My computer wants to shut off unexpectedly.

User: inactive Posts:

Thanks! I'm not much of a computer tech person so I have no idea what parts are what. If I knew where the ram was and what it looked like, I could see if that is whats causing it. I know my fans are dirty, but people say a vacuum isn't right to use. What else could I use?

User: inactive Posts:

Hmmmmm,
I'd have to say that if you don't know what ram looks like, you really should take your computer to a competant technician for repair.

Getting inside a computer and taking out parts is NOT for the Novice.
At least SOME education should be acquired first.

NO, vacc's are not good inside of a computer. The static charges that can be generated at the nozzle can easily exceed 1000 volts. A soft brush and some compressed air are best. Maybe a dust rag to wipe out the dust bunnies from the bottom of the case and from the air vents.

Be carefull, be safe,
Shadow

usasma · Joined: May 06, 2003 Posts: 5007

Ahhhh! I love a good error message!

BCCode 1000007f (I didn't count the zero's in any of these!): http://www.osronline.com/ddkx/ddtools/bccodes_96hz.htm

BCCode 0000007f: http://www.osronline.com/ddkx/ddtools/bccodes_0ug7.htm

What is says about trap code 00000008:

0x00000008, or Double Fault, is when an exception occurs while trying to call the handler for a prior exception. Normally, the two exceptions can be handled serially. However, there are several exceptions that cannot be handled serially, and in this situation the processor signals a double fault. There are two common causes of a double fault:

1. A kernel stack overflow. This occurs when a guard page is hit, and then the kernel tries to push a trap frame. Since there is no stack left, a stack overflow results, causing the double fault. If you suspect this has occurred, use the !thread debugger extension to determine the stack limits, and then use the KB (Display Stack Backtrace) debugger command with a large parameter (for example, kb 100) to display the full stack.
2. A hardware problem.

OK - I don't understand #1 above - so that's out. #2 I do understand - but it's awful vague.

So, the next step is to try and find other error messages.

First, search the hard drive for files that end in .dmp and .mdmp. If you find them, follow this link for instructions on how to generate an analysis report - the copy and paste it into your next post: http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=35246

Next, look in your Event Viewer for error messages similar to the BCCode (it'll have a lot of 0's and will end with 2 letters or numbers). There's more details at this link: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic40108.html

User: inactive Posts:

Error codes? Chasing all over the internet for this program or that?

It's far easier to just fix the problem. It's just a home computer,,,, not rocket science. rofl

I fix peoples computers every day and never read an error log.
It's far easier and less time consuming to just find the problem and eliminate it.

I use a system I helped to develope and taught at Xerox, ITT Servcom and Caterpillar, to lab tech's and engineers. It's called "System Fault Analysis" and can be used to fix a computer, toaster or Crawler Tractor.

Carry on John Wink

usasma · Joined: May 06, 2003 Posts: 5007

Any more info on System Fault Analysis? I'm entirely self-taught and have picked up on error messages because they seem to explain a lot (IMO).

I'd love to learn a simpler way!

User: inactive Posts:

Okay,

I've googled the phrase MY COMPUTER SHUTS DOWN UNEXPECTEDLY, and I got this forum. Okay, so after reading this post and all of the recommendations. I've almost narrowed down the problem with the machine I have.

First I had a customer that owned this computer. The novice office person like to download songs from the net, from P2P sources. Needless to say she has no clue of spyware, virus, trojan ad infinitum. So I got everything cleaned up, installed anti-s/w and antivirus. Scanned...got rid of the crap that I'm sure you understand was on there. I upgraded the RAM to another 512 stick upon the already 256 Meg of Ram.

The issue seemed to go away. Mind you this is a new motherboard and processor, running XP home and aforementioned RAM. The issue came up again and by now I was tired of getting the calls and totally mystified as to the problem. The only thing I didn't do..or so I think was change the power supply. I even purchased a 450 Watt power supply...brand new. Installed it. Never saw the problem arise for about three weeks. Then about three/four days ago, it shut down for not reason again. At some points it would get through post then shut down, others I could get to the logon screen for windows. The second I clicked on the user....GONE.

During none of these occassions have I seen the BSOD. It goes from wherever I'm at to off. Not even a reboot, just off. So I guess I'll try pulling the known older RAM out and see if that does it. I know for sure all the RAM inside is up to PARITY. I'm guess the old RAM is shot.....

Any ideas????

