HARDWARE problem?? toughy....

[otchster]

k so im trying to fix a freinds desktop.. its custom built.. it boots XP, and runs fine.. the problem is; every now and then, randomly and spontainiously it will SHUT OFF.

all the fans are on.. it usually does this when running a full virus scan, or burning a CD, etc..

i HAVE replaced the power supply with a nice antex model from best buy, and it still shuts off..

theres two 256mb ram sticks, and theres 3 slots on the mobo, ive tried each one invidiually, and the different slots, almsot all possible configurations, and it STILL shuts off randomly... so i think that voids out the ram..

its an AMD 2500+, Asus a7v8x-x Mobo, with like i said two 256mb sticks (kingmax and a samsung), a crappy CD-RW, a Maxtor 80gb hdd, the NEW antec 350w psu..

and also, a pretty beafy aftermarket fan and heatsink...

i vaccumed the fan, heatsink, case, etc of dust, and i dont think over heating is the problem.. ive tried different outlets, and even different houses!! so its not that..

why does this machine keep shutting off??

**please note, i dont believe its a virus because when i boot an XP install CD, and attempt to install XP it shuts off randomly while in the install process...

thanks

 

[Gamingfreak]

run a program called prime95 and keep an eye on the temperature, if it shuts off then its overheating, sounds like the "beafy" cooler might be pulling away from the cpu

 

[Half Evil]

Or just download something liek coobits, and check out the temps with that. Because prime 95 is a torture test for your computer. Not a heat test..

 

[Gamingfreak]

it makes it run at its maximum so its gona get as hot as possible, so it is a heat test

 

[otchster]

update for everyone..

it wasnt a heat problem..

i deleted the XP NTFS partition with FDISK using a win98se boot disk..

then installed XP clean onto a new partition..



i guess viruses can actually cause the XP setup to fail.. never knew that...


anyway, it had a virus, and it couldnt be removed using the XP install CD / Format.


thanks to all whom helped