Random Shutdowns and Error Messages

[pedro]

Over the last month I have been experiencing strange problems with my PC. Occasionally the PC will reset itself (as if someone had hit the reset switch)and this has now become very frequent rendering my PC almost unusable. After some unscheduled shutdowns the PC refuses to boot into Windows (Me or 2000) and presents me with error messages and the obligatory BSOD.

System Info:
Mobo : MICROSTAR K7T PRO2-A
CPU : 1Ghz Athlon
Memory : 2 x 128Mb PC100 Dimms
Graphics Card (AGP): Xentor TNT2 (also used ATI Xpert 98)
Graphics Card (PCI): ATI Rage Turbo

After a process of elimination I think I have isolated the problem to the AGP port on my motherboard and having tried two different AGP graphics cards with the problem apparent using both. However, if I change the AGP board for a PCI graphics card the PC operates perfectly well - a fluke?

Anybody experienced the same problem or could suggest any other causes? I tried swapping memory around and unplugging devices in case the power supply was overloaded.

[glc]

Have you installed the Via 4 in 1 motherboard drivers?

[TdM]

could be many things - dodgy psu?

dirty mains?

broken monitor?

or it could indeed be your agp port...


...when do the restarts happening - what are you doing at the time?


it could even be a dodgy reset cable or button


you could try just changing bits slowly if you have another pc to hand rip it apart and replace parts in your machine with parts from the stable machine until it fixes the problem - then you will have your answer

[mrjohnsonjr]

i had a similiar problem...turned out to be a bad memory slot on the MB....

[pedro]

Thanks guys. I installed the new VIA 4 in 1 drivers, Direct X 8a and latest Detonator 3 drivers.

I`ve been running Quake 3 and TFC with no problems. I hope its fixed - Thanks.