help! System turns off suddenly after misc apps

[MemeX]

Hello Users of the Doom9-Forum,

I have a very big problems with my Pc w2k system, it started early this weekend..here's what happened and what's happening:

I installed a software-package which was with my newly bought Fuji 205s camera. right after the installation I noticed that my system just turned off when I opened exe'ed an app. WinRar for example, some installations did the same thing also, like DX9b and when Vobsub loads with a video. The system just reboots suddenly, like when you press the Reset button. Also, when I put in my Motherboard Utility CD, it autostarts and then my Pc just Resets before anything appears on the screen. I'm scared to start any program because I dont know which will Reset my system again. Mozilla browser and Azureus Bittorrent client work fine, so does AntiVir Guard and Sygate Personal Firewall..

I have noticed strange behaviour of my system for a few weeks before that tho. In explorer for example, from time to time I get an error msg saying that the folder isn't there or has been moved..doesn't matter on which I click, always that error..and on the display of the path there's a wierd square in the middle somewhere between the \files\*square*\morepath\user\..etc I close and restart explorer and it works fine again for a while.

This looks like a hardware problem right? I put in a clean installation of a win2k I had on an old HD and I got similar problems..

Also when I booted in the last weeks, it takes the Pc a few runs to boot win2k fully..it just resets around when there's the black screen "press F8 for more options" or the loading part with the Windows Logo..bang, Reset..after 10 times or so he makes it. Maybe 300W DC isn't enough for 2 hard disks, 1 dvd-rw? motherboard broken?

I've written a lot now, but I hope someone with experience can help me out on this!

Will be waiting right here :)

MemeX
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running german Win2k, athlon 1.3ghz, matrox millenium g450, nec 1300 dvd-rw, 80gig sygate barricuda, 120gig maxtor, Gigabyite Motherboard with VIA chipset. Newest bios, not so old installation of win2k.

[TotalChaos]

I got similar "instant restart" issues when I try to run nero 6 on this computer. Somthing about the IDE scan it does who knows. Other then that no other software causes those errors. I've hand many problems with this PC. (I've returned the mobo twice and RAM once.) Recently my computers complains about SMART errors...meaning the harddrive(s) is/are going bad. They should be fine being not even a year old. However this would explain alot of the problems I've been having with this computer since the get go.

My guess for you is:
A. Your power supply maybe aging and supplying intermitten power to your system.
B. Your hard drive(s) may be corrupting data. Causing windows to not be able to find files and/or loading corrupt data.
C. HEAT! Somthing may be over heating. CPU, RAM<-doubtful, chipset, video card, PSU.

There is more info in another thread "Hardware problems / How to test system stability ".

[MemeX]

Thank you for replying!

I have tested my HDs with a bootable utility CD, they seem be borking flawless, thank god. All the tests couldn't give me a deffinate answer to what exactly is wrong, but I think it's homing down on the IDE controller and or something else on the motherboard. I will just give the Pc to where I bought it I still have guarantie, hopefully he can fix it or get it fixed.

I will check out that thread you mentioned.

Hope you can get your system fixed too.

MemeX

[pipeline]

Had similar problem couple years ago. Random rebooting issue was fixed by installing new power supply.

Good luck.
Pipeline

[avih]

if it's the ide, then perhaps u could turn off dma, and put it into a more 'compatible' more (pio).