Hi Guys,

May be you guys can help me in solving a weird problem. I just bought an assembeled PC with Athlon 1900. It worked OK for almost a month but since last week it keeps restarting a lot on its own. I have opened the box, and I can see what happens in this case. The power to the motherboard, CPU, CPU fan got disconnected at times, as fan stops for a minute time and the machine restarts. Is it a hardware problem (with my power supply) or BIOS virus? Sometimes the restart occurs before the OS loads?

Is there some virus that can create such kind of scenario?

Sounds like you just need to replace the fan.

Cleo

I have 2 fans and both stops during that sudden break. That took me to the conclusion that the power supply box is culprit and I just wanna know if there is any Virus which can create same kind of scenario.

I guees, I might need to buy another power supply and test the same scenario. And interestingly I am using the same computer to write this information. Sometimes, it keeps running for 12-14 hours continuously and there is no fixed pattern and that cause me to doubt about existence of any virus.

What do you guys think?
Thanks in advance

Go get your money back.

Unfortunately, you normally can't replace just the power supply, you actually have to replace the entire motherboard, they come as kind of a package deal. Maybe that has changed recently, I'm actually not sure. Hopefully.

Anyway, how are your fans attached? Are they getting power directly from the power supply or are they plugged into the board somewhere? I would take a close look at how they are set up- if they are connected to each other in any way, sharing a cable, etc. I would replace them first.

You may be right, it very well may be a power supply issue, it just really sounds like a typical fan problem to me, and trust me, I've replaced more than my share of faulty fans!

Cleo

I had the same problem with my system. After doing just about every tweak to correct the problem, the last thing I did was plug into a different outlet :|, hasnt auto rebooted since. I found it may have been a power supply that when voltage dips below what the system requires it will restart...or something like that. All I can say is it worked

Thanks Guys.

I really don't know. I have tried different plug outlet scheme but it did not work. But you may be right, I should try a completely different outlet.

The Damn computer is running since yesterday night and from the point I posted this problem. And I don't wanna shut it down.

I hope it just keep running like this. Your responses made sure that it's only hardware problem, and I appreciate your help. I guess, I would be able to fix it after knowing more about it.

Good job Manish!
The rule of thumb I always follow for these situations is "Look outside the computer first" You know, if your printer isn't working, check the cable connection before you re-install the driver. I'm sure you'll get to the bottom of it.

Cleo

before you heep $50 bucks in a new power supply
look inside the case for any loose or pinched wiring the P/C i'm running now had spontanous reboots after i put it together, found one of the fan wires pinch against the case
Also and use caution there have been instances when the bottom of the motherboard can contact the case or a loose screw removal of motherboard
and insulating might be a solution as well