Ray

NOPE THAT WASN'T IT.... I took out the older 256 stick and still it just shut down on me. I didn't do anything, I rebooted and just left the machine idle. Three or four minutes later, it went off. I guess I'll try pulling the Nic Card.

usasma · Joined: May 06, 2003 Posts: 5007

You can check for the BSOD in several ways:

1) Go to Start...Control Panel...System...Advanced tab...Startup and Recovery Settings button - and uncheck the box that says "Automatically restart". If it's a BSOD, it'll stop there.

2) Check your Event Viewer (Start...Run...type in "eventvwr.msc" (without the quotes) and press Enter. Here's a little "HowTo" on the Event Viewer: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic40108.html

3) Search your hard drive for .dmp and .mdmp files. If you find them, you can analyze them using this tutorial: http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=35246 If the mass of extra info isn't readable to you - you can always cut and paste it in your next post.

Hardware Troubleshooting:
1) Run tests:
- Memtest86
- SpeedFan (both the temps and the SMART status of the hard drive
- Power supply tester (less than $10 on the web)

2) Visual check of the motherboard for problems. Here's a link about bad capacitors that may help: http://www.badcaps.net/ Also check for shorts between the motherboard and case.

2) Strip the system down to:
- Case
- Power Supply
- Motherboard
- CPU, cooler, fan - presumed good if the temps (from Speedfan) are OK
- Memory (RAM) - presumed good after MemTest is run without errors
- Video card
- Keyboard
- Floppy drive (or bootable CD - not both)

This eliminates most of the components from the problem. So, then boot with a DOS diskette and see if it reboots. If it does - the problem is in one of the components that's on the list.

If not, add the hard drive and the mouse (makes it easier in Windows) and boot up to see if there's a problem there. Check the SMART status of the drive in SpeedFan. If there is a problem (and it's not the hard drive), try a reinstall of Windows (might try a repair install and then a format and reinstall if needed).

At this point it's probably a good idea to remove all drivers that you can get your hands on - and replace them with new one's from the manufacturer's website.

Then start adding parts back in (one at a time), remove the old drivers and install new, updated one's and test the system to see if it crashes/reboots.

FWIW - I'm experiencing this on one of my systems and am starting to suspect the video card - but I just don't have the time to work on it! I've even tried to run MemTest - but it crashes on me - yet the system seems fine in Safe Mode (and I've reinstalled Windows and updated all the drivers). I'm of the opinion that this is a problem that occurs only when a certain part of the system is stressed - which causes a problem with a key component in the system - causing the system to shut down.

User: inactive Posts:

In the past several years I've only replaced one stick of RAM.
That's one that got zapped by a lightning strike.

However I regularly see ram that causes problems and fails the Memtest programs. So to save typing I'm just going to cut and paste the following (again):

*************************************

This may not be the solution to the problem that originated this thread, but many people read these threads that never post. Maybe this will help someone, someplace with a similar problem.

When ever I clean out a PC, I of course clean the CPU cooling fan and heatsink. But right next to the CPU, in most computers, is the ram.
It gets blasted by the waste air leaving the CPU heatsink. It also is electrically charged and attracts dust and dirt like a magnet. I've seen ram sticks that were packed solid with dirt.

This not only causes the ram to overheat, but it can also short out from the dirt getting in between the little legs on the sides of the ram chips.
If any ram fails the memory tests or if it's just plain dirty, I always wash it.

Washing is the last step in PC board manufacturing, so it's a perfectly natural way of cleaning off impurities.

I've done this for many years and feel perfectly comfortable with it.
I just remove the ram stick from the PC, take it to the kitchen sink and rinse it off with warm water. Then I apply a few drops of "Dawn" or whatever dishwashing liquid detergent I have handy and then use an old toothbrush to scrub all the dirt off of the ram-stick.
I really concentrate my efforts on those little leads coming off the sides of the ram chips.

Once I'm sure that I've removed all the dirt, I rinse the stick thoroughly with warm water. Then I shake off as much water as I can and rinse again with Denatured Alcohol. Rubbing Alcohol will work, but not as well.

Finally I shake off all the alcohol I can and place the ram-stick on edge in a warm and well veltilated place to dry. I like to leave it overnight if I can.

Then I reinstall the ram in the motherboard and run the ramtest again.
Usually, you'll find the errors are GONE. If not, then replace the ram.

I also use this same technique for the ram on video cards when I see lines on my screen or colored pixels randomly appearing on the screen.
Ram is ram, regardless of where it's used. When it gets dirty, it will fail.

