Acer Aspire E380

[pctec]

What a weird couple a days I have been having with my main comp...

This computer started having some weird random reboot issues a couple days ago so figuring my systems OS got screwed yet again I did a backup from a Ghost image. Still, within every hour or so it would randomly reboot. Figuring it might be the new USB keyboard and mouse I installed, I removed them both and went back to the old standby, PS2...

Needless to say that did not fix my problem because I am posting after all!

So determined to get to the bottom of this situation I completely stripped down the entire comp to its bare essentials being the mobo, CPU, PS, HD, mouse and keyboard. Withing a few minutes, a reboot... I went into the BIOS and did a default reset... Still rebooted...

I then swapped the HD, Memory, keyboard, mouse, PS, and everything else. The only thing left original was the CPU and MOBO.

I ran several diagnostics from DOS to test the memory, CPU, and MOBO functions and all have passed but obviously there is a problem somewhere. At the end, it was rebooting every 5 to 10 minutes...

If I had a spare CPU I would swap it and then be certain as to whether it was the CPU or board... Any suggestions as to how to test either the CPU or MOBO without actually having a replacement?

And before anyone asks, it is not a over heating problem as the CPU is running at about 40 degrees... Also, when I stick a spare HD in and try to install Windows, it usually comes up with an error that it cannot copy certain files(sometimes the same files but sometimes not(yes the CD works fine)).

( I am currently using an old Intel P4... not even close to the speed of my main comp :sqembarrassed: )

[Zap]

I would still suspect a heat issue. Make sure the heatsink is completely free of dust.
(I have a computer that needs to be taken apart and the heatsink dusted every six months or so because of issues you describe here)

Second thing I would look at is the CDROM drive. You mentioned that it has issues copying files during the install of windows. This is usually a RAM issue or a CD Drive issue. Try disconnecting the CD drive from power and from MB and see how long Windows will stay up for.

After that, I would look at a new power supply. If you have another system around, try swapping the power supply out and see if that brings peace.

If the problem still isn't resolved, then I would strongly suspect either the RAM or the MB, but you'd need replacements to swap out with in order to test.

[Zap]

Oh... one more thing....

When testing components (like the CD drive) it's also a good idea to try a new cable if you can. Sometimes the CD drive appears to be acting up, but it turns out to be the cable that connects it to the MB that is actually causing the issue.

[pctec]

Well I swapped absolutely everything except the MB and CPU(the only things I couldn't)...
I took the heatsink off and cleaned the old paste off as it was crusty(didn't apply new paste because I have none).
The system has been running for about 2 hours now at a steady 56 degrees(CPU) so far.

I am going to let the bugger run as long as practical to make sure its ok...

BTW, I ordered one of these (http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=250342796556) for a replacement if it comes to that :)

[Zap]

Keep us posted.

[pctec]

I'm typing on it right now from the back room... I feel weird being in here :sqlaugh:

Oh and it happens to be 15 degrees here today... woot!
To further illustrate how odd I feel, I just removed the screen in the window just now to let a fly out rather than squashing the little bastage...

I think I'm-a-loozin' it...

[pctec]

Oh...

I am not sure if any or all of you know about a nifty little app called System Info for Windows (http://www.gtopala.com/) or not but it has a lot of nice features like sensor readings as well as things you didn't know you didn't know... (And its free(not that would stop any of you from finding it))

I didn't know about Adblock Plus so maybe, just maybe, someone else does not know about this little gem :)

[Muddy]

I'm typing on it right now from the back room... I feel weird being in here :sqlaugh:

Oh and it happens to be 15 degrees here today... woot!
To further illustrate how odd I feel, I just removed the screen in the window just now to let a fly out rather than squashing the little bastage...

I think I'm-a-loozin' it...

You just knew it was cold enough outside that he'd die slowly.

[pctec]

hehehe

Its like we are siblings... you know me too well... Its freakish actually...
I'm going to go do a surveillance sweep because I think I'm being watched...

[pctec]

If you want to stress the hell out of your comp to see what it will/can take, try here (http://www.benchmarkhq.ru/english.html?/be_cpu.html)...

[Muddy]

If you want to stress the hell out of your comp to see what it will/can take, try here (http://www.benchmarkhq.ru/english.html?/be_cpu.html)...

Which is best/which one did you use?

[pctec]

I didn't try any yet because I am still trying to pinpoint the problem... I am leaning toward a ram chip. I used memtest86 in DOS to check the memory for hours but didn't get even one error but while running Windows it crashed. I swapped the two chips for two other I had and so far so good. If it turns out to be a bad chip, Id say running DOS diags is useless...

[pctec]

Update for those who care, give a damn, or are otherwise remotely curious about what was causing the problem.

It turns out one of the original Acer mem chips was the problem... I placed one of my 4 chips in the board at a time and let them run for 12 hours each... The machine only rebooted while using one of the chips (which I named "Acer 2"). Oddly enough, when I ran Memtest86 in DOS I had no errors with any of the chips but now this one is giving me errors all over the place. I would have to say it is on the verge of a catastrophic failure :D

Thanks for the tips Zap :)
BTW, I picked up some heat sink compound yesterday and I got the CPU to run about 4 degrees cooler at around 50 to 51(55 to 56 when the CPU is very busy)...

[Zap]

Good stuff!
The RAM is a tough one because it can show itself in any number of ways.

[ewomack]

What an intestinal roundabout nightmare... I've never had anything close to this on a system of mine... at least one that wasn't my fault... like when I put in incompatible RAM... the smell didn't clear for a few days...

Good to see this miasma cleared up...

[Zap]

like when I put in incompatible RAM... the smell didn't clear for a few days...


You have uncontrollable gas when you change your RAM too? :sqeek:

[pctec]

If you want to stress the hell out of your comp to see what it will/can take, try here (http://www.benchmarkhq.ru/english.html?/be_cpu.html)...


Scrap that site... everything I download from there was a corrupt file... what a waste of my precious 56k BW :sqlaugh:

[ewomack]

You have uncontrollable gas when you change your RAM too? :sqeek:

That's between me and my butt...