tadduci
asked on
dell dimension 4400
Hello,
I have a Dell Dimension 4400 at it's factory level configuration... I am experiencing random reboots at many different intervals.
After reading the many posts on "random reboots" I suspect the following items to consider:
1. video card
2. memory
3. power supply
4. o.s.
5. fans/temp
I have addressed #4 and completely formatted the drive. I have also replaced the hard drive with a brand new drive.
Items 1-3,5 remain... and I am looking for a smart way to troubleshoot these items. The random reboots do not write an event to the event viewer in winxp... The reboots occur wether or not winxp or win2003 server is installed so I am leaning away from software and towards hardware. I have 384 mb of memory installed and I have read that the larger amt needs to be in slot 1 so I will check that.
Anyone have any good programs to use or experience with this type of thing?
Is anyone convinced that it's probably a power issue or temp? I stray away from these two causes only because it can be left on for many days idle and it does not reboot.. Memory, there are no running programs other than the o.s. so why all of a sudden would it just reboot unless I am working in a program?
Any thoughts?
Tony
I have a Dell Dimension 4400 at it's factory level configuration... I am experiencing random reboots at many different intervals.
After reading the many posts on "random reboots" I suspect the following items to consider:
1. video card
2. memory
3. power supply
4. o.s.
5. fans/temp
I have addressed #4 and completely formatted the drive. I have also replaced the hard drive with a brand new drive.
Items 1-3,5 remain... and I am looking for a smart way to troubleshoot these items. The random reboots do not write an event to the event viewer in winxp... The reboots occur wether or not winxp or win2003 server is installed so I am leaning away from software and towards hardware. I have 384 mb of memory installed and I have read that the larger amt needs to be in slot 1 so I will check that.
Anyone have any good programs to use or experience with this type of thing?
Is anyone convinced that it's probably a power issue or temp? I stray away from these two causes only because it can be left on for many days idle and it does not reboot.. Memory, there are no running programs other than the o.s. so why all of a sudden would it just reboot unless I am working in a program?
Any thoughts?
Tony
And I forgot - a bad motherboard can also cause random reboots, but leave that as your last choice.
To test memory - download utility from http://www.memtest86.com and run it for several hours.
What is temperature of CPU and inside case? Also, is power supply hot, when you touch it?
Inspect motherboard for bad capacitors (http://www.badcaps.com).
You can also have problem with power supply (btw, you must use Dell power supply, because it has the same connector, but different wiring).
What is temperature of CPU and inside case? Also, is power supply hot, when you touch it?
Inspect motherboard for bad capacitors (http://www.badcaps.com).
You can also have problem with power supply (btw, you must use Dell power supply, because it has the same connector, but different wiring).
ASKER
ok will try and award points after I test.
thanks.
thanks.
Do you have SP2 installed on your system?
rebooting problems can also be caused by a power supply, this would be a pretty simple swap as well
jeff
jeff
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ASKER
im going to try that diagnostic cd... tonight...
I have sp2 installed clean with winxp pro...
tony
I have sp2 installed clean with winxp pro...
tony
"After you install Windows XP Service Pack 2, your computer restarts continuously"
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;873161&Product=windowsxpsp2
"Your computer repeatedly restarts after you install Windows XP Service Pack 2"
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;878474&Product=windowsxpsp2
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;873161&Product=windowsxpsp2
"Your computer repeatedly restarts after you install Windows XP Service Pack 2"
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;878474&Product=windowsxpsp2
SOLUTION
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The other possibility is a flaky power supply. Again, you may be right on the edge of what it can handle, and something small can send it over the edge. Swap a similar rated power supply in.