First Sorry about double post but just noticed that may have posted in the wrong section before. now original text...

Hi for the last 2 days something is been bugging me and I need you guys to help me out.

Ok the whole story, my PC was having the odd freeze and would crash when playing a game so after 1 week or so I decided that was time to do a clean reinstall of the hard drive.

First I could not reinstall the hard drive it would just reboot automatic and I would go to the format to NTFS and I formatted but when time to install around 60% it would crash again. This was happening with only 1 hard drive 1 dvd room there was no USB connected at the time.

So I end up taking one of the Memory slots out and give it a go, I have (2 Corsair x 512MB Matched Pair), DDR400 / PC3200, non-ECC, Unbuffered, CL3, Memory Modules.

Ok after only one working it worked I had install windows XP sp1 without a problem.

Now this is what it’s driving me mad, if I try to put pair them together and turn on the PC it will reboot after 20 seconds while sitting on windows.

So what I done was put 512mb in slot1 and boot the pc and played a game for like 10 min, so far so good no problem.

I then try the 2nd 512mb on slot 1, again played the game and it was fine.

Ok so I was thinking maybe slot2 on the board is gone so I try 1x512mb on slot1 and the other 512mb on slot3 turn on the pc and after 1 min again reboot.

Now I tried the 512mb in slot2 and the other one in slot3, same thing reboot.

I have run Memtest86 and tried Windows Memory Diagnostic and non of them report any error with my memory.

Let me just say I have done all this with only the mouse, keyboard, monitor, dvd rom and floppy disk and internet cable nothing else was connected.

And no matter if I have 1 or 2 HD connected. And there is enough air flow inside.

This is my Spec

AMD (Newcastle) Athlon 64bit 3000+ 512kb L2 Cache 754pin-with retail fan
2 Corsair x 512MB Matched Pair DDR400 / PC3200
Board Asus K8n-E deluxe socket 754
500w PSU non branded.
1x DVD rom
1xDVD/rw
PNY Verto GeForce 6 6600GT AGP8x 128MB GDDR3
2x Maxtor Diamondmax Plus 9 120GB 7200RPM ATA/133 8MB Cache – OEM
Floppy disk drive.
NO PCI hardware what so ever.

Anyone got any idea what could be doing this?

Or what other changes I could try, I need to add that my PC is dust free I keep an eye on it and use a dust spray every week or so.

My CPU heating its 35c and the memory is 28c.

I don’t overclock or try to, and this same system as build about 1year ago and been running will all the same parts listed.

Anyone advise is welcome problem as well is I don’t have a m8 with either a AGP or the same type of memory or even same socket to test on.

Go easy on me with jargon I am not that knowledgeable and English Is not my first language.

Once again i am sorry for double post and if a mod could delete the one on Xp forums it would be great.

"Anyone got any idea what could be doing this?"

Yup! Here's your answer:

"500w PSU non branded"

You should disable the automatic restart on system failure to see what went wrong with u'r pc.You can find it on system properties-advanced-startup and recovery.My guess is just like jam said it's u'r PSU.1 year is enough for u'r PSU to breakdown.

Thanks i will try the system properties options.

But could this be the PSU? i would think if was the PSU maybe the Grafics card or the Hard drive would be the first to complain.

when i said non branded is cos its not one of this expensive PSU, mine names goes by Casecom Silver 500w ATX Power Supply. and from the webpage i got it from there are 69 reviews and non complaining about the PSU, but i will try to get another one and test it.

Any more advise or clues plz keep them comming.

I would go with what hercule said, disable your auto restart and see if a error comes up. Also something you can check is Start>Run> Eventvwr
check that and see if there are any problems there

ok so what i done was, bargain with a friend that had similar spec as me and now it works.

changed PSU and tried his stuff.

Ok i tested his memory as well 2x512mb on my Pc and got the same problem.

tried his Grafics card same as mine and again same problem.

tried is Hard Drive and no crash.

so i tried my Memory 2x512mb and worked no crash, then i put back my grafics card and again its working.

Plug my Dvd-rw and all the USB hardware like printer etc.. and its all working.

so it looks like it was my Hard Drive doing this.

had a spare 60gb and i am using it now.

So its all working so far, dint try playing a game yet cos i still have to install it, hope i am not back here and add more into this problem.

Should i change my PSU as well? i have around the house a 350w, will this work or not enough power?

"ou can find it on system properties-advanced-startup and recovery."

i dint try that, but i will turn it off now.

"Also something you can check is Start>Run> Eventvwr
check that and see if there are any problems there"

i get things like...

Source - VSS

Volume Shadow Copy Service error: Unexpected error calling routine CoCreateInstance. hr = 0x80040206.

Source EventSystem

The COM+ Event System detected a bad return code during its internal processing. HRESULT was 8007043C from line 44 of d:\nt\com\com1x\src\events\tier1\eventsystemobj.cpp. Please contact Microsoft Product Support Services to report this error.

all this is under applications if u need i can post the ones under system...

yep I am back and after installing 1game the Pc crash again, that makes me belive that it must be the PSU as well after all, when i try with only 1 memory on it works.

but can The PSU work but not realese enough power and would make my PC crash? is this even possible?

is this whats happening, my Grafics card needs power and my RAM need power and the PSU cant supply enough power for both so the PC will crash? is this possible? so when i remove one of the memory then there is enough power for the grafics and for 1 RAM.

Sorry i am still a bit confused will all this.

i was thinking when a PSU is faulty it would not work not just hold back the power.

Well i hope i am right this time cos i have placed a order for a new PSU and a new HD.

and i try with my 350w but it reports its not enough power to play some latest games.

my Grafics card must eat loads of power.

Please leave your comments, thanks.

ok just to maybe close this in case someone wil have a similiar problem and i come to notice that my Dim voltage was set to Auto and i needed to set it to 2.7x

so thats all i done in bios i set it to 2.7x and 1day gone and yet no crash even with the 500w PSU.

Thanks