Computer keeps rebooting without warning / BSOD (AT WITS' END)

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jsbaasi

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Dec 23, 2016
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Ok so I have a windows 7 computer and its about 3 and a half years old. (I will post specs if requested). It's permanent place is on the floor. So my problem started about 10 months ago. My computer would stay on for a random amount of time then reboot without a BSOD even after disabling automatic restart. At first I thought *meh* it will fix itself somehow. So it just went on for about 2 months I think. Then it stopped for about a month. Then the problem came back and resided for about 2 months. Again, then it stopped for about roughly 2-3 weeks. Then the problem came back and to this date it still hasn't *fixed* itself. I really didn't want to think my computer had a problem so I just partially ignored it thinking it would go away. Now because it never went for some time, I started online and reading all the threads. Some kept talking about a heat issue. I unscrewed the side panel cleaned off most of the dust without unscrewing anything (except the fans to clean their dusty blades). When I booted it up it wanted to run a consistency check on c: drive and this wasn't new because it wanted to do it before however I kept cancelling but this time I let it run. Now when that was completed, it booted into windows and I just went on playing cs:go for about 3 hours and it never rebooted. So I shut it down as I needed some sleep. Come back to it tomorrow and I play on it for about 1 hour until it restarted. I can't explain the feeling of my shattered hope I had when the LEDs went off and came back on as it rebooted. Then I read more threads which talked about replacing the thermal paste on the CPU. So I watched every video under the sun about replacing the thermal paste and I ordered the thermal paste. Now on the day I'm writing this, the thermal paste is due to arrive in about 5-6 days (MX-2 thermal paste). But when I read other threads I started getting a feeling it maybe isn't a heat or thermal paste issue.

Judging from this helpful guide http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000605.htm , I think it's a operating system issue. So I decided to put my computer to the test and let it idle in the BIOS for 30 minutes as the guide said to do. In this time nothing happened and I exited the BIOS and it rebooted (don't know whether it's supposed to do that, probably is). After rebooting it proceeded to boot into Windows. Now on the guide it said to restore to an earlier point but I'm scared of doing that as maybe it could shut down during the restoration and I have data that I can't lose. I'm mainly scared of this as it SHUT DOWN DURING A MEMORY TEST (windows memtest86)

So if there's any computer geniuses' out there, I will be happy to do what you instruct. I can also delve into a computer with confidence. Please send help, my computer is dying 🙁 🙁 🙁

Oh and if any extra info is needed I will be happy to report back (Just exactly and clearly list everything that is needed

http://i.imgur.com/3QgLL86.jpg

CPU: i7 960
CPU Cooler: Stock
GPU: Gigabyte GTX 460 1gb
Mobo: Gigabyte X58A UD3R
PSU: Antec CP-1000
RAM: 6gb consisting of 3 sticks of corsair dominator GT 2gb DDR3 with a corsair airflow fan on top
2 optical drives
10tb of storage with 7 hdds and no ssds
3 x 120 mm fans
2 x 140 mm fans
1 x 250 mm fan

EDIT: I've fixed it lads with enormous help from Hellfire <3 #nohomo but the problem was faulty ram modules. The first thing I did was run prime95 on power consumption mode to see if it was the psu that was the problem and couldn't provide enough juice resulting in shutdowns. But m computer stayed steady throughout so next thing I moved on to was RAM. I didn't memtest but I just played some games on each of my three sticks. The one that resulted in shutdowns during my testing period (stick #2) was taken out and I put the other two sticks back in. Haven't got shutdown since. Big enormous thanks to Hellfire13 :)

BTW IF YOU'RE READING THIS TO TROUBLESHOOT YOUR OWN COMPUTER JUST READ ON AND YOU'LL EVENTUALLY FIND A LIST OF TESTS THAT HELLFIRE GAVE. DO THOSE AFTER YOU'RE SURE IT ISN'T THE PSU. TO MAKE SURE IT ISNT THE PSU JUST RUN PRIME 95 ON THE POWER CONSUMPTION MODE FOR ABOUT 1.5 HOURS. GOOD LUCK ALL

 
Solution
Hellfire13
Ideally, i would start with the psu. Because, if it shuts down during memtest, it could mean that one of the ram modules might be playing up. On the contrary, it might not have anything to do with it, and could be caused even by the psu not being able to deliver enough juice. It would be better that you do some stress test with this psu you have with prime95 for cpu and furmark or unigine for gpu.
Once the psu is absolved, we can move on to the ram and windows.
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It's your power supply I had a SeaSonic X-1250 do the same thing to me before it went out completely it would crash restart my computer every time I try to play a game and sometimes it would let me play a game and the next day black screen restart and it would let me use the internet with no problems at all and one day it would not stay on past 5 min a new power supply solved my problems and good move when you tried another power supply and everything works that's a great way to find a dying power supply that's what I did also.
 
