PC Freezes and Reboots

[MrSpanky]

I'll run through a typical startup so you can the process I have to go through.  I push the power button.  I usually get the ASUS screen and then it goes black.  The startup stops and the reset button works 50% of the time.  I usually go right to the power supply button to turn it off and back on.  I hit the power button and start the process again.  I usually get to the screen where you can select "Safe Mode", "Last Known Safe Setting", or "Normal".  I select "Last Known".  Then one of two things happens.  It either freezes on the windows load screen or I make it all the way to windows.  If I do make it to windows and log in, 50% of the time it reboots as soon as I start working.   Usually third time is a charm and things go well.    Now the process doesn't always follow that scenario, but it's usually pretty close.

I have one idea of what it might be, but I want to see what the experts say before I go and spend any money.

[Skuzzy]

Power Supply would be my first guess.

[outbreak]

Had a similar problem back in april 07, problem for me was my Mobo went bad.

[Speed55]

Clean it first.  - Then make sure all your fans are spinning.

Heat causes all kinds of wacky problems with electronics.

If after a good cleaning she keeps shutting down, then you can figure out what's causing your problem.

At least then, if it is the power supply, or motherboard,  you wont get a face full of dust replacing them.
My old box was so dirty that when the power supply intake fan died, i couldn't tell from looking at it.

[MrSpanky]

My thought was the power supply, but once its running its fine and the fan is working.

[Skuzzy]

Startup is the hardest for the power supply as a sudden surge of current is needed to get everything going.  When you get a partial startup and follow it quickly with a restart, you are taking advantage of the capacitors releasing energy stored from the preisou attempt to start.

Testing the theory is simple enough.  If it is consistent, then simply unplug the CD/DVD drives and HD.  Restart the computer and see if it fires right up.  You will need to wait about 30 seconds between attenpts to give the capacitors time to drain.

It could be the motherboard as well.  Reducing the load on the power supply should give a hint as to which one it is.  If the syptoms do not change at all, regardless of the load, then motherboard would be my next guess.

[Charge]

I would instruct you to enter the BIOS and to check the hardware monitor if all the voltages and temps seem normal. 3.3V 5V and 12V all should show near the nominal value with less than ~5% of deviation.

If you have previously modified memory settings etc. it could be beneficial to select "use stable settings" etc. from the initial menu and if that works you can go on modifying the settings as they were one by one to determine the reason for unstable startup behavior.

You could also drain the caps right away by plugging the power cord off and pushing the start button. Plug the cord back and you'll get a normal "empty" start.

-C+

[fuzeman]

My recent situation.
Setup- Computer would regularly when being powered up go into the post Routine, and just continue doing it until it got tired of that and just powered itself down. Also, when I would correctly 'shut down' my computer it wouldn't. It would go into a reset. I couldnt turn it off at all except via a hard non windows correct power shut down with the resulting post problems on powerup.

Weather related power failures the other day forced me to turn it off anyway and this time it would not even stay on. POST routine all over again.

I had a spare Power supply sitting around and installed it. I can now powerup reliably with no post loop. I can also now power down correctly.