New Computer Crashing

Terragen · #1 08-19-2003, 10:56 AM

I have no luck with computers. I bought a new system 4 years ago and had big crashing issues. Got the RAM replaced and some problems disappeared but had to replace the video card before it was all over. Now I've had it running fine for a few years but I had to go and buy a new computer yesterday. It was tested with windows xp pro on a burnin test for 48 hours.. so I know it works fine. But the thing is - it doesn't. They wiped the drive after (I already have a copy of winxp) so I went and installed winxp (its XP Professional + Service Pack 1) but i kept getting the BSODs (Well XP's version) when I was installing.. finally after 3 tries I got it installed.. installed all the vid card drivers and everything that came with the computer

but now the computer will randomly reboot. No warnings, no errors, nothing. This is probably due to windows XP somehow as it worked fine for the burn in on another copy of XP.. so even though its relatively new (and SP1) I'm thinking I might need a newer version.. because I know the hardware isn't bad

here are the specs:

Intel Pentium 4 2.4ghz (FSB800, 512Kc)
512mb DDR 333 RAM
120 gb WD 7200rpm HDD
MSI GeForce 4 Ti 4200 128mb DDR AGP 8x

I can't remember the mobo model off hand.. its a gigabyte..

Anyways I'd think a random reboot problem like this would be bad hardware (like RAM) but I know its not (48 hour test no problems.. i'm getting problems every few minutes)

and on install I got the BSOD with "disable some stuff in bios like caching" but I'm not touching the BIOS settings beacuse they should work as is (although they disabled hyperthreading I noticed)

anyways if anyone has any ideas.. maybe a newer version of XP? anything is greatly appreciated before I pull my hair out

thanks

so just to recap/clarify:

winxp boots fine but after a minute or two the computer will just reboot.

fresh install (this morning) everything is brand new..

LooseChippings · #2 08-19-2003, 11:14 AM

Take the cover off and check the CPU fan is operating correctly.

Have you installed any applications on the system yet?

snowmonkey · #3 08-19-2003, 11:20 AM

It sounds really wired. I don't think another copy of XP would make any different, unless something in BIOS has changed between two install. I really don't have a solution but I can tell you about me experience. I helped a friend to get a top of the line computer built, he got the parts and I put it together for him with Windows XP+SP1, his computer would reboot every time he was doing graphic intensive work (you would think it was XP of Video card related, but NO) after trying everything I change the mobo (mobo was ASUS, one of the better one in the market). You see you, don't be surprised if it is hardware related.

cheers

Terragen · #4 08-19-2003, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by LooseChippings
Take the cover off and check the CPU fan is operating correctly.

Have you installed any applications on the system yet?

I did have the cover off at one point, but didn't touch anything (I have a few HDDs and some cards, cd-rw etc to install but i didnt do that yet)

the case is quite nice as it also has a cooling fan on the side..

but between the cpu fan and the gpu fan on the geforce the case was very cool.. plus the bios sys-temp monitors were normal

i have only installed programs which were on the driver's cd for the graphics card

although one of them gave me a message about a weird voltage on the card
i'd close it and it would keep coming up
but i haven't overclocked it or anything.. left it at default settings so when they tested it, it was fine

Terragen · #5 08-19-2003, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by snowmonkey
It sounds really wired. I don't think another copy of XP would make any different, unless something in BIOS has changed between two install. I really don't have a solution but I can tell you about me experience. I helped a friend to get a top of the line computer built, he got the parts and I put it together for him with Windows XP+SP1, his computer would reboot every time he was doing graphic intensive work (you would think it was XP of Video card related, but NO) after trying everything I change the mobo (mobo was ASUS, one of the better one in the market). You see you, don't be surprised if it is hardware related.

cheers

but thats the weird thing.. they had it running with win xp pro for 48 hours and did a bunch of tests (play CDs, etc)

and it ran 100%

so if there was a hardware problem
like bad RAM or bad MOBO
you'd think it would have shown up

this is why i'm confused

LooseChippings · #6 08-19-2003, 11:34 AM

how long since you ran the PC without the cover?

Please check the CPU fan ...

I checked the oil level in my car yesterday, that doesn't mean it hasn't leaked away today!

Terragen · #7 08-19-2003, 11:48 AM

I just bought the computer yesterday. I didn't have time to mess with it last night so this all happened this morning. I took the side off the case to check it out after this all started happening
the CPU fan (and the gpu fan on the geforce) were both running fine and the case was very cool inside

plus I wasn't doing anything intensive for the CPU or the geforce card.. no games or anything

LooseChippings · #8 08-19-2003, 11:52 AM

Take it back!

curtybob · #9 08-19-2003, 02:40 PM

Also, I have had new motherboards with dead batteries. This could cause some of the settings in BIOS to revert to factory default, and negating any settings the shop made to optimize your setup. Take it to them for a quick lookover, and if they try to charge, don't do business with them. Customer service is 2/3 of a good business.

scouse · #10 08-19-2003, 02:49 PM

you need to turn of auto restart, that way you will get a report on the secreen telling you were the problem is from like a driver issue, which i think it is.

right click on my computer click on properties goto advanced then start up and recovery and untick auto restart. what type of graphic acrd do you ahve what drivers are you using?

my bad i see your card you are using.

scouse · #11 08-19-2003, 02:54 PM

the chances are either it is a driver issue or bad ram, infact it could also be a faulty motherboard. what you realy need be able to do is if you can get your hands on some ram is swap it over see if all is fine, then your graphic acrd so on till you find the culprit, but i would still say it is a driver issue. do you ahve and printers scanners fax so on attached to your computer? are you sure you ahve all the correct drivers?

Terragen · #12 08-19-2003, 06:15 PM

didn't get home until after the place closed

so im trying to reinstall xp again

same thing

installing.. 99% done (before reboot)
and I get the BSOD

"Page Fault in Non Paged Area"

"disable caching and shadowing etc"

couldnt see anything like that in bios. dont want to change it anyways

trying to reinstall again
last time took me 3 tries
ugh

hopefully it works

Terragen · #13 08-19-2003, 07:45 PM

must be something wrong with it

updated bios on the mobo and the graphics card
patched xp all the way up
newest drivers
still keeps randomly crashing with

page fault in a non paged area errors

mmorpgsrock · #14 01-20-2006, 02:05 AM

i have just built a computer and i thought the same thing...i would randomly crash. When ever i would try to install windows i would get errors and random files wouldnt copy over. So me and my uncle both agreed that we thought that it was the motherboard so i ordered a new one. Since my computer was just sitting i gave my friend my hard drive "wd 120gig 7200rpm" for his birthday because i didnt need it...so a couple days later i went out and bought a new hard drive...a hitatchi 250gig...i installed it...and for who knows what reason i tried to install windows again just for the heck of it...AND IT WORKED!!! i havenet had any problems with my computer since...and the motherboard that i had origionally was just fine. I hope this helps!