Trouble Rebooting?

[cchen]

I'm having trouble with my computer. I can't reboot immediately. Let's say I restart from the Windows menu... my computer will try to reboot but it can't... I have to shut down the entire system for ~3-4 min before I can turn it back on again so that it'll boot up. This also happens if I use the reset button on the case... What could possibly be causing this?

 

[cchen]

anyone?

 

[Siddhartha]

!. Back up your important files
2. Format your hard drive
3. Reinstall windows

 

[cchen]

Why would I do that? This happened before I did a clean install...

 

[cchen]

I don't think this is OS related...

 

[Maggotry]

Originally posted by: cchen
Why would I do that? This happened before I did a clean install...

Then start yanking out hardware one piece at a time until you find the culprit. I also don't agree with "Format the hard drive". That seems to be the way a lot of people fix problems, though.

I wonder if they buy a new car every time they hear a rattle?

 

[cchen]

Well, why would hardware be the culprit? I am able to boot up if i wait a few min....

 

[Maggotry]

Originally posted by: cchen
Well, why would hardware be the culprit? I am able to boot up if i wait a few min....

You're looking for suggestions, right? Well, that's my suggestion. The problem can ONLY be 1 of 2 things. Hardware or software. That's it. You said this problem happened before you reinstalled windows. You said nothing about changing any hardware between installs. So, what's common between the old and new install? The hardware. When you reinstalled, all your software went away.

Now, did this problem start right after installing a certain piece of software? You didn't say so.
That leaves hardware.

How far into the boot process does it get before freezing?

 

[cchen]

No, it's not that it's freezing. Let me clarify. It won't boot, as in there is no beep from the motherboard. Monitor doesn't come on, etc.
If I wait a few min, it boots up fine

 

[Maggotry]

Well, like I said, it's hardware. If it won't even POST, then how could it possibly be otherwise?!? Again, go back to basic troubleshooting. Yank everything out except the cpu, 1 stick o' RAM and vid card. That's all it needs to POST. Reboot it many times. Leave it on for a while in the BIOS. Maybe an hour or two. If it's stable, start adding back one piece of hardware at a time until the problem comes back.

What kind of CPU/mobo temps are you getting?

 

[cchen]

Hmm I guess I can try that tomorrow... My cpu is around 60 degrees C

 

[steell]

My cpu is around 60 degrees C

At idle? If so then I guess you found your problem.

 

[Maggotry]

Is this the system in your sig? You have a 200MHz oc. Is this problem happening with it oc'ed or at the rated speed? 60C for that CPU with that oc is probably pushing it. It's not horrible, but it ain't nothing to brag about either. So, what happens when you set it back to it's rated speed? What temp do you get then? Still no reboot? What HSF are you using? (please don't say stock cooling w/ 200MHz oc)

 

[Heresiarch]

Probably related to overclocking. My system also doesn't reboot on restart from windows. I have to use the reset button. Could be that your core voltage only is applied from the bios and has problem booting up at the lower one. Could be the PSU is having trouble waking up the ram because your 3.3v line doesn't get enough amps.

 

[cchen]

Ok, I messed around with my cooling. I put the voltage back at default, cleaned my Akasa Silver Mountain HSF and cpu core and applied a fresh application of ASII. I also clocked it back down to 1463 MHZ. My idle temps now are around 48 celsius.

Yet I still am having the same problem....

 

[Maggotry]

Originally posted by: cchen
Yet I still am having the same problem....

And this is with nothing but the vid card, cpu and 1 stick of ram, right? Well you've narrowed it down quite a bit. I think there are some DOS based memory test apps. Search around some. Maybe on Tucows or CNet. Otherwise, I think you've reached the part where you start swapping parts.

 

[cchen]

Well I just find it strange that I can just a wait a few min and my computer will be fine. The performance is fine in XP with no crashes or freezing at all...

 

[cchen]

any other ideas?

 

[cchen]

Well any other ideas?

 

[SnoopyDog]

As far as I can read of the other posts. I would also say its heat related.
Sorry

 

[dEvio]

I think it's your hd, I've had some of those symptoms with my maxtor too.

fumble around with your hd bios settings

 

[busmaster11]

I would think there's three possible reasons... 1. unclean wattage or bad capacitors in your psu, 2. heat, or 3. residual memory like your aperture or NVRAM or video ram that didn't quite get cleared properly...

I'd replace the power supply first.

It's not likely to be heat because your measurements are well within the confines of normal, unless you got some seriously POS parts...

If its #3, I'd clear CMOS and set clear NVRAM every time you're in the BIOS.