computer woes

[loana0320]

ok I been incredibly busy the past two weeks between organizing my kids duo party that took place this past weekend and a few shoots in between with family form hubby's side and my side in town and me being a taxi driver and entertainer while bringing three cranky tired kids was no fun... and my computer is acting up in the process!
Is been a few weeks but is happening a LOT more frequent now that all of the sudden while I am doing something on my pc could be checking e-mail, browsing online, or opening pics, proofing in PS or downloading from camera when my computer just decides to reboot itself... I stopped using my ups and hooked up directly into the wall... my fan is working fine, hubby says I have plenty of space.. so I dunno why? now it does it even if noone is using it.. hubby checked for viruses and nothing was found.. Ia m loosing my mind :(
help?
what could it be?

[CFord]

I was having the same problems with XP and had extra parts to swap in and out to see what was causing it. I ended up by replacing the power supply in mine. I did a bunch of research and most of what I found led me to think that there were voltage drops to the motherboard. I used Motherboard monitor to track what happened when the computer rebooted.

[ndsimm]

if it's rebooting, you may be having BSOD issues. depending on the version of windows you have, when there is a system problem, the Blue screen displays, but automatically restarts the machine rather than showing the error.
you should be able to go into the system properties and set it to not automatically reboot so you can see the error

[loana0320]

Thanks so much guys I will show hubby this messages when he gets home.. he is my IT guy LOL as it goes over my head but he has been trying several things and I am frustrated is not fix yet LOL
I am using windows xp and I he said something was wrong with my internet explorer so now I use firebox but anyhow that has nothing to do with it as I get rebooted even if not online

[KingViper]

My first stab as to why this is occurring would be what Chris said, bad power supply. It could be a BSOD, but most of the time you would see this. Also, you can check the event viewer to see if there have been problems with the system. Hold the Windows Key + R, in the box type 'eventvwr' without the quotes. Just look through the different sections for errors, if there are any, they usually give you a pretty good idea as to whats wrong.

Still, I would say power supply.

[zeroendless]

A common pc self reboot problem has to do with power/heat on cpu. Blue screen if Hardware conflict, cpu heat issue if none.

Possibly result from cpu/contact/heat sink came lost. System or CPU Fans malfunction. I have a backup station at work that does that all the time, the temporary solution was have it ran at open case in open area.

[loana0320]

Thanks guys.. my computer is naked LOL as I call it it looks ghetto meaning no case and I hate it but hubby leaves it like that to make sure no overheating.. I called him and asked him about the power supply and he told me he has not checked that so I hope that is the problem as it would be an easy fix right? LOL
I have an extra computer brand new in studio which I never use as he never hooked me up online there so I never use it I could take that power supply and try it in this one at home!

[andyz]

The power supply may not be swappable from one model to another. But these are relatively inexpensive as things go. You may also decide to use that "new" computer that is depreciating, unused, and lonely.

[loana0320]

okie dokie, it is possible to use the new computer with my hard drives from this computer right? I hate to have to reinstall everything I need LOL

[KingViper]

Originally Posted by loana0320

Thanks guys.. my computer is naked LOL as I call it it looks ghetto meaning no case and I hate it but hubby leaves it like that to make sure no overheating.. I called him and asked him about the power supply and he told me he has not checked that so I hope that is the problem as it would be an easy fix right? LOL
I have an extra computer brand new in studio which I never use as he never hooked me up online there so I never use it I could take that power supply and try it in this one at home!

Depending on the components in your system, leaving a computer bare can cause more overheating. This usually isn't a problem with the processor since 99.99% of the time they have a dedicated fan on the heat sink, but other components such as the north bridge and south bridge, ram, hard drives, and video card with a passive heat sink rely on airflow throughout the system to keep them cool. (airflow from the front of the case to the back by way of fans) Nevertheless, I don't think that's the problem.

Are the computers you're using custom built or from a manufacturer such as dell? If they are from Dell or Gateway etc, the power supply will most likely not work between computers, and it's not worth the risk. Also, if the computer with the problem is a Dell or other brand, you may have to get a power supply from them to guarantee compatibility. (It's reason such as this that make building your own computer so much sweeter)

Anyhow, it sounds like your husband should be able to figure this out.

On a different note, I took a peek at your website and I think their might be a typo. On the details page, it states the following, "they grow way too fast, and what a better than to photograph this wonderful stage they are in". I could be reading it wrong though too, I've been known to do that.

[loana0320]

ohhh heheh Thanks I will go fix the typo tonight I am so known to do that LOL.. Thanks Ryan!
We have built computers hubby refuses to buy name brand and he builds IBM compatibles.

[CFord]

If you don't have one this program will record the temps and fan speeds to help see if that could be the problem as well.
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=311

[loana0320]

coool Thanks I do not think we have it.. will def tell the hubby he should be home very soon!
since I started this thread my pc has been out like 6 times.. Ughhhhh