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My PC keeps crashing whenever I run any program that requires a lot of CPU usage. Usually it happens whenever I use a video encoder to convert .avi's to .mpg. The conversion runs for about 10 minutes and then suddenly, without any warning or message, the system just shuts off and immediately restarts. It can also sometimes happen when I have two or three different programs running simultaneously. Is it just that the CPU is crocked or is there another way I can fix this?
- could be the CPU is overheating. Have you checked the temp? Are you sure the cooling fans are working, especially the CPU cooling fan? When's the last time you popped open the case & cleaned the out all the dust? Check for dust build up on the CPU/heatsink.
- do you have WinXP set to restart when there's an error rather than displaying the error message? Try this:
Right-click My Computer, click Properties, click the Advanced tab, and then click Settings under Startup and Recovery. Under System Failure, uncheck the Automatically restart box.
- could be you're overstressing the power supply.
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Thanks for the prompt reply!
I just did clean out all the dust today and do it regularly.
How do I check the temperature?
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Enter the bios 'setup' program. During a boot look for the key(s) to hit on the first screen. Hopefully one of the screens will have the temperatures.
Do yourself a favor BACKUP!
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Okay, I disabled the automatic restart, ran the video converter and this time got the blue screen which said:
IRQL NOT LESS OR EQUAL
Then all the 'If this is the first time you've seen this...' guff. At the bottom, under 'technical information' it said:
STOP: 0X0000000A (0XB2687509, 0X00000002, 0X0A0D0001, 0X823D31A8)
If any of this gobbledigook means anything to anyone, I'll be eternally grateful.
And can I just say thanks for all your help so far! It's SO refreshing to find a forum thats NOT full of condescending snobs who just huff and say what an idiot you are just because you don't understand every piece of every circuit and cable in your PC.
You guys are great! Cheers!
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Just checked CPU temperature and it says 85 degrees! I'm no expert, but that sounds pretty darned high!! It gave a speed for the CPU fan (about 4000rpm) but read 0 for system fan. I checked them earlier and they were working. Also the 'Shutdown Temperature' feature was disabled.
The plot thickens....
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That is way to high Martin. Has the box been cleaned up at all? What is the case (motherboard) temperature? It should be down around the 30s. If it's too high, check the power supply fan and make sure there is good airflow through the PS. The PS input holes inside the box might be blocked up and preventing proper air flow.
If the case temp is ok and the CPU fan is ok, you might have to remove the CPU and heatsink, clean it up and reapply the thermal compound. Or the heatsink might have originally installed incorrectly.
Do yourself a favor BACKUP!
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You mention that your PC keeps shutting down and restarting.
If this is happening on a regular basis this deffinatley means that you need the power supply unit replacing.
They are not expensive to buy and can be purchased from an wholesalers for around £5 - £10.
RB
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Just to let you know, I did another check of the CPU and found that there was a load of gunk deep inside it where a regular clean usually can't reach. I downloaded a nifty program called 'Hardware Sensors Monitor' which gives you a constant readout of various internal temperatures, and sure enough, after a major gunk cleanout, the temperature of the CPU is back to normal and everything is running fine now. Incidentally, the Monitor's website says that 85 degrees is just about the upper limit for my processor (AMD Athlon) so I guess when it was being really busy it must have gottten much hotter!
Anyway, thanks for all your help again guys.
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