medcomputers
asked on
Windows 7 Ultimate keeps crashing
Hi
For no apparent reason my Windows 7 Ultimate configuration keeps crashing at various stages of the boot process. Sometimes it crashes as soon as the BIOS starts to load, sometimes it will let me get into Safe Mode, sometimes it will let me try last kown good configurationand sometimes I can even get to the desktop for a few seconds. However it starts the computer then crashes and then the only way I can restart is to physically remove and replace the power supply cable. The on/off button will not work, restart does not work and whatever you do with the keyboard or mouse fails.
Does anyone have any suggestions as to what might be the problem and what I can try?
Thanks
Matthew
For no apparent reason my Windows 7 Ultimate configuration keeps crashing at various stages of the boot process. Sometimes it crashes as soon as the BIOS starts to load, sometimes it will let me get into Safe Mode, sometimes it will let me try last kown good configurationand sometimes I can even get to the desktop for a few seconds. However it starts the computer then crashes and then the only way I can restart is to physically remove and replace the power supply cable. The on/off button will not work, restart does not work and whatever you do with the keyboard or mouse fails.
Does anyone have any suggestions as to what might be the problem and what I can try?
Thanks
Matthew
By the way, if you suspect hardware (and it could be), DO backup before attempting the Windows Repair.
... Thinkpads_User
... Thinkpads_User
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While I do agree (as I noted far above) that hardware is a likely problem, I cannot imagine how a relatively new machine (Windows 7) could have such aging capacitors. It took about 6 years for my IBM PC 300 PL to do that.
... Thinkpads_User
... Thinkpads_User
Capacitors can be damaged even by dirty power coming from your power provider and also from your PC's power supply.
As stated previously, I think it's most likely a faulty power supply. But caps can and do fail prematurely -- if PSU is at fault, could be a failed cap in PSU.
medcomputers - Try the obvious for hardware issues: Try starting it with a bootable CD and see how the computer reacts. ... Thinkpads_User
start by running ram and diak diags; best download ubcd to run them : http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/also - check the cpu temp in the BIOS when it shuts down - it can be overheating
I've also seen these symptoms when the default RAM timing was too aggressive. Somew motherboards have an "auto-overclock" feature that is too liberal.
Try to manually trim back the RAM timing, CPU clock, turn off L2 and L3 cache, etc. So once you have made your system as slow as possible, see if the problem goes away... then you can start cranking it back up to see if you can narrow down the culprit.
I've even seen a bad k/b or mouse cause problems like this.
Agreed with the consensus about hardware problems though... even potentially bad ram. Do make sure you have ALL Perhiperals unplugged (USB devices, secondary video card, just 1 RAM chip, etc.)
ISOLATE it and report back if you still have the same issue.
Try to manually trim back the RAM timing, CPU clock, turn off L2 and L3 cache, etc. So once you have made your system as slow as possible, see if the problem goes away... then you can start cranking it back up to see if you can narrow down the culprit.
I've even seen a bad k/b or mouse cause problems like this.
Agreed with the consensus about hardware problems though... even potentially bad ram. Do make sure you have ALL Perhiperals unplugged (USB devices, secondary video card, just 1 RAM chip, etc.)
ISOLATE it and report back if you still have the same issue.
ASKER
Hi everyone
Many thanks for all your comments and suggestions. Also apologies for delay in replying but I'm still recovering from a serious road traffic accident earlier in tne year. My movement is seriously restricted at the moment and it might be sometime before I can follow up on some of your suggestions.
In the meantime I agree that it is most likely to be a hardware problem. I cannot get into the system at all at the moment to run a repair or try any diagnostics. I intend to follow up on suggestions by OaklahomaDave and willcomp when I can. I will visually inspect the motherboard, check all connections and possibly try another power supply. I also agree with comments by richardsk-octjamaica:and try resetting the BIOS. Hopefully try and isolate each possible problem one by one.
In the meantime, as it might be a while before I can physically try all these options, I will allocate points as best I can.
Thanks again everyone
Matthew
Many thanks for all your comments and suggestions. Also apologies for delay in replying but I'm still recovering from a serious road traffic accident earlier in tne year. My movement is seriously restricted at the moment and it might be sometime before I can follow up on some of your suggestions.
In the meantime I agree that it is most likely to be a hardware problem. I cannot get into the system at all at the moment to run a repair or try any diagnostics. I intend to follow up on suggestions by OaklahomaDave and willcomp when I can. I will visually inspect the motherboard, check all connections and possibly try another power supply. I also agree with comments by richardsk-octjamaica:and try resetting the BIOS. Hopefully try and isolate each possible problem one by one.
In the meantime, as it might be a while before I can physically try all these options, I will allocate points as best I can.
Thanks again everyone
Matthew
ASKER
Clear, accurate advice as usual.
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-CA/windows7/products/features/startup-repair
.. Thinkpads_User