Yea, I'm looking for a good, free hardware diagnotic program to search for possible system problems that may be contributing to my unstable computer... IBM, my computers manufactor, suggested PC-Doctor which failed to setup properly during repeated attempts... Anyone know of any good programs?
Norton System Works has some very good diagnostic tools too. ... just an fyi. Keep us posted. What problems are you having by the way??
I think its the CPU... Random shut downs/restarting. 100% sure NON-VIRAL. Motherboard was replaced under extended warranty due to faulty boards with capacitor leaks near CPU. So new motherboard, new ram, new hard drive. And its still shutting down. Temps range from 38C to 45C under load... have yet to test while encoding. But wil CPU usage 90% plus for 10 mins straight it never breached 50C so its not a temp problem. I've guessed and had a few people say my guess is 99% correct that its the CPU. So I'm getting a new one. Replacing the Celeron 950mhz with either a P3 733mhz I just got but I am looking to get a 933mhz instead and sell the 733mhz. Also if this fixes I plan to OC the fsb from 100mhz to 133mhz for a slight increase. Plus I'm adding another fan to keep temps down as I have to use more power and increase heat with OC to the fsb. I've heard there are programs that can test your hardware for problems. Thats what I need... I have SiSoftware and it has a "Burn-In" option to test hardware components but putting too much strain can cause errors... and it reports the fsb and processor are running at higher than normal speeds but it not OC'd so I think it could be the messed up CPU reporting false problems... Any ideas?
If capacitor leaks occurred near your CPU, they could have damaged the CPU, hence your restart problems. The only other problem could be power, but since you mentioned you had a 500W power supply I don't think that can be the problem. If the restarts are instant (as if you pressed the restart button) then the problem is definitely hardware. If you can get a high speed 100mhz CPU you can change the FSB to 133mhz and get some decent speed, as you mentioned, a 700mhz would change to 933mhz for example. However, at that end you may as well buy a new chip and change the FSB to match it rather than OC an older model.
I agree with Sammy. (leakage and seapage ain't pretty!) Hey Fuel, go here, ftp download and try these two files. ftp://www.starmancomputerservices.com folder: starman\CPU Temp Probe\ files: stabilitytest.exe and mbprobe130.zip Try the stabilitytest first; keep us posted.
Where did Sammy come from? I don't mind but I've never mentioned that that's what I like to be called! Heh, interesting one, nice to see a real character around forums!
Thanks Sammy and I take that as a complement too! I have a nephew named Sammy so I guess it was a little slippage and personal habit hanging around him alot. I actually call him Slammin Sammy! Hey fuel, also check the event viewer log(s) and tell us what it captures prior to reboots. tks.
Lol slammin sammy! That's a new one! Event logs should show some serious activity prior to the restarts, but of course not always, though I think we've kind of singled out the issue here. Try the RAM sticks and see if any of them show suspicious activity. I'd be surprised if they don't.
how long does the test run... I just ran it and left it... and let it run for 27 mins and when I sat at my comp and touched the mouse my comp crashed... that a strange habit it has at random times too... if left alone for a while... opening a program and clicking something for the first time after being idle makes it crash... it isn't every time, or most... just sort of an anomaly. So yea, how long does the test run for? after the crash... the current probe stats weren't logged either... =/ I'll try again now and run no programs and leave it idle. EDIT> I accidentally ran the probe and something poped up in the corner and the +3.3V +5V +12V -5V and -12V are blinking red and theres an alarm-ish noise that won't stop till I right click and close...
Well if the voltages are flashing they're either not at the right values which is bad, or more likely the probe isn't reading them right. Have a look at what they are, if they're ridiculously far out, or very close then just get rid of the program, it's not helpful. If they're about 10-15% off then you could have power problems, hence the occasional crashing.
3.3V - 4.08 5V - 6.85 12V - 16.32 -5V - -6.80 -12V - -16.32 Vccp1 and 2 at 4.08 This bad? if so how do I fix? Also the program reads my comp at 30.2C when its actually 42C so does this mean the program is fubar?
Yoh, Boss; try the mother board monitor from same ftp site/folder location; let us know how it performs. The filename is MBM5730.exe ... you may have to refresh the browser window if you are still in the folder. Good luck. I think Sammy knows how to read this information very well. Let us know. check this out too: http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file_description/0,fid,7146,00.asp
MBM looks good... but the problem is, IBM refuses to tell me what motherboard brand/model is in their computers... and with weeks of research and even posts here on afterdawn, I haven't gotten much closer to finding out. So MBM can't start till I find it out. If your wondering its a Netvista 2257-72u (810e) using socket 370 Celeron CPU.
damn those are very unusal, try going into bios by pressing F2 or del, and seeing what the voltages are like in there, cause if they are that then thats is what ur problem will most likely be.
No voltage option in bios... its a very poor bios in these boards... I had a 2002 version but found update to a 2005 version and thought I might get a few options but no... the bios in these suck... but that program that was reading the volts also claimed my comp was at 30C when it was really at 42C.... and it reported no fan RPM when I can hear the damn fan... so is the program just not working in my system or are my volts messed... also how do I fix? without bios cause I can't get into bios...
Those values clearly indicate the program is, as both you and I would put it, fubar. 16V on a 12V rail would destroy half your devices, no questions asked. Generally with a custom OEM board you're not likely to find any information from any program like that that'll be worthwhile. Not noticing fan speed is also a telltale sign.
