Random Shutdowns

goretsky · Posted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 5:29 am Post subject:

Hello,

I was just wondering if the computer in question might be receiving RPC service shutdown commands from the Blaster worm over the network interface, which could account for the behavior you noticed.

Of course, damage from attacks like this can be mitigated by keeping the operating system patched with fixes and updates from the vendor, using hardware and software firewalls and so forth, but sometimes a computer is just plugged into a broadband connection with no security or updates whatsoever.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

BruceD · Joined: May 14, 2004 Posts: 2

This may be a little late since you've replaced the system. We are consultants and resellers, but have a customer's machine with exact same problems. It appears that the 5 volt supply is shut down to parts of the motherboard for unknown reason. ie: the CPU fan quits, the extra case fan quits. It's almost as if the system has gone into hibernation without the ability to recover. Removed and ran severe diagnostics on the Seagate hard drive (12 hour test) with no problems. At the same time we installed a hard drive with Windows ME on it, and the machine ran for the same 12 hours without any problem. This appears to eliminate any hardware problems. The only add-on this machine has is a 56k modem. All else is on the motherboard.
We restored WinXP from the hard drive (the OS restore is on a partition of the hard drive) agreeably not the "ideal" system, but it does work. It appeared to be working until we installed SP1, then the problems started over.
This brings us to this AM. We are going to try to re-install the OS without SP1 to see if that is causing the problem.
We don't know whether the motherboard was made by Trigem or Asus, but suspect that the BIOS (by HP) is the root of the problem (this isn't the first time). For the uninformed HP, Compaq, Gateway et al don't make a single thing that goes into their machines. If you buy an OEM Asus motherboard to replace the one HP installed, you will have 10 times the machine, because it has the OEM BIOS without all the garbage that HP adds. Haven't checked for leaking caps yet, but is a possiblity.

nizamsplanet · Joined: May 14, 2004 Posts: 4

hai......

The problem seems to be dealing with ur hardware & buttons dealing
with power controls
"" contact ur system HP administaror.."
.............check any bug in ur cabinet

No problem with Windows XP :blink:

BruceD · Joined: May 14, 2004 Posts: 2

To finish our posting - we replaced the TriGem motherboard which had 7 bad capacitors with an Intel D845GVSRL motherboard, and system is running great. Some cautions for anyone wanting to do same. Use EXTREME care in removing the CPU. Don't do it until you have removed the old motherboard from the case. Loosen the heatsink clamps BUT DON'T PULL UP ON THE HEATSINK, then insert a small screwdriver between the CPU and the heatsink. Twist the screwdriver to pry the heatsink loose from the CPU. The heat sink compound is very sticky. If you attempt to pull the heatsink up, you stand a chance of pulling the CPU out of the socket causing damage to the CPU.
The TriGem motherboard uses a single connector block to connect the power switch, HDD light and Power LED. We have spare two pin connectors from discarded cases that we used to separate these into 3 normal connections, but you could get some heat shrink tubing from Radio Shack and simply push each individual socket onto i'ts matching pin on the new motherboard after insulating with the heat shrink tube. All other connectors match with the exception of a mysterious mini-phone plug in the back of the HP case.
The Intel motherboard does have an external audio connector near the rear of the board that can connect to front mounted audio jacks. See Intel's spec sheet for details on this connector.
We did have to run the None-Destructive system restore on the Hard drive to get the system to boot correctly. We were surpised that we had to enter the Product Key Code which fortunately was on a sticker on the side of the case.
The old motherboard could be repaired but probably would cost nearly as much as a new board. The bad capacitors were definitely the cause of the original problems.
Good Luck to anyone trying these repairs.
:rolleyes:

horsecharles · Joined: Sep 24, 2003 Posts: 4632

Filed away in appropriate mental cabinet. Thank you.

Snoop115 · Joined: Feb 14, 2008 Posts: 1

I have come into a hp pavilion 513w and I have the same problem with it shutting down and was wondering if you came up with a definite solution.I ordered the recovery disks thinking that a full recovery would do the trick.......but to no avail. Now I'm trying my sp2 upgrade disk to see if that will solve the prob. I noticed that while i was doing the recovery it didn't shut down nor is it shutting down while I'm running the upgrade disk. I already tried the motherboard battery/all fans are running fine.

I don't know if I'm doing tis right but here goes/I dug a little deeper and I discovered that there are 6 bad capacitors on the motherboard(as someone else had said was the culprit)and with that said I guess I'll try to find a mobo that can replace this one/any suggestions would be most appreciated.

goretsky

Hello,

You could have an inadequate or failing power supply in your HP Pavilion 513w computer. Installing a better quality, higher wattage power supply may solve the problem.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 1546 Location: Central FL, USA

I'm not familiar with the 513W, but HP was famous for years for putting only enough power in their PC's to get them out the door and off the shelf.

I had one here (on the service bench) that I wanted to put an extra case fan in, for better cooling.
The stock PSU would not even allow the system to boot up with the new case fan installed and plugged in. A new and heavier duty PSU solved THAT problem.

With HP and even some other brands, the PSU is always suspect when the PC starts shutting down randomly. Failing filter capacitors on the mobo is another area to check. They are easily detected by the bulging or leaking tops. A failing CMOS battery can also cause some really weird behavior.

This thread is four years old, but the problems and their solutions never change.

Cheers Mates!
The Doctor

Beastlykings · Joined: May 05, 2008 Posts: 1

My buddy asked me if I could look at his comp, it is this same hp pavilion 513w, I tried for weeks changing CPUs and PSUs and the RAM.. No good.
Btw it was crashing so bad it could barely POST most times.. If I disconnected the HDD I could get to the BIOS, but no farther into it with the same prob..
In a very noobish way I didn't even notice the capacitors, I googled and found this thread, checked the CAPS and there are about 6 or 7 of them burst all along the CPU on the board.
I'm off to buy a new MB... lol

Thanks for all the help! I was pulling my hair out on this one!

-Beastlykings

Werebo

Allo Beastlykings and welcome to the Lockergnome forum

Glad we could help with your 'dead mobo' problem Wink

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 1546 Location: Central FL, USA

Sometimes a person will have a mobo that they just CAN'T replace, or don't want to.
To solve that problem, there is/are at least one person here in the US that will take a mobo with bad caps and rebuild it, for a nominal fee.

Doc