Machine Crashing.

Hello,

The symptoms are:

While casually using the machine, monitor enters standby, hard-disk can be heard spinning down, machine remains on.

If the machine is powered down manually by holding the power-button down it will not boot upon switching back on. In order to get the machine to boot again, i must reset the bios.

If by chance the machine does boot, it freezes solid at POST or if it reaches the Windows loading screen it will reboot itself.

I have loaded optimized defaults into the bios, upon entering Windows i ran Prime95, it crashed within 15 minutes with a blue-screen.

The only link between my recent problems and something i've done is the overclocking of my graphics card that has since been put back to stock.

I am now on my machine writing this thread, at the moment i only have one memory module and my HDD attached to the motherboard, i've removed all USB peripherals, both my CD-ROM drives and my second HDD.

My guesses would be the PSU and of course due to what i've said above my Graphics Card.

What do you guys think?

Would have been better for u to post ur system specs, that aside consider the following;
Strip system down and only use components u need to get it up such as CPU, mem, HD and gfx, unplug additional HD, soundcard, optical drives, remove all sticks of mem apart from 1. Run memtest and/or prime, if no probs then swich memory dimms
Also check all fans are working, check cpu, nb and all other heatsinks for temp
Check in bios for temps, ur CPU HSF might have moved and broken the good thermal connection, try reseating.
Have u changed anything recently, drivers, hardware etc etc
Is the PSU rated for wot hardware u run
Im sure others here will add more

Hi Defiant,

Prior to posting i had checked temperatures, confirmed all the fans were working and in my previous post mentioned i've since stripped the machine down to the basics. Since doing so i've been running Prime95 for roughly 3 hours now without any errors or signs of instability. This makes me more suspicious of the PSU, since it is now only running the essential components, the system seems stable.

All i've changed recently is the installation of a second HDD and the overclocking of my graphics card that i've since put back to stock. Perhaps the addition of another HDD pushed my PSU over-the-edge?

Anyway, my specs are as follows:


HARDWARE SPECIFICATION:

ABIT NF7-S V2.0
AMD XP2500+ 'MOBILE'
CORSAIR PC4000 X 2, 512 MODULES
RADEON 9600XT 256
2 X CD-ROM DRIVES
2 X HARD DRIVES

PERIPHERALS:
USB MOUSE, KEYBOARD, GAME-CONTROLLER, USB DONGLE, PRINTER & PHONE CHARGER

THE ABOVE IS POWERED BY AN ANTEC TRUE-BLUE 480W PSU


I will report back if Prime95 fails or my system becomes unstable, if it doesn't then i guess it's just a procedure of reconnecting the various devices/hardware up one by one to pin-point what's causing the instability.

Thanks d3fiant for your suggestions.

could be a faulty PSU cos 480W is more than enuff, I run a 480W Thermaltake with a 3Ghz p4, 4 HD and a 6800GT with no probs. Dont spose u have a multimeter to read the voltages on the rails (taking care of course, only try if u r comforatble doing so). Also try the Abit EQ app to see if ur voltages are changin much, should be compatible with ur mobo