Topic: Computer Advice

[johnw]

Our desktop keeps locking up or randomly restarting (as if the reset button was pushed) and it's not the Sasser worm. I rebuilt the thing out of old Dell parts and a PowerLeap Socket A processor kit. My guess is the power supply is worn out, but I don't really know. A couple of times it hasn't recognized the HD or CDRW in the bios and won't boot into XP. Any ideas of how to check or what else to look for?

I'm also thinking it may be time to say forget it and just buy a newer one. I don't have any problems building from parts (might actually be ideal since I own XP, just bought a new hard drive, cdrw, PCI video card and PCI firewire card). But it's been a while and I don't know who good vendors are anymore. Experience has also shown me that sometimes it's better off just buying a prebuilt like a Dell or a Sony. I'd like to keep it at $300 for the tower, but could go $600 if I could get a decent flat panel monitor out of it. BTW I'm not looking to make an audio workstation. Any advice would be appreciated. If this is way off topic, PM me and I'll delete the thread.

[jpschust]

my advice- if you need parts or even cheap prebuilts go to www.compgeeks.com

[John Kelly]

Get parts from Newegg.com.  Best.  Site.  Ever.

And unless you absolutely require a 3 year warranty (i.e. you don't know a thing about computers), it's always better to build it yourself.

[Sean Gallemore]

I had this same problem a few weeks ago.

Start the computer, immediately hold down F8
Go into Safe mode.
After windows loads, Restore back to a point you know when the computer was working fine.

[johnw]

I got an error report from XP that says my CPU is causing failures. It's a 1.4 Celeron on a slocket to fit in a Socket A that only supports up to a P3 800. Not surprising I guess. I could get a new Dell 2.6 GHz off Ebay for $350 shipped or a board, CPU, memory and case for a little less off NewEgg. Thanks for all the help. +Ts

[ScottT]

When I first read your problem I was thinking the case was getting too hot and causing random reboots.  Dunno if a couple fans would enable your processor to work better or if there really is an incompatibility issue....  Good luck!

I agree with the newegg.com recommendation.  Pricewatch.com has cheap deals, but there are many *shady* vendors there.  If you're thinking of buying anything online, read the company's review at http://www.resellerratings.com  New Egg has over 6700 reviews which average 9.78 out of 10!!!

[Sanjay]

When I first read your problem I was thinking the case was getting too hot and causing random reboots.  Dunno if a couple fans would enable your processor to work better or if there really is an incompatibility issue....  Good luck!

This is most likely your problem, make sure it has a heatsink and fan installed with thermal grease between the processer and heat sink.  Thats a cheap solution if those are not there or the fan is busted, it will restart and things will go haywire.  However if this isnt the case then your motherboard might be fried, as it appears this problem is rooted in the bios

[Sean Gallemore]

I got an error report from XP that says my CPU is causing failures. It's a 1.4 Celeron on a slocket to fit in a Socket A that only supports up to a P3 800. Not surprising I guess. I could get a new Dell 2.6 GHz off Ebay for $350 shipped or a board, CPU, memory and case for a little less off NewEgg. Thanks for all the help. +Ts

I was getting the same error messages, try doing what I said.  Restore back to a point you know your computer worked fine.

[johnw]

The processor actually came as a kit with the slocket, heat sink and fan from Powerleap. The fan on it and the computer both appear to be working. I tried the F8 safe mode restore and will see how it runs over the next few weeks. I looked into Newegg and realized that is where I bought my first Plextor drive. If the computer starts crashing again, I think I'll get an ASUS board, CPU, memory, and case from them. They have free shipping on everything but the case.

[thoman8r]

The processor actually came as a kit with the slocket, heat sink and fan from Powerleap. The fan on it and the computer both appear to be working. I tried the F8 safe mode restore and will see how it runs over the next few weeks. I looked into Newegg and realized that is where I bought my first Plextor drive. If the computer starts crashing again, I think I'll get an ASUS board, CPU, memory, and case from them. They have free shipping on everything but the case.

Do you have a working case fan as well?