driver for the monitor (or similar model) for optimum performance.


Audio Devices


Warning 710 MIDI Output Devices (Playback) : Microsoft GS Wavetable Synth : Driver may be obsolete. Check that it is the latest version.

Operating System


Tip 1300 Enter your company name or "Home" instead of "Unknown".
Tip 1324 .NET Framework 1.1 not installed. Install to run legacy .NET applications.
Tip 1327 Java Runtime Engine not installed. Install it to run the current Java applications.


Processes


Tip 1601 explorer.exe (Windows Explorer) : Program consumes a large amount of memory.
Tip 1601 MOM.exe (Catalyst Control Center: Monitoring program) : Program consumes a large amount of memory.
Tip 1601 CCC.exe (Catalyst Control Centre: Host application) : Program consumes a large amount of memory.


Services and Drivers


Tip 2130 Background Intelligent Transfer Service : Service may be disabled on Home/Professional OS version.
Tip 2130 Terminal Services : Service may be disabled on Home/Professional OS version.


Users and Groups


Warning 1329 Local Users : Guest : Account is not secured (no password). Consider password protection.
Warning 1329 Local Users : Ken : Account is not secured (no password). Consider password protection.


DirectX


Tip 2221 Direct3D Devices : ATI Radeon HD 3870 X2 (\\.\DISPLAY1) : Driver is not certified.
Error DirectSoundCapture Devices : Primary Sound Capture Driver : DX-DS E88780078


Logical Drives


Warning 3.5" 1.44MB (A:) : Cannot obtain drive information; check that a disk is in the drive and it is correctly formatted.
Warning Removable Drive (E:) @ Generic USB SD Reader (USB) : Cannot obtain drive information; check that a disk is in the drive and it is correctly formatted.
Warning Removable Drive (F:) @ Generic USB CF Reader (USB) : Cannot obtain drive information; check that a disk is in the drive and it is correctly formatted.
Warning Removable Drive (G:) @ Generic USB xD/SM Reader (USB) : Cannot obtain drive information; check that a disk is in the drive and it is correctly formatted.
Warning Removable Drive (H:) @ Generic USB MS Reader (USB) : Cannot obtain drive information; check that a disk is in the drive and it is correctly formatted.

[TheGreatSatan]

I think it might be the hard drive. I reran the Windows experience score and it dropped from 5.6 to 5.5?? Maybe slowly failing??

When I fisrt built it, it was a 5.7

[mtekk]

Well...

I'd say try with a memtestx86 test for a few hours. If any errors show up it is memory. Then if you think your hard drive is causing issues, do a scan of it the one that takes the longest and requires a reboot. If it finds bad sectors you may have a problem. Also, look at the SMART data for the hard drive, something like SpeedFan can read this. It should be able to tell you if it's starting to fail or not as well (the WesternDigital Drive Tools disk will do the same thing IIRC).

[Crazy Buddhist]

I'd still try flashing the latest BIOS, even if it's is the same as your current version, as it is indicating DMI errors. Then check the Vcore is set to the rated level for the PC. If you still have Vcore is too high errors then I'd guess faulty mobo power circuits or PSU.

Matthew

[TheGreatSatan]

I couldn't flash the BIOS. It said it wasn't compatible with 64-bit. I thought maybe a SATA controller might fix it. No 64-bit drivers on the site either

[Crazy Buddhist]

what's the mobo model?

[TheGreatSatan]

Foxconn P45A-S

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813186148&Tpk=p45a-s

[Crazy Buddhist]

I couldn't flash the BIOS. It said it wasn't compatible with 64-bit. I thought maybe a SATA controller might fix it. No 64-bit drivers on the site either

From: http://www.foxconnchannel.com/support/faq_detail.aspx?ID=en-us0000070


Fox LiveUpdate is a special feature of Foxconn m/b.This utility is used to backup and update system bios,update drivers and utilities by local or online.It can support Windows 2000, Windows XP(32-bit and 64-bit), Windows 2003(32-bit and 64-bit)，Vista. If used under Vista,pls flash the latest version (above V5.0)Liveupdate.Usually if you want to upgrade your configuration,you may use this tool to update bios easily by online. And Fox LiveUpdate has the function that it will auto backup original bios before update new one.

According to their website you should not be encountering 64 bit compatibility issues with the BIOS or the liveupdate software if all are up to date.

I haven't read the whole manual but if stuck next I'd consider talking to FoxConn support and get the BIOS flashed.

Matthew

[TheGreatSatan]

I didn't see that Live Update software before. I'm still going to wait. I have a 150GB Raptor coming that I'll use instead. The 75GB one I have now is half full and it only has windows, anti-virus and a couple essential programs. No music, no movies, no photos. That's just pathetic.

After I reinstall, I'll try this all over again, this time with Fox Live Update

[Crazy Buddhist]

After I reinstall, I'll try this all over again, this time with Fox Live Update

If you do it before the reinstall and it solves the problem ... bingo ... the BIOS changes will persist after the reinstall .... which may go more smoothly if this is the problem. If it doesn't solve the issue you've ruled out one factor.

Liveupdate is a 2 minute download and ten minutes of playing with to flash a BIOS.

CB