New Build Issues

[Prolix]

Hi, let me give you some system details.

AMD Athlon64 X2 3800+
Abit AV8 M/Board
80Gb Maxtor H/D
1024Mb Ram
350W PSU
16sp Pioneer DVD R/Writer
Win XP Pro SP2

The problems are as follows. Having recently had the PC built for me, I am having frequent problems with the machine "switching off" (not full shutdown or BSOD but nothing on screen with sys fans/ lights still on). Have updated BIOS, am using the correct AMD processor driver (and latest drivers for all components), have re- installed WinXp, run Spybot, Adaware and Norton antivirus. By process of elimination I find that the majority of problems occur when I am online (the sys in question is on AOL BB connected with a BT Voyager 105 modem). Am I right in thinking that power supply could be the cause? Could it be a USB problem? Have checked temps and CPU shows at 32ish and sys temp at 35ish.
Hopefully someone can help me in this, my entire knowledge of computers has been gained within the last fortnight since I bought the computer!

Many thanks, Dave.

[mick_f]

Hi Dave welcome to the forum sorry i cant help you m8 but there are plenty of people here to help so good luck

[syphus]

There are a few possibilities, but run a memory diagnostic first. You should ALWAYS do this when building a new machine...like checking your foundations before building a house.

My favorite memory diagnostic is Memtest86+. Choose either an ISO or Floppy Disk Image.

Make sure it completes at least one pass, and post back with results.

[Prolix]

Hi. Thanks for your responses. Am I right in thinking that memtest has to be booted from floppy at startup? If this is the case, do you know of an alternative which runs through windows? (dont have a floppy drive on machine)

EDIT In the meantime I have tried removing/ swapping mem chips but problem still continues. Have also removed DVDRW to see whether less drain on sys power would help, but once again to no avail. Am I right in thinking that the problem could well be power through USB related, or is it more likely to be something else? Do I need to beg/borrow/steal a floppy drive to eliminate bad memory?
Dave

[Jason]

If you only have a CD Drive you should download the ISO of Memtest and burn it to a CD.

[Prolix]

Me again! Have brought the machine home with me, and am now connected on BT Internet via a BT Voyager 205 router (separate power supply). Have not had any problems with the machine shutting down, and have been online now for at least 3/4 hour. Perhaps I am being a total numb nuts (!), but I cant seem to get my head around the memtest download. Not able to unwrap it via winrar, therefore cant get it onto CD.

If I dont have any shutdown problems whilst using the router, what have I proven? I know this sounds like a stupid question, but I seem to have gone round in circles so often that I am now rather dizzy!

Any comments (sarcastic or otherwise!) will be greatly appreciated.

Dave

[Tom]

With the memtest thing, download the one that ends in ".iso.zip"

Unzip the ISO file thats in there. Use a decent peice of CD Burning software such as 'Alcohol 120%' and burn the ISO file onto a cd as an 'image cd'

Put it back in the pc and it will do the rest.

[Prolix]

Thanx MidiMoto. Will do that and post back later with results.

[Prolix]

OK guys. Thanks for helping me through that one. I have let memtest run through 4 passes and no probs. Can we now rule out memory peoblems?

Having done this, I must also tell you that I still have not had any problems with the comp since switching modem to router. Unfortunately I cant keep it as such, so the problem still remains - power to USB problem or AOL/ Voyager 105 problem (have tried 2 different 105s). Any further advice?

Dave

[Prolix]

Bugger - just shutdown. Thought I had it sorted.

[Schmidget]

Tell me if I'm understanding this correctly...after switching from direct connection from USB modem to connection through router, you havn't had any problems? If that is the case, I think that it is a problem with the communication via USB between the modem and your PC. USB is generaly not recomended as a Broadband communication tool. Some have even twisted the acronym to make it state "UnSuitable for Broadband." The actual issue could be caused by a whole spectrum of things. Driver issues could cause the system to become unstable in such a way that it causes its "vital organs" to shut down, thus causing no BSODs (provided you completed the process to enable BSODs, and are sure BSODs do not occur).

But to put it into a more extreme manner, it could be caused by anything as low level as a hardware issue. A failing southbridge, which I have witnessed before as more and more I/O components slowly failed, might cause the communication between the modem and PC to trigger a hardware system failure. That is far fetched, and would be a rare instance of a worst case senario.

I don't think a power failure by your PSU would cause that problem because it only seems to occur after using the modem's USB capability. In addition, USB devices generally don't pull much power from the port. It only draws around 4.75V - 5.25V at ~100-500 (I think) mA per device. That is more of a maximum really. Hence the reason why the USB devices usually use external power sources. As far as the supplying 5v rails going bad on your PSU, which would cause a USB power failure, would have caused so many more issues with other components that problems such as yours would occur much more often.

If I understood the posts correctly, which I may not have done due to coming into the post at a late time, I suggest either downloading new drivers for the modem, or switching to a diferent Broadband modem to see if the problem still exists.

I'm still considered a "noob" with computers, so you might want to wait and see if it gets certified from an admin. Even with that considered, I still like to share my extremely limited knowledge of computers.

[Schmidget]

Darn, You beat me to my post. It took me a while to type all that. Hope it's still valid.

What do you mean by "Bugger - just shutdown. Thought I had it sorted."

Do you mean it shutdown while using the router, or while using the direct USB connection?

[Prolix]

Hi Scmidget. Gave up whilst still using the router (via USB). The USB driver I am using came with the AV8 M/Board. Wish I had a little more knowledge of the subject so I could perhaps be a bit more descriptive.

Dave

[Schmidget]

You're using the router via USB? That changes things a bit. I would say update to the newest USB drivers for the modem and/or the motherboard chipset. Give that a shot. I assumed you were connecting the router via a cat5 cable into the LAN port. :-\

[Prolix]

Thx. Will give it a go and post back.
Dave

[Prolix]

Just checked, and am using latest available drivers

[Schmidget]

Try using a different Broadband modem... :-\

[Prolix]

I have now tried 2 x 105 modems and a 205 router all with the same results. Yes, I know that they are all BT, and yes, I guess that they are all cack, but can there be any other answer?

[Tom]

Try using a different USB port? ???

[Schmidget]

How 'bout use the LAN port as opposed to the USB port. You may have to set up the internet through the Network Wizard though... :-\