Win 98 rebooting

[ROYP123]

A friend using Win98SE says her computer about once a day turns off by itself and then turns back on.
If it were XP I could look in the Event Viewer to see what has happened, but I can not find anything in Win98.

In BIOS , the setting is to stay off if it loses power , but she says it turns itself back on.
I have checked for loose connections inside and watched it for a couple of hours while I worked on something else, but it has not turned off. I tried Dr Watson, but it always says it sees nothing wrong. Is there a place to check for a clue like in XP Event Viewer? Thanks

[moistmule]

try memtest to test the RAM. Go: www.memtest86.com to download it.

[ROYP123]

okay- I will check the ram. Must admit, I did not do that.

[GaryRouth]

Hi Roy

If the memory checks out OK - did you also look in on the temps & voltages (if they are available in a Bios menu or a Windows app)? Heat or a dicey power situation can cause reboots. (SiSoft Sandra can provide some of those readings on compatible systems, and there are other Hardware Monitoring apps available as freeware/shareware at download sites like download.com).

While you're in Bios Setup, you can check if the settings are off for processor, memory, and bus timings - if accidentally overclocking (settings knocked around by a power surge, for example) - that can cause a reboot. On some motherboards with poor power regulation (value boards in general) - I find that disabling the Spread Spectrum setting can help.

Best of luck
. . . Gary

[If you have a known good (and known-compatible) power supply handy, you can try that for a test, too]

[Hmm - one more thing = check the Time & Date in the Bios while in there: an aging CMOS battery might be needing replacement (only about $1.50 to replace) --- when it runs out of juice, it can't save the settings properly]

[ROYP123]

I've been away Gary- thanks for the reply. Memory checked out okay. I had used SiSoft Sandra to check on the voltages, etc, but they looked okay. I never did know what the Spread Spectrum was for. I will check that and see if it helps. I watched the machine for hours while I worked on something else, and never did see it restart ( just like going to the dentist).
I returned it to the owner, but I will visit and check the BIOS settings again. Thanks
Roy

[GaryRouth]

Hi again Roy

If it acts up again as soon as it's plugged in at the customer's home, another possibility is that the home wiring isn't the best (I had a coworker buddy at the lab years ago who rented a house nearby. Soon after moving in, his appliances (and computers) started acting up. He had an electrician check the outlets, and he found that things weren't kosher there - lucky for my friend, the electrician's repairs were paid for by the landowner).

Of course, the other suspects are still dicey power regulation on the motherboard, or a less-than-wonderful power supply.

The reason I disable Spread Spectrum (which attempts to lessen EMI from the computer into the surrounding area [so it doesn't bother your portable phones, for example]) is that power delivery can be a little unsteady with it enabled. And today's cpus and graphics engines are power hungry beasts.

. . . Gary