Computer hosed - help needed

[kenc51]

Here's a nice guide for using a multimeter!
http://forums.extremeoverclocking.com/s ... p?t=137886

[KnightRid]

kappage - GOOD CALL!!! hehehehe

Ken - thanx a TON - between working on the kitchen, helping get a wireless network working, and maybe catching at least 2 minutes of Nascar and football, I will try this out and see what I can fry find out.

Mike

You guys are the best! Awesome help!

[moon111]

You've done completely clean reinstalls? Basicly that should rule out OS issues.

This is happening randomly or when doing something? Will it do it just sitting there? Boot into the BIOS and leave it. If it restarts there, definately have a hardware issue.

Hardware... make it as simple as possible. Disconnect everything. eg printers/speakers/etc. I've dealt with a keyboards, mice, USB hub ... all that were causing a rebooting problem. Remove all and any expansion cards not needed. Remove all drives. Reseat video or memory cards. Use only one stick if possible/swap. If someone touched the contacts on the memory or video card, the oil from their hands can start etching the contacts. Use a pencil eraser to clean. Reseat processor?

If the system reboots with only a CPU/MB/PSU basicly, you've narrowed where the problem is.

[kenc51]

Mike when you're using the multimeter, be carefull! I always stretch out a molex cable from my PSU and attach the ground to this, making sure it's away from everything and there's no chance of the probe slipping out. Then you can then concentrate on making sure you attach the red probe to where you want.
If you touch the RED probe to the wrong part, nothing will happen, as all it does is detect. (apart from AC current) But if you touch the black (ground) to the wrong part, you're screwed!

[KnightRid]

Didnt have time yesterday since the &^%$&^%&# 5 cube kithen cabinet thing was a total pain in the arse! Heard the Steelers won though!!! WOOHOO!!!

I printed the article and the one it linked to and will read through first then follow step by step to determine how much electricity my body can handle if anything is wrong.

Mike

Yes, the computer will reboot just sitting there. I have NOT done a total clean install, but everytime i try to repair or do the upgrade to install fresh Vista files, it fails - either reboots, BSOD's, just tells me it cant finish ( nice of it ), or something.
I cant even install Linux anymore as it gives me errors and will not finish installation

*going to find a sledge hammer to fix this computer*

[DaIceMan]

what timings is your memory running at? I had mine set to 4-4-4-12 and the system would crash, even with the ram I JUST got back from Corsair. I jacked with the timings and set them at 5-5-5-18 (I believe) and it's working fine now... over a week without a crash.

I've filled out the form with Tech Support at Asus' site, but they seem to be worse than Corsair on customer service. I think I'll eventually just throw the board away and stop recommending Asus since they can't even send an email.

[Gamble]

Not sure if this may even be the problem...but I would say if it were a hardware issue it would be the hard drive or the PSU. I have seen many things go wrong with these on here, and a minimal investment may be all you need to fix your problem!

[KnightRid]

OK, this blew my mind but - I think it was the SATA cables AND the memory AND the motherboard

I was trying to reinstall windows and it kept losing drives, so I checked the cables and lo and behold, they were off - I replaced them with cables taht have clips on them, and everything went smoothly for a while until the BSOD came up - so I changed the memory chips from the 2gb I have to the 1gb that I bought on here, and worked like a charm UNTIL the network started freaking out when I had it through the motherboard, so I disabled it and put the wireless back on and I have not had a restart since!

WOW what a mouthful!

I am thinking of trying the network on the MB again just to make sure it doesnt work since Verizon was having problems last night when I was trying this.

Oh the PS cables seem to be loose also in the drives since they do not have those clips on them either I didnt list it as a problem since it has not done anything since I reseated them.

Mike

fricken cables causing problems...go figure.

will keep updating this thread over the next few days to make sure these are the true problems!

Thanx for all the help and I still want to check the voltages on the PS just to be safe!