Random reboots, any ideas?

My computer has been rebooting randomly here lately to the point where I can't get anything done on it. I really don't think it's a temp issue since in the bios it shows the CPU fairly cool and having the cover off doesn't change a thing. I have had a few dumps that XP has asked if they couuld send it off to microsoft after a reboot and it has come back with a few "causes". Here are some of the following: device driver, corrupted report, memory, sound card. Thinking it might be a driver issue, I updated all the drivers I could find with no luck. I then pulled all expansion cards except my video. One other issue present is the video seems to be flaky, only after a few attempsts does a picture appear. I thought it seemed like a RAM issue so I bought some more and tried that. No luck yet, but I haven't given it much time. Something else that I thought was weird is I could let it run defrag for a couple hours (didn't time it) and no reboots, yet when I'm sitting at the keyboard, it randomly reboots. So if you have any ideas on where to turn to next, that would save me some grief. Thanks.

 

It may be time to run some diagnostics, or reinstall Windows. You can do a safe Windows repair install without losing any programs or data. For diagnostics, run one on the memory (I like this one: http://www.majorgeeks.com/Microsoft_Windows_Memory_Diagnostic_d3955.html It creates a bootable CD or floppy) using the advanced or extended tests, and run at least 3 or 4 passes. Visit your hard drive maker's web site. All the main drive makers have free diagnostic tool downloads. Again, I prefer the bootable ones versus the ones that run from within Windows. Run the advanced or extended tests with the hard drive diagnostic also. You may want to open up the case and clean all the dust and crapola out using canned air or an air compressor. Even though the temps are normal, dust can cause all sorts of strange behavior as it can cause static build-up and discharge.
...and Welcome to Major Geeks! :major

 

I figured that much as far as stuff like memory tests. It sounds like a hardware item to me with the video not displaying without a few reboots. I swapped power supplies and the problems continued. I also swaped video cards and it seems to have helped the display issue somewhat, but not enough time to validate that. It also hasn't helped the reboots from happening. If you got any more ideas, I'm all ears.

 

how old is the motherboard? If you cannot track it down to a software/driver issue, and replacing all other parts, look at replacing the motherboard. Check out the caps (capacitors) and see if any are bulging, leaking, or 'burnt' looking. If so, your mobo, while it can be fixed, is most likly on the way out.

 

Motherboard is probally about 5 years old now. I don't see any bad capacitors. I have a few things I want to try. I'll keep this thread updated with what I find.

 

Other thought that comes to mind, I don't hear the single beep the bios normally makes on boot when I get no video. Also, ran the memory test a few hours and no errors.

 

Nope, no floppy drive and it is disabled in the BIOS. Two possible ideas I have is that the bios might be flaky and if so maybe a bios flash. The other might be just simple enough as a clean install of the OS.

 

Ok, now I'm running out of ideas. I have flashed the bios, replaced the ram, swapped video cards, swapped power supplies, took out any expansion cards except video, did a clean install of the OS, loaded the latest drivers and re-seated the processor. I think I'm down to the MB or the CPU, and advice?