Psu Or Cpu?

My friend has a Gateway e-4000 (I told him to pitch it), BUT. So it had a bad HD. I replaced it. Started it up and managed to load windows. This is where the problems started. The system runs until you insert a disk. Then sometimes it works and more often it reboots. Changed the cd with a known good one. Same results. THis will happen even in the safe mode.

No flags in windows event viewer. Ran memtest OK. Checked 5 volt Ok. Checked 12 - 11.89. When I ran a stress test on the cpu voltage dropped to 11.71 and the system rebooted. Also installed the latest bios. I don't think it is software but can't go any further because I have know way to test the 3 and the 1.6 volt output.

 

You need to run more tests to isolate the problem,forget the cd drive for the moment,sounds like a symptom not the cause, lets check for cpu probs,also forget about the voltages they'r close enough

you run a cpu test and the computer crashed or reset?Go to control panel system\advanced\starup recovery settings uncheck auto restart

Download thses two programs,run toast while checking the the temperature with speedfan,the cpu temp is the one rising the fastest,let me know what happens run the test for half an hour,'hopefully' it will crash,best not do anything else with the comp in this time

http://majorgeeks.com/SpeedFan_d337.html

http://majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=867

EDIT-when was the last time the comp was dusted?

 

Rikky I ran toast for an hour and a halve.Nada Put a disk in and bang reboot. It will also do it in the safe mode. The psu according to Gateway is a 160 watt.

temp and voltages

2.5 actual 1.51 local temp 27c running toast 30c
3.3 " 3.37 remote temp 26c " 35c
5 " 5.12 hd 36c " 38C
Vccp 1.5
Vcc 3.27

I am almost sure this is not related to windows.

 

Right then A disk goes in the comp reboots,we'v tried different disk drives same thing,it aint overheating,I just thought has the new HD been setup right?This is an ide disk drive ,check the new disk drive is on the end of the ide cable and set as master and the cdrom is in the middle of the connector and set to slave or on its own ide cable and set as master

Also try disabling autoplay for the drive,right click the drive,properties,set all the autoplays to take no action see if that changes anything

I'm not sure how much power the computer needs,but if the comp has been modified or has extra components it could indeed be the psu,the simple way to check is to remove everything apart from the cdrom and give it a whirl,these comps arnt designed to be modified at all the psu is specific to the exact components in the box,

To check if it is causing the comp to reboot,replace all the components you just removed remove the ide cable from the drive and insert a cd the comp should reboot,if you have two drives and two free power connectors without add two drives to the system 'again without any ide connection' and insert two cd's at the same time,the comp should reboot

 

New drive is on a ata100 cable and is set to cable select same with cd drive(its easier than having to think). Master on the end slave in the middle. let windows do the driving on the format. First thing I did was dust the unit. Getting xp to understand I don't want autoplay isn't working. I don't think it's windows because I don't get the BOD and it shows nothing in the event logs. Also this is a fresh install.
Tried the double cd and it didn't cause a boot. I loaded and reloaded from the cd this morning, worked for about 2 hrs., then it started again. came back about 4 hrs later and it would take cds again.

not cpu-toast
not mem-memtest
not psu-added cd
not drive- switched
not windows- will do it in safemode, no BOD, no event log

I'm stumped!

 

Have you updated windows with the latest service packs and updates?Could be am incompatible driver file

 

Download tweakui,Expand the My Computer branch, then the AutoPlay branch, and then select Drives,turn off the checkbox next to the drive

http://download.microsoft.com/downl...a6-b352-839afb2a2679/TweakUiPowertoySetup.exe

 

Used a slipstreamed xp with sp2. Second thing I did was go to ms downloads and download everything, always do when I set up a new drive with ms. I will download powertoys tomorrow. I am going to hit gateway for more updates, I did the bios which was one of my first thoughts. Ive bee doing computers since the 5 1/4 floppy was your harddrive and this is the oddest one i've had.

 

What are the specs of the gateway e-4000 I'v had a look and found a load of different systems do you have a link to the gateway page,how old is it exactly?

 

The machine is 3yrs old. On the gateway site you can look up the specs by serial no. (00294211482). I've about concluded I am getting a spike that I can't see without a scope. A new supply is $60. I told them I could build them a machine for 350 that would do all they need. I also hooked the cd to the same ide as the hard drive same samo.