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ezskills that is what I fear as my custom built computer was made by a relative and includes an ICute 1000w psu that no one has heard about. So if the psu was the problem how come there were periods and not one continuous problem? Why did the problem stop and start?

I want to try every possible solution before jumping to conclusions and spending about £150 or more on a new 1000w psu from a reputable brand.

Thank you for taking the time to respond
 
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CPU: i7 960
CPU Cooler: Stock
GPU: Gigabyte GTX 460 1gb
Mobo: Gigabyte X58A UD3R
PSU: Antec CP-1000
RAM: 6gb consisting of 3 sticks of corsair 2gb DDR3 with a corsair airflow fan thingy on top with 2 fans in it
2 optical drives
10tb of storage with 7 hdds and no ssds
3 x 120 mm fans
2 x 140 mm fans
1 x 250 mm fan

 
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my old power supply only gave me problems when ever I put a load on my system and my system and I'm running Sli and my cpu is overclocked to 4.8ghz so the problem was happening alot more but when I put the same power supply on my media center pc it rarely acts up and some times it works good so now it's on my computer shelf.
 
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Tbh looking at this power supply calculator it seems like 1000w power supply is a bit of an overkill considering I haven't overclocked anything and I don't plan to and I don't have 2 or more GPU's as I only have one. Can anyone suggest a reasonable PSU that is better suited for my PC considering my specs above
 
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Quality unit...should be able to handle your requirements...
https://uk.pcpartpicker.com/product/FQ648d/corsair-power-supply-cp9020101na

Something else bothers me here. Do you have power fluctuations. And do you know how to notice power fluctuations coming out of socket???
I think that could be a possibility as well, other than your ram maybe.
What was the outcome of that memtest and how many pass did you run???
 
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Yep I haven't done anything. I'm going to replace the thermal paste on CPU seeing as it has arrived. I don't think it will make a difference

Btw if I post a picture of all the components of my pc can you guys suggest a value power supply. I will post a picture of all my fans as well. I know Hellfire13 has already recommended one but I think I need to provide ALL of my components for it to be the best one for me.
 
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The one linked above is a quality unit. Also thermal paste is a good way to start, but i am also not too sure whether this will resolve the issue. Unless ofcourse there is a heating and throttling issue.
Download HWINFO and monitor the temps for a while, both idle and load.
Also next time this happens, check the event logs for any critical exceptions.
Download HARDDISKSENTINEL and check the hdd health and smart data.
Also run try to run the memtest again, one stick at a time interchanging the sticks and slots.
Also run sfc /scannow from elevated cmd.

Let us know what happens.

Edit: Back up your data before doing the above so that you dont stand to loose anything. Serious efforts needs serious steps.
 
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I'm sorry to be wasting so much of your time by asking ridiculous questions, but which website do I use to link pictures because I have them and I've tried dropbox
 
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Right now hellfire, with the fact that my computer shut down during memtest and that it didn't reboot in the bios, what do you think are the main culprits of my hair-tearing problem also considering everything on here?

Plus I have an Antec cp-1000w power supply that I think came with the case Antec P193.

PLUS, do I actually need a 1000w? Maybe it's because with a lower wattage PSU it wouldn't have enough connectors for all my hdds
 
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Ideally, i would start with the psu. Because, if it shuts down during memtest, it could mean that one of the ram modules might be playing up. On the contrary, it might not have anything to do with it, and could be caused even by the psu not being able to deliver enough juice. It would be better that you do some stress test with this psu you have with prime95 for cpu and furmark or unigine for gpu.
Once the psu is absolved, we can move on to the ram and windows.
 
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Solution
I ran prime95 on the setting that uses a lot of power. It didn't even shut down (ran it for about 50 mins). After I closed prime95 I let it cool down for 30 mins and then continued to use it normally. It didn't restart or anything for that day. The next day I turn it on start doing stuff and it restarts 🙁 I think it's ram now so I'll be running ram tests

 
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Btw for the power thing for hdds I meant that I don't think a lower wattage psu would have enough connector for all my components. I have like 6 fans and 7 hdds and I don't think I can connect 'em all with something like a 550w psu.
 
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