Computer Restarts... Randomly

[DarkBlood]

After I installed RAM (I have un-installed it to see if it would fix th issue too) my computer starts to restart every so often, it's getting on my nerves.

Other than get a new computer, what do you people suggest I do? I've tried to see if it was an OS problem too, but it wasn't.

[Gamer4u]

It could be overheating. I over clock my pc, and if the CPU overheats it reboots the pc. Oh the other hand my RAM overheating causes my system to freeze.

[DarkBlood]

It could be overheating. I over clock my pc, and if the CPU overheats it reboots the pc. Oh the other hand my RAM overheating causes my system to freeze.

It only started happening after I installed a stick of PC3200 RAM to its fourth slot though. I removed it, like I said, to see if that solved the issue, but it didn't.

[iBrightDev]

is it blue screening?

[Gamer4u]

How did you check it wasn't an OS problem? a reinstall?

[Dynash]

I got this alot, even though I never added anything. It could be a OS problem, since I reinstalled it hasn't happened, yet it constantly did it. It never blue screened or nothing, just shut off, and rebooted, without warning.

[DarkBlood]

is it blue screening?

*was it

No, it wasn't.

@Gamer4u, yes I did reinstall with Xubuntu 8.04, but it still did it. Then I tried Ubuntu 8.04, still is doing it.

[fnixws]

Recheck all internal cables and plugs for a start.
You didnt happen to have to apply excess force when instering this ram did you? If the motherboard is incorrectly mounted, its easy as hell to fracture.

If you have spare hardware lying around, id be swapping bits over 1 by 1 to see if anything is damaged. Id start with the powersupply.

[DarkBlood]

Recheck all internal cables and plugs for a start.
You didnt happen to have to apply excess force when instering this ram did you? If the motherboard is incorrectly mounted, its easy as hell to fracture.

If you have spare hardware lying around, id be swapping bits over 1 by 1 to see if anything is damaged. Id start with the powersupply.

I don't have any extra bits of hardware myself, so that's not possible. I'll have to wait until monday so I can send it into Milwaukee PC, AGAIN... and pay them another 30-40 USD for labor and junk. *sighs* I really have the devil's luck with machines. First my PS2 getting goofy, my laptop's HD broke, and now this.

[heymrdj]

Download and use memtest. I bet the stick you bought is bad and causing the errors. Restarts/instability is a tell tale sign of that. Also, make sure you're supplying the correct voltage to the DIMM. Some sticks require more voltage than others. Make sure to run the voltage specified by the manufacturer of the RAM.

[themoose]

It's going to be the RAM that's at fault, I had a faulty stick once and the exact same happened to me.

Do what heymrdj suggests and run memtest.

[RagekiJohn]

It's going to be the RAM that's at fault, I had a faulty stick once and the exact same happened to me.

Do what heymrdj suggests and run memtest.

Yeah, it could be a faulty memory stick. Check all your plugs as well to see if it could be another hardware issue. Overheating could be possible or maybe not enough power is being routed throughout your computer?

[DarkBlood]

Here are the results of Memtest before memtest crashed (yes, it CRASHED):

http://iyeru42.info/test/hpim0061.jpg

Sorry for the huuuuge file size and resolution. This was with all four slots having a PC3200 Stick in them. The system wouldn't boot properly if I had all four in them, but this time it did. I tried booting with the liveCD with all four filled, but the liveCD crashed before it could allocate all of the memory. So I removed the 256 MB Stick from the fourth slot, and now the liveCD boots fine. However, I have yet to experience my random shut-down as it only occurs after about30-50 mins of computer use.

Right now the first three slots are filled, meaning it isn't exactly the RAM at fault, it may be the slots themselves.

[themoose]

See that red bit? That means a stick is faulty :)

Carefully try each stick on it's own to narrow it down (obviously destatic yourself each time etc etc).

[Dynash]

It could be the port, move one of the working sticks into it, and replace the new one in its place, easiest way to check.

[DarkBlood]

Nah, I removed the PNY 512 MB and 1 GB, and put back the 256s that came with it in their original spots. Works fine now. I returned the two PNY Sticks, got about 120 USD back since both were on sale at the time of buying.

Now my computer's super slow. Oh well, I'ma wait until late, late next year to get a new Windows Seven Computer. Hopefully an x64 as well. NOT a gateway, compaq or emachines. *shudder* Not even acer.

Anyway, Regression to old RAM = Solvent

Err, I mean... whatever.

[bigperm]

You knocked the heatsink loose on your cpu. Mount it back tight and you will be good to go.

[DarkBlood]

You knocked the heatsink loose on your cpu. Mount it back tight and you will be good to go.

No, I didn't even touch it when I installed the RAM. Besides, it's too late now (Since I returned the other RAM, etc). The 512 RAM it had originally works fine, didn't even do what you mentioned bigperm, and it works normally, no restarts, etc.

[utcrazy]

Had the same issue. My heatsink wasn't working and my box was shutting off at 105 degrees. Replaced the heatsink. I now realize it was just buildup of dust in the old one, but the new one is much quieter. I had my case off for months and it happened.