View Full Version : Reason for random reboots in XP
I figured I post this thread for those who came across a random reboot problem in WinXP. When I say I tried everything I mean I tried everthing to figure this problem out. Somehow my machine would run perfect in 98SE but would randomly reboot in XP Pro. I disabled the auto reboot on errors, and it would still reboot with no BSOD. Somehow XP will reboot when the voltage starts to fluctuate. I noticed this when I installed my Vcore mod and raised my voltage to 1.95v. It wouldn't even last 10 seconds in windows without rebooting while when set at 1.85v, it would give me a good 30 minutes before rebooting. My readings looked like this:
1.95v line would jump from 1.92-1.97 and 5v line@4.85-4.89
When set at 1.85v:
1.85v line would jump from 1.81-1.87 and 5v line@4.87-4.89
In 98SE this would not cause any reboots what so ever even when OC'ed 200mhz plus! I have two PSU's, Antec 300w and 430w and they both caused random reboots. Now when I set my Vcore to 1.6v my readings would look like this:
1.6v line would jump from 1.62-1.63 and 5v line@4.92 stable
At 1.6v I ran XP overnight running 3Dmark and downloading XP update files and not a single reboot. Somehow XP uses more juice than 98SE. When the voltage gets shaky, XP will reboot without any error messages and yes I disabled auto reboot on errors so I know it had to be a power problem. Does XP use more power than 98SE or does it just have a feature that restarts the machine if the power levels are to low?
Isn't a 1.6 vcore only good for Tbreds? I thought the standard for Athlon XPs was 1.75v.
Changing vcore isn't the best method to solve voltage issues...I'd test out your power supply or try a new one.
It runs stable at 1.6v. I need to get a better PSU that's for sure if I want to do some serious OC'ing. I've had bad luck with Antec so I know I won't go with Antec again. I'm trying to see which is a popular brand for OC'ing. Unless theirs a mod I could do to my 430w to bring my 5v line up. Any suggestions?
OK, It will run stable at 1.7v without a reboot in XP. I went and bought another PSU (Antec 430w) because I figured it had to be a bad PSU but it still reboots in settings higher than 1.7v. I find it hard to believe that a 430w PSU is not enough. Any suggestions?
If it was a video driver issue, wouldn't it least give me an error message? It can't be any other driver because I've installed XP with the basic components i.e. video, cpu, memory, hdd, floppy and cdrom. Thanks for your help in advance.
Try flashing your BIOS to the latest stable release found at the manufacturer's site.
I replied to this in another thread also...check your memory.
These are the following things I've done:
-Updated bios and drivers
-Installed WinXP Pro without pci devices i.e. modem and soundcard
-3 different memory sticks and different dimms (memtest with no errors on all 3)
-different hdd
-disables cdrom's
-tried setup outside of case
-3 different psu's (antec 300w and 2 430w)
-disconnect all fans
-tried every bios setting I could think of
-disabled auto restart
I have not tried a different video card because all devices work perfect in Win98SE with not a single reboot or blue screen. It sounds like a power problem because it will only reboot with a vcore higher than 1.7v in WinXP but at the same time I could go 2.0v vcore in Win98 with no problems. I can usually troubleshoot anything but this problem has really kicked my a$$. I can't even get an error message.
DreamingWolf
08-24-02, 10:10 AM
I don't know the answer, but I have an idea about the cause. XP is based on the NT line of design and that, especially in the pro version, means that the system is MUCH stricter about control of system resources than 98 ever was. That's why games never played well on NT and 2000 til the later service packs were released. Don't know where or if you can find a way to relax those standards for the voltage readings, though I'm sure someone somewhere has figured it out. But best guess is that your resource manager is the culprit.
Ha!! i got the same problem, posted on another thread but still no answer... this restarting thing is so annoying and random so that we don't have a clue and do anything we can think of in result to distabilize even more our system... anyway i now believe it has to do with the nvidia drivers... just a suggestion..
shadowdr
08-25-02, 07:57 AM
isn't there an event viewer in xp like 2000?
it should tell you why it is rebooting.
DreamingWolf
08-25-02, 09:01 AM
START - CONTROL PANEL - ADMINISTRATIVE TOOLS - COMPUTER MANAGEMENT. There you will find Event Viewer in the SYstem Tools section. Has been very useful for me at times.
Yes. I posted them on the website but still no fix.
the thing is that i always get different messages but they are from the same reason which is the nvidia drivers, as soon as i change them i get sometimes more other less stabillity, but the problem persists
It seems that everything has been done to fix this problem except trying a different CPU. Could a defect CPU be causing these random reboots in XP? Obviously AMD say's their XP's are designed for WinXP so their is some relationship between the CPU and OS. Could a bad or defect CPU be the problem? I was getting this problem with my old mobo so I no it's not the mobo or any other hardware because I've tested them all.
DreamingWolf
08-25-02, 07:14 PM
That's possible. I know that there are sometimes there are 'gaps' in the chip that will cause problems. Can't for the life of me remember where, but the person said if you up your Vcore voltage a tiny bit alot of times this will cause the signal to jump the gap, but too much voltage and you fry. I wonder if when you raise your voltage the signal jumps somewhere it shouldn't (like jumping the median to head the wrong way down the street) and that's causing the reboots.
If that's true you probably will need a new chip for serious OCing, unless of course you wish to discover new ways to do that can be done at low voltages (and prove cold fusion while you're at it please). But the bright side is that you would then be able to build a nice stable little rig with your present chip and dedicate it to helping Team32 fold its way to 1st place:D
Good Luck:cool:
If that's the case, why would it only give me random reboots in WinXP and not 98SE?
DreamingWolf
08-25-02, 08:41 PM
I don't know. A guess would be that different coding and command set usage would set up slightly different usage patterns within the chip itself????:cool:
ok i got it!!!
i must say that i run a memory test before, but it wasn't memtest86.. after running mt86 i found an errorneous module so i removed it and no more restarts!!!!
btw. i had recently aquired these kingston modules... and paid a lot.. and the one was problematic
listen to this: i changed my board, i now have an ABit KX333 and i installed both modules again, run the memtest and...No errors at all!!! and i run the ram at 2 instead of 2.5 and all the other agressive settings like 4 banks and 5T and even 1T!!! (i have 2 Kingston 256 mod. PC2100, CAS 2.5)
DreamingWolf
09-13-02, 07:58 AM
Wierd...:eek:
BTW WELCOME to the boards.
I wonder what the problem was? If it was your old board, I wonder how it made memtest86 show an error?
Things that make you go HMMMM:eh?:
Glad you're up and stable.:cool:
Lt. Max
09-14-02, 03:34 PM
my friend just got his 8k3ae and he has same problem , i mean it wont stay in windows for more then 5 mins, whenever u go websites and always when u try to dl like a driver and the dl window pops up it like in less then a split second just resets the machine.. i triied putting all his fans, cdrom and floppy to another psu but still does it.. ill try seeing what i can do on monday when i go over again
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