PC crashes when I kick it

[jim]

This thread isn't quite as stupid as it sounds

Basically, if I knock my PC, it has a habit of either freezing or just going to a black screen - perhaps with a chair wheel or my foot. Anybody else noticed this, or is it further evidence of my PC-building ineptitude?

[Mblaster]

Chances are it is something loose that gets knocked out of place briefly as you hit the case, or maybe something shorting out against the case as it is moved.

[jim]

Yeah, I was suspecting the latter - hence blaming my uselessness

[Blastuk]

Could also be your hard drive if it's the spinning type..

[Terbinator]

Could also be your hard drive if it's the spinning type..

This was my initial thought.

[jim]

Nope, SSD. Interesting thought though, hadn't thought of that. I run Steam off a spinning disk, but I wouldn't have thought a jump on that drive would kill the OS.

I think it's getting worse to be honest, happened to me twice tonight. Never used to at all.

[ik9000]

Wouldn't it have to be a reasonable knock to disrupt the HDD? Every computer I've owned/used has been clunked by me either inadvertently or even deliberately (in the case of my old MESH machine which needed or decent thump every half hour to keep the fan from rattling too noisily).

My guess would be something electrical, though depending how your HDD is mounted it might be as simple as this. Is the motherboard earthed properly?

[ik9000]

oops -we were obviously typing at the same time. Def not the drive then. how old/new is the build?

[ik9000]

is the machine you're asking about desktop 2 in your sig then?

Desktop 2 (Self-built): 7 Home, CM RC-341, OCZ 400W XStream, GA-MA785GM-US2H, Phenom X4 9600 BE, 4GB RAM, 2TB HD204UI, 32GB OCZ Onyx SSD, HP w19

another poster is having problems with a similar spec'd machine with same PSU - it's not the PSU getting old is it?

Also noticed you're running Creative T40 speakers - aren't they fantastic? One of the best buys I've made in recent years I think.

[Pob255]

How big a bump? hard drive would of been my first guess esp if you've got one of those disk performance defragers running (a bit of software that runs in the background and automatically defrags the hard drives when it's not being directly accessed) as that will mean it's constantly accessed and more susceptible to knocks.
Or are you using a 2.5" HDD? might be triggering a fall sensor
However with an SSD as the main OS drive that shouldn't be an issue.

Does sound more like a lose wire ether inside or outside, if it was case earthing it would happen every time you touch it regardless to how lightly/heavily.

Could also be a break in the sata cable to the ssd it can happen if you bend it too much, try swapping out the sata cable if you've got a spare.

[no_numb]

As mentioned above I have a similar/opposite problem. Mine randomly cuts out and then when I knock it it comes back on. although it seems to cut out more and more. My PSU is the same as yours and my system is a similar spec.

My thread is here: http://forums.hexus.net/help-technic...ml#post2053920

[ik9000]

if it was case earthing it would happen every time you touch it regardless to how lightly/heavily.

I meant the motherboard into the case, rather than the case as a whole.

if mobo mounted eg with washers between screws + metal mounts then the mobo isn't earthed to the chassis unless components connecting into it provide an alternative route for this to happen - which probably won't be great for the MOBO. I imagine such a system would eventually blow something somewhere eventually.

Your suggestions of loose wires sound more likely, but thought I'd start with this just to eliminate it.

[jim]

oops -we were obviously typing at the same time. Def not the drive then. how old/new is the build?

Years. Although I've re-assembled it a few times since then.

is the machine you're asking about desktop 2 in your sig then?

Desktop 2 (Self-built): 7 Home, CM RC-341, OCZ 400W XStream, GA-MA785GM-US2H, Phenom X4 9600 BE, 4GB RAM, 2TB HD204UI, 32GB OCZ Onyx SSD, HP w19

another poster is having problems with a similar spec'd machine with same PSU - it's not the PSU getting old is it?

Also noticed you're running Creative T40 speakers - aren't they fantastic? One of the best buys I've made in recent years I think.

No, it's my main rig - just haven't updated the sig to match the setup yet, SSD was a recent addition.

And yes, very impressed with the T40s. Cost me £65, which is quite a bit but it's not really a lot more than the £20 it would cost for a really basic set of Logitech X140s. Gets good bass without the hassle of a subwoofer, which was what I was always aiming for.

[jim]

How big a bump? hard drive would of been my first guess esp if you've got one of those disk performance defragers running (a bit of software that runs in the background and automatically defrags the hard drives when it's not being directly accessed) as that will mean it's constantly accessed and more susceptible to knocks.
Or are you using a 2.5" HDD? might be triggering a fall sensor
However with an SSD as the main OS drive that shouldn't be an issue.

Does sound more like a lose wire ether inside or outside, if it was case earthing it would happen every time you touch it regardless to how lightly/heavily.

Could also be a break in the sata cable to the ssd it can happen if you bend it too much, try swapping out the sata cable if you've got a spare.

SSD for OS, Samsung F1 3.5" for Steam.

Well, the strength needed seems to be decreasing. I had some dodgy fans a while back, and being a lazy sod, a firm palm on the top would stop them from vibrating. That would stop the PC occasionally - today I've nudged it with the wheel of my chair and it's gone.

It's certainly not that sensitive though - I can happily wobble it around, even get the side off with everything still working, fiddle around with fan speeds and wire positions, put the side back on, and all the time it will carry on working. Seems to be the short, sharp impacts that it can't handle.

Some interesting ideas there, will definitely take a look at a few solutions when I get some spare time.

[neonplanet40]

To be honest if I was you id take it all apart and put it back together again. That will cover the chance of any shorts or loose cables. If your barely touching it and its crashing thats the only thing I can think off.

[GheeTsar]

My guess if it's a SSD OS is that there's a slightly loose SATA cable under somewhere.