From: Chris on 10/09/2002
First the specs:1.7 GHz Intel Pentium 4
256 MB RAM
NVIDIA GeForce 2 MX/MX 400
Ethernet Card & cable modem
Windows ME Operating system The problem *usually* happens when I am on the internet, under Netscape 7.0. I'm happily surfing along and *BAM!* my computer resets itself, just like that. But it can also happen when I leave my computer alone, even when it's not downloading or uploading anything. It also sometimes just goes to a black screen with green lines at the top -- in this case, the computer won't do a blasted thing until I press the magic reset button. Then, sometimes after I reset, or it resets, the system hangs when it gets to scanning my disks because "the computer was not shut down properly"! Argh! I should mention that I've already re-partitioned, re-formatted, and re-installed Windows in attempt to get rid of this problem. Any ideas?
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--- Replies to this Problem ---
From: Tony on 06/28/2003
Hope my computer will not reset while writing. I'm runing XP Pro, an also did with 2000 pro, replaced almost every component and still does. Looks to me like a Trojan. Or some freaking Bill Gates solution to piracy. Any ideas? Mine resets every 5 minutes aprox, cannot do anything at this rate.
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From: Jason on 02/07/2003
Some computers are also set to shutdown if the CPU begins to get to hot. Check to see if this is the case for you, and if it is. Get some sort of cooling.
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From: John on 02/07/2003
I've been having the same problem for months and its driving me mad. I need the computer for work and have had to buy another PC to work on while I find the problem. Some of my observations may help to find a solution to all our problems. I have started timing the resets and found that the time is usually about one hour if left unattended. I have disconnected all the cards from the PC and uninstalled the programmes. I have run a virus check and found no problems and fiddled with the BIOS settings till I’m blue in the face. I have two hard drives and decided to disconnect the master drive and run on the spare. Bingo ! it stayed up. I now intend to format the main drive and install the cards one at a time. After each installation of the cards or software I will use a restore point and go backwards if the problem reappears.
Wish me luck.
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From: chuzby on 01/26/2003
im having the same sorta problem, p3 450, tnt2 riva chipset, 256 sdram.
It tends to 'stay up ' longer when not connected to the internet, though it can go down when not connected. I either get a black screen (which i have to reset myself) or it will automatically reset.
Ive upgraded the BIOS to the latest version (GB-BX2000 board). Ive tried removing hardware/ram . I thought it may be overheating so i took the cover off and set a 'house hold' fan directly inside it. STILL i get the same problem, Interestingly it happens in Windows XP and Linux, so its pretty much certain a hardware problem. I first noticed the problem when i installed linux onto a windows partition just to test it out (maybe just a coincidence). Ive reinstaleld xp/linux to seperate partitions, and STILL have the same problem.
Thinking about it,
When i used to play graphics demanding games i would get an on-board 'siren' go off which i presume was where my graphics card was over heating (hence the house fan idea). So im starting to think that maybe it is some crap cards, even though it USED to work fine.
In short.... Computers suck.
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From: Erdem on 01/21/2003
I have the same or a similar problem. Intel Pentium 4 2.0, 512 MB DDR Ram, Tornada Nvidia GeForce 4 440MX, Creative Live Sound Card, Creative Inspire 5200 5.1 Speakers, Creative ModemBlaster, Seagate Barracuda 80 GB 7200 Hard Disk, ECS P4VXASD Mainboard with VIA Chipset, Windows XP Professional. My computer resets for no reason whenever it feels like. I couldn't figure out when and why it does that since there are no similar cases. I updated all my drives and flashed my bios and the VIA chipset but it still sometimes continues the same problem. Especially when I firt start the computer it always resets once before the windows xp loads. I did everything i can do and i am nearly going to go nuts after paying so much money and can not make it work the way i want it to. When i am going to play a game it also gives errors and doesn't load the games if i don't set the games audio, video, sound systems to the maximum values available. It usually is right the opposite with my friends' computers. Thanks for everyones help who has some knowledge on similar problems...
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From: Floyd on 12/29/2002
I got one from TigerDirect and it is having the same issues...
I noticed the video(ATI)AGP, sound (onboard), network(onboard), share the same IRQ...any one know how to assign each device a different one...I think that is why the lock ups happend
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From: Kenji on 10/11/2002
Having the same problem, mate--minus the green lines, though. I'm running Win98SE on a 1.4Ghz Athlon in a Soyo K7V Dragon board. It has a 32MB DDR ATI RADEON VE vid card, 512MB DDRAM (1 TwinMos and 1 PNY), on-board audio, Linksys 10/100 Ethernet NIC, 40GB 7200RPM Western Digital HD, Sony CDRW, all packaged in an Antec chassis. I have browsed the Net for compatibility issues, but have found none to date--which is not say there are not any. I have replaced the RAM, the power supply, and the NIC. I have also flashed/upgraded my BIOS. I have received a few different diagnostics code beeps on post indicating various failures (such as RAM, and failure to verify PCI slots), but following those leads (removing PCI cards and replacing RAM) doesn't seem to take me to a solution. It freezes/reboots when I am surfing the Web (IE 6), working in MS Word (Office 97), playing Freecell, playing online multi-player games, installing programs, virus-scanning with McAfee, or just looking at my desktop. Strangely, it does not seem to lock up or reboot when I am playing single-player Jedi Knight or playing Max Payne. It happens less frequently when I boot into safe mode, but it does still happen. It also has happened twice when I was in the BIOS, so I don't think it's a Windoze problem. Currently I have disconnected all components from the motherboad with the exception of 1 256MB stick of RAM, the vid card, and my keyboard. It's sitting at home powered on, and I'm seeing how long it will stay up this way without locking / rebooting. I've read some things on the Net about symptoms such as these, and one thing they indicate is that if the board is touching the chassis somewhere it shouldn't be, or if a mounting screw is too tight, it can intermittently short the board causing these symptoms. If my system locks up in its current setup, I'm going to take the board out of the case and try it again. If it happens after that, I'm going to take it out to the firing range...
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From: Computerpilot on 10/11/2002
I read your followup post and I did not want to infringe on what you were saying but your problem sounds a lot like a defective video card. Have you tried another card?
Computerpilot
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From: Computerpilot on 10/10/2002
You have a hardware problem. Most likely, the culprit is your GEForce video card. If you breeze through the board, you will see about fifty posts that I have responded to in the past regarding this issue.There is no fix...unless you get a new video card. However, most cases this issue involves an AMD Thunderbird processor and a VIA chipset. I guess I am seeing a few other Pentium cases now as well. I would start by obtaining the most current copy of the video driver from NVidia's website. Reinstall the video card driver. If you have access to another video card, install it and run awhile to see if you have problems. Also, I would check out your IRQ's. Let me know if you are unfamiliar with this procedure. It is possible that you have recently installed a USB device or additional device that has decided to share an IRQ or memory address with another hardware device and they are not getting along. Typically, Windows will freeze or restart if serious enough. Many motherboards BIOS are programmed to restart if it detects a power issue. Make sure to check the simple things, such as faulty wiring, loose plug (in computer AND wall), and be sure it is on a surge protector. Going a little more difficult... Some additional devices that you may have recently added in your computer may be bad or is causing problems as far as power spikes. If you have recently added a device, remove it and try running without it for awhile. A hint to what hardware device is having conflicts might be what you are doing when the restart/freeze occurs. For example, if you are dialing up to the internet, you probably have a modem conflict. Getting back to the GeForce video card issue... I have seen similar displays with video card problems. I would definitely narrow in on this. Hope this helps and feel free to post back. Computerpilot
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