Computer fucked! Help!

[CSflim]

Hello. My computer kept restarting. I came down to it this morning and I tried to launch an application, but it failed to start. I decided to restart the computer. When it came to the welcome screen, I clicked my name, but then without warning the computer restarted. As windows booted up for the second time, before getting to the welcome screen it went to a BSOD telling me "A problem has been detected and windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer". I don't remember the rest of the message but it said that it was dumping the contents of memory to disk. A timer ticked as it did this. Once that was finished, the computer shut down.

I then tried to boot into safe mode. I could do this and logged in sucesfully as "Administrator". Wondering if the problem had sorted itself, I logged out and then in as my regular account. A few moments after doing this the computer rebooted without warning.

Next I tried to use the Windows XP install disk to repair the system. I booted from the disk and selected the "repair" option. It scanned the disk for a while and then restarted.

I tried the install disk again, this time it gave me another BSOD. The message was different this time. I copied it down fully:

A problem has been detected and windows has been shut down to prevent damage to your computer

DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL

IF this is the first time you've seen this Stop error screen restart your computer. If this screen appears again follow these steps"

Check to make sure any new hardware or software is properly installed.
If this is a new installation, ask your hardware or software manufacturer for any windows updates you might need.

If problems continue, disable or remove any newly installed hardware or software. Disable BIOS memory options such as caching or shadowing. If you need to use Safe Mode to remove or disable compnents, restart your computer, press F8 to select Advanced Startup Options, and then select Safe Mode.


Technical Information:

Stop: 0x000000D1 (0x00000107, 0x00000002, 0x00000001, 0xF847A4EA)

acpi.sys - Address F847A4EA base at F845C000 Datestamp 41107d27

Next I tried to boot the machine from a Damn Small Linux cd. As it booted it stopped to give the following message:

INIT: Entering runlevel: 5

malloc: ../src/dispose_cmd.c:199 assertion botched
free: start and end chunk sizes differ
Stopping myself...
malloc: ../src/dispose_cmd.c:191 assertion botched
free: start and end chunk sizes differ
Stopping myself...
malloc: ../src/dispose_cmd.c:199 assertion botched
free: start and end chunk sizes differ
Stopping myself...
malloc: ../src/dispose_cmd.c:230 asserion botched
free: underflow detected; mh_nbytes out of range
Stopping myself...Unable to handle kernel NULL pointer dereference at virtual address 0000000f
printing eip:
c012b55e
*pde = 00000000
0ops: 0000
CPU: 0
EIP: 0010:[<c012b55e>] Not tainted

There was more than this, but as I was copying it down, the text disappeared to display a black and white checked screen with a black X shaped mouse pointer, which could not be moved. At this point I powered off the machine.

Now the computer is even worse. On powering it up, it doesn't always display anything at all the the monitor (even the POST details) and does not appear to do anything. Other times, it will display the POST details and will begin to boot as normal, only to have the monitor turn black and stay that way, with the machine apparently not doing anything.

So anyone have any ideas what could be up? It seems to be certainly a hardware problem since both Windows and Linux seem affected. I have never used Damn Small Linux on this particular machine, so I don't know if it would normally boot without problems.

What do you suspect the problem would be? My first guess would be faulty memory (though it passes the memory check at POST). Any advice on what to do to try and fix this machine? I have not added or changed any hardware recently.

Any help with this matter would be greatly appreciated.

[cj2112]

I'm gonna take a total shot in the dark and guess that you have power supply that is failing. Again...that's just a shot in the dark.

[Cynthetiq]

sounds like a powersupply issue... at least that sounds like the first of the usual suspects, then memory.

hopefully you have a spare to swap out and test.

[CSflim]

Originally Posted by cj2112

I'm gonna take a total shot in the dark and guess that you have power supply that is failing. Again...that's just a shot in the dark.

I would have thought so too....except for the fact that I got those various error messages sometimes, instead of the machine just restarting. Would getting such error messages be expected with a faulty power supply?

[Cynthetiq]

Originally Posted by CSflim

I would have thought so too....except for the fact that I got those various error messages sometimes, instead of the machine just restarting. Would getting such error messages be expected with a faulty power supply?

if the power supply is not giving 100% of mobo/system needs then it's a possibility because the parts aren't peforming 100%.

Failing memory could also be a problem too if you have multiple sticks, take one out and see if it is better.

[Plaid13]

im going to agree that its most likely the power supply but... i suggest you open it up and make sure its not just really clogged with dust and overheating and causing all sorts of hell because of that. Basicly just real good basic maintnance on any computer more then a few months old. Worst that will happen is it will be clean for when you do figure out whats wrong with it for sure.

[tfpfreak]

Also while you have it opened up check for leaking or bulging capacitors. I had somewhat the same problems with a Dell SX270. Originally thought it was the power supply too but it turns out it had a total of 8 leaking and/or bulging capacitors once i opened it up. New motherboard fixed the problem. For me, the error didn't tell me anything then I was able to get in a run an extended diagnostic on it and thats when it gave me the error I needed about temperature being to low or high which is caused by the capacitors. Good luck and hope you can get the problem fixed.

[CSflim]

Ok, well I have no suitable alternative power supply to try in it, so I am going to go buy a replacement tomorrow. Hopefully that will sort me out. Thanks for your help guys. I post again with an update...hopefully so say that everything is once again peachy!

[CSflim]

Ok well some bad news: I got a replacement power supply, installed it, and....no joy. The problem persists. Anyone any advice on what to do next?

[viejo gringo]

Had a similar problem this week---seems to be a driver or .dll missing...

put install CD in drive---click run --enter-- cmd
enter sfc /scannow....let it run---it will not tell you anything when it gets done, but it will replace bad files...

[CSflim]

No, it's a hardware issue I'm sure.

If I go into the bios menu screen after a few moments it will hang (even just leaving it sitting there).

So I suppose it must be the motherboard, the cpu or the memory. I guess it's time for an upgrade....

[Dilbert1234567]

If it hangs in bios, it may be overheating, can you touch the CPU heat sink, and the bridge heat sink, are either very hot?