I hope I haven't bored anyone, but I just felt that this needed some saying.
**************************************

Cheers!
Shadow Cool

drod6011 · Joined: Oct 26, 2006 Posts: 1

dell is not telling no one that that gx270 has leaking caps check out the link below.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=gx270+system+board&am...tnG=Sea

usasma · Joined: May 06, 2003 Posts: 5007

Doh! Another Homer Simpson moment strikes! I'll have to check my system for bad caps also!

jjww1001 · Joined: Nov 02, 2006 Posts: 7

1.check the video card ,pull out it,clean the oxidation object on the root then replace
2.power supply
3.mainboard
suggest you to enlarge the virtual memory first

cowking7 · Joined: Dec 05, 2007 Posts: 5

hey guys im having simmilar issues, Sad

mine add a little twist though.
ok so i built my pc from the ground up a couple of years ago, worked great for those two yeasr.. then all of a sudden, it starts to just shut off unexpectlantly when playing games, (felt the power supply and seemed verry hot so of course i probely overheated it) you would think.
so as i go on this problem just gets worse, its not even hot when it shuts down, it just goes "blink" its off.

Soo I talk to my freinds and they say i will probely have to replace my power supply, so i do, i go and purchase a new 500watt Thermaltake power supply from RadioShack, and all seems well for few more weeks.
You would think that the old power sulpply would have been the problem, (seeing now that my system is working fine, but about a month later, "Blink" everything shuts off again. now it will only stay on for about 3 min. tops. enough time for me to check e-mail relleay fast.
So i consider it could be another overheatinmg problem, but my heatsink is cool to the touch, and all my fans are working uninterupted.....
so i unplug everything , take off the side pannel and lay it on its side to see how it will preform, (just to see what happens) AND IT WORKS FINE!!!,WTF... right... but then i flip it ritside up again put on the side, plug everything back in and "BAM" same old problem.....

what is going on??!!! please help if you can, ive read all of this forum and it seems you guys are real problem solvers... So HELP!!!!!!!!!

Werebo

Allo Cowking and welcome to the Lockergnome forum

If turning the PC through 90 degrees seems to cure the problem, it would seem to be gravity-related. Try checking ALL the cable connections, going into and off of the motherboard and the other ends too - into the HD(s), CD/DVD drives etc. Depending on the case itself, it might be too awkward to get to the front panel where the On/Off switch, lights etc. live. It's highly unlikely the wiring could be faulty there, but if any of the wires look a bit stretched or damaged, it's conceivable that the wire just might have got pulled off the other end and shorting against something.

Also, check any peripheral cards in the PCI and graphics slots (both mounts, the slot and the screw fixing at the top of the backplane) and the RAM slots too.

If possible, with the PC disconnected from everything, lift the PC box and gently rock it through various angles, listening for any rattles, it could be a loose screw or component taking a walkabout, inside the case.

goretsky · Last edited by goretsky on Sat Dec 08, 2007 5:56 am; edited 1 time in total

Hello,

Just to add to Werebo's excellent-as-always advice, verify that the motherboard and the expansion cards are not shorting out form making inappropriate contact with the chassis.

It really sounds to me, though, like a component overheat problem. Are there any issues with cooling on or around the video card?

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

cowking7 · Joined: Dec 05, 2007 Posts: 5

thanks for your help guys Smile

i unplugged everything and turned the computor at variouse angles, and did find some loose screws. I tossed em, made shure all my connections were perfect, and tried to boot again.
Same problem. so either i missed some loose stuff inside the case, or the problems something else i guess Sad

This is very upsetting. But i appreciate you guys trying to help.

No it cant be an overheating problem becouse everything is cold to the touch, i even tried running it with 2 x 9in. house fans. No effect. So it cant be overheating hardware.

Is there a virus out there that will do this?

Thanks-

Werebo

There's viruses that will do near anything except make the morning mug o' tea for you, but I've never heard of one that will 'stun' a PC into instant submission like that. Mind you, that isn't to say there isn't one (to kill a PC, not make tea Wink

).

It's 3:15AM here, so I'll have to sleep on this one and hope for inspiration tomorrow

cowking7 · Joined: Dec 05, 2007 Posts: 5

lol, ok

thanks.
ill update you if the situation changes.

Werebo

goretsky

Hello,

Another possibility might be an connection failing due to thermal expansion. You may wish to disassemble the computer by disconnecting all internal cabling, removing all of the expansion cards, memory and the processor and finally the motherboard from the chassis and then reinserting all of the components.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

cowking7 · Joined: Dec 05, 2007 Posts: 5

its been awhile since ive replied, (sorry) been busy, but i tried to get my motherboard out but one of the screws to the back panel is broken:(
so i tried to saw it off but that didnt work so now im going to drill into it!
any sudjestions?