Problem with my Computer

[priyakochin]

Few weeks back I purchased a new computer with the following config :

AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 3600+ 1.91 GHz,
512 RAM , 160 GB HDD etc

I a having Windows XP in this system.

Now the problem is that , it restarts sometimes without any effect.And if it is kept without working for 10 to 20 minutes its becoming hang.

What can be the reason.I am new to Athlon.

[Tinien]

I don't think this is a problem of AMD

[chicgeek]

Overheating?

[Skinny]

Overheating could be a problem. Have you installed any new hardware on it?

Skinny

[Linda in NY]

Have you checked it for any viruses or spyware ???

[elina]

Overheating should not be there if you keep the computer idle. It looks like a problem of virus. Have you scanned it with an anti virus?

[ScriptMan]

Now the problem is that , it restarts sometimes without any effect

Do you mean that it reboots all by itself? Just stops and restarts?

[MrCat]

at no reason at all, probably you are infected with the Sasser virus. A quick fix to this is to run this command : shutdown -a

This is just a remedy. Even reformatting your PC won't do any good. Try looking for more appropriate actions by scouring Google for more info on Sasser removal. Hope this helps

[coolguy27]

Originally Posted by priyakochin

Few weeks back I purchased a new computer with the following config :

AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 3600+ 1.91 GHz,
512 RAM , 160 GB HDD etc

I a having Windows XP in this system.

Now the problem is that , it restarts sometimes without any effect.And if it is kept without working for 10 to 20 minutes its becoming hang.

What can be the reason.I am new to Athlon.

Probably a virus... 'coz I have already encountered some thing like that in my pc....

You can scan it with antivirus. Try Nod32 or the trendmicro online anti-virus

[Spyros]

Originally Posted by MrCat

Even reformatting your PC won't do any good.

What is so special with the Sasser virus that reformatting the hard drive won't remove it? All data from the hard drive will be lost, including any existing virus.

But anyway. If it was the Sasser virus, priyakochin most probably would see a window with a notice that the system is rebooting/terminating popping up. It must be extreme temperatures.

Originally Posted by priyakochin

Now the problem is that , it restarts sometimes without any effect.And if it is kept without working for 10 to 20 minutes its becoming hang.

What can be the reason.I am new to Athlon.

Open your case. Make sure that the cables aren't interfering with the fans or the airflow. Check the fans, if any of them is problematic. Install one or two additional fans if needed. Apply thermal grease between the CPU and the heat-sink if you haven't done so already.

I guess that the CPU fan isn't working properly, as it's really weird for a computer to reboot with no reason. The rest are nothing more than enhancements for your PC's temperature, but, be sure about your CPU's fan.

[Skinny]

Yup . . .the problem with this kind of issue (random restarting) is that it could really be a software or hardware issue.

Since the computer is only a few weeks old I doubt you would have corrupted software (unless you have been downloading things or you have installed corrupt software). If everything you have is legit than I really start doubting that its a software issue.

However scanning for spyware/viruses (with the most up to date software) is always a good idea. So do that first.

It could be your power supply (overheating), memory (not enough).

I guess an important question to ask is did this problem occur as soon as you bought the computer?

When did you first notice the problem?

Did you do anything just before you noticed the problem (downloaded something, installed new hardware, etc.)

Lastly, if you have any warranty (most of this stuff comes with at least a year parts and labour) I would bring it back and get them to fix it.

Skinny

[priyakochin]

Some times if I am not working (mean not infront of the system) on the system it hangs and I need to restart it by pressing restart button.

So what might be the problem ?

[MrCat]

Originally Posted by Spiros

What is so special with the Sasser virus that reformatting the hard drive won't remove it? All data from the hard drive will be lost, including any existing virus.

There are several variations of computer viruses that tend to reside on your hard drive and memory unless treated properly. That is why even upon reformatting your PC, you would still be encountering the same problem in the future.

[webgirl]

When it begins to have a mind of its own (virus, software issues), you sometimes have to reformat and do a clean install. Happens ewvery time I get a nasty virus.

[Taltos]

The one other problem I have seen with laptops that hasn't been mentioned is they go into hibernate mode. I have had some drivers that didn't quite follow all the recommended programming suggestions and did not appreciate going into hibernate mode. The result was that when sometimes, but not everytime, the laptop went to hibernate, it would lock up, or it would lock up trying to come out of hibernate mode.

That means answer some of the same questions that have already been asked. Was it new when you bought it? Or just new to you? Did it act OK for a while and then start this behavior after a few days, weeks? If so, what have you installed along the way? Especially what have you installed that is free or shareware or from smaller lesser known companies. The big guys screw up to but the little guys have less resources to test and are a little more likely to create this problem if it is a driver or software issue. That other thing to do is turn off hibernate as well as the HD spindown. See what happens.

Good Luck!

[monhunter]

Format it once it will do ur job

[thegamerslink]

Ok, go into Control Panel and Power Options, Disable Hibernate Mode, also on the first tab for power schemes, make sure that where it says turn off monitor, turn off hard disks, and system standby are all set to never and hit ok....in order to diagnose a problem first you have to get rid of all the easy possibilities, reformatting is usually a last resort not a jump on first........see if that takes care of your problem, a multitude of systems have problems when devices go into standby or disable themselves so that is a likely problem, then if the problem persists you check the heating issue, this is done simply enough by removing the side panel that gives access to the drives, cpu and ribbons....make sure the ribbons aren't interfering with fan operation, make sure when you have the system on that not only the cpu fan is functioning but also the power supply fan is running. It is very possible with todays low end(under $1500 computer systems for a power supply to be bad off the shelf, they are cheap and tend to have a high failure ratio. if all the fans are running and the problems persist you can try setting a table fan facing towards the inside of the system and see if it still happens, if it does then it for sure isn't a heating problem. Also hit ctrl-alt-dlt and pull up the task manager look under the performance tab, at idle you should be seeing between 0% - 4% or so, if it's spiking in the 0's or even 100% area when you have nothing running, then you have most likely adware,spyware or other things running in the back ground, you can sometimes find them looking under the process tab of the windows task manager, or using msconfig and looking to see what all is being loaded at start up.....I would run spybot and adaware both free programs as well as running avg a free anti virus program.

In summary though the 2 things I would be most likely to suspect with your description would be the hibernate/standby settings(power settings in control panel) and a bad power supply. I'll quit babbling now :-)

[TheFriend]

Overheating or virus i think. Do you have any programm agains virus? AntiVir is a nice programm: http://www.free-av.de/
http://pack.google.com/intl/de/pack_...utm_campaign=d
e&utm_source=de-ha-emea-de-google&utm_medium=ha&utm_term=antivirus-programmehttp://www.pctools.com/de/spyware-doctor/?ref=google_de&gclid=CKmh2P2XuY4CFRy4EAodAAJZyw
http://www.softonic.de/suche/anti-viren-programme
Or search with Google

[potchie]

Originally Posted by chicgeek

Overheating?

i have the same problem.

[nks]

Two possibilities:
1) overheating - as many have mentioned above
2) insufficient power supply - given the fact that your system requires at least 400W PSU, make sure your power box is capable of supplying that much power.