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#1 2010-10-10 13:41:03

beretta
Member
Registered: 2008-04-21
Posts: 133

Sudden Reboots?

I think this is probably the best forum to post this; my desktop is starting to behave strangely.  It will suddenly power off and reboot at what seem to be random times.  It happens if I leave it alone, and it happens if I'm in the middle of something.  None of the logs seem to show anything unusual.  I'm at a loss as to how to debug this and locate the problem.

Does anyone have any ideas on either what might be the problem or what I could do to search for it?  (Something other than Googling "my desktop keeps rebooting!!! ... that type of searching hasn't been too helpful, I'm afraid.)

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#2 2010-10-10 13:46:14

Spider.007
Member
Registered: 2004-06-20
Posts: 1,175

Re: Sudden Reboots?

Are these clean shutdowns & reboots with a normal shutdown sequence, or is it more like the power is somehow interrupted?

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#3 2010-10-10 13:49:19

TigTex
Member
From: Portugal
Registered: 2008-06-19
Posts: 301

Re: Sudden Reboots?

It's probably your powersupply that is malfunctioning. Check the output voltages using sensors or a voltmeter or BIOS.
Also check your RAM, faulty ram causes random reboots.
oh.. and see if your reset button is stuck... it happens tongue

Last edited by TigTex (2010-10-10 13:51:28)


.::. TigTex @ Portugal .::.

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#4 2010-10-10 13:51:32

skunktrader
Member
From: Brisbane, Australia
Registered: 2010-02-14
Posts: 1,538

Re: Sudden Reboots?

Before tearing your machine apart, try running a live CD for a while to see if the problem still happens

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#5 2010-10-10 14:05:02

hokasch
Member
Registered: 2007-09-23
Posts: 1,461

Re: Sudden Reboots?

Also check temps for overheating.

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#6 2010-10-10 20:08:24

beretta
Member
Registered: 2008-04-21
Posts: 133

Re: Sudden Reboots?

Thanks for the suggestions;  I'm running Memtest86+ on it right now, though so far it's found nothing.  I haven't seen it reboot yet either.

The reboots are not clean; it does seem like the power is cut briefly.  The power supply is brand new, though I suppose that doesn't necessarily mean it's not the culprit.  When I get it opened up, I'll try unplugging the reset button and see if it still happens.

About checking temps, how do I do that?  What temperatures are considered normal?  (Yeah, I feel silly asking, but I just don't know.)

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#7 2010-10-10 20:12:24

frabjous
Member
Registered: 2010-07-13
Posts: 367

Re: Sudden Reboots?

Are you using gdm? If so, make sure it is last in your list of daemons in your /etc/rc.conf.

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#8 2010-10-10 20:34:05

beretta
Member
Registered: 2008-04-21
Posts: 133

Re: Sudden Reboots?

slim, but yes it's last anyway.

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#9 2010-10-10 20:57:13

beretta
Member
Registered: 2008-04-21
Posts: 133

Re: Sudden Reboots?

OK, I think I found a temperature monitor in BIOS; It reports:

CPU Die/Package: 56.4 C
Motherboard:  49.4 C
ICH Temp:  86.8 C
MCH Temp:  73.1 C

Not being too familiar with operating temps, these do seem a little on the high side to me.  Another search suggested perhaps the RAM timings are off?  Still checking that...

Edit:  Using this ram, the settings in BIOS match at 800 MHz, 5-5-5-18, so that seems fine to me.  Memtest found no problems. I'll try running a live cd next.

Last edited by beretta (2010-10-10 21:00:53)

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#10 2010-10-11 15:03:30

iceman81
Member
From: Cambridge
Registered: 2007-07-25
Posts: 59
Website

Re: Sudden Reboots?

beretta wrote:

ICH Temp:  86.8 C

Ouch... looks too high to me...

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#11 2010-10-11 15:59:57

lagagnon
Member
From: an Island in the Pacific...
Registered: 2009-12-10
Posts: 1,087
Website

Re: Sudden Reboots?

Temps too high as iceman81 says. Check for dust plugging heat sink, that all fans are working properly. I would renew the CPU heat sink compound also. Make sure ventilation holes in case are free and unobstructed.


Philosophy is looking for a black cat in a dark room. Metaphysics is looking for a black cat in a dark room that isn't there. Religion is looking for a black cat in a dark room that isn't there and shouting "I found it!". Science is looking for a black cat in a dark room with a flashlight.

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#12 2010-10-13 12:58:06

gonX
Member
From: Denmark
Registered: 2009-08-16
Posts: 112

Re: Sudden Reboots?

ICH and MCH temps are too high. Those are more than likely what's causing the reboot.

I wouldn't touch anything on your CPU though - that doesn't seem to be what's causing the issues.


since 2009

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