Computer not Stable, Frequent Reboots/BSODs

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MikeLowrey

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Apr 27, 2013
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Hey everyone, I've been having problems with my home-built PC(built 2.5 years ago) and have no idea where to look for help. I've been banging my head against the wall for weeks. Any help would be appreciated. Let's start with Specs:

i7-2600k processor
GTX 580-MSI Lightning Xtreme Edition
8GB Ripjaws
Kingston 64gb SSD
WD 1TB HD
Asus p8p67 deluxe motherboard
Windows 7 Ultimate(64-bit)
NZXT 1000w PSU

I also have these parts that I've been using for testing/troubleshooting:
BFG 850W PSU
BFG 8800GT GFX card

Now how this all started a few weeks ago...
I noticed my computer started to just freeze and then I'd have to manually reset the computer to get it to work again. It begun to only happen like once a day then it got more and more frequent to the point I couldn't even start the computer unless I was in Safe Mode. I figured this may be a graphics card issue due to the higher resolution outside of safe mode so I tried an old card of mine(8800gt) to see if it made a difference and it still froze up unless in safe mode.

I figured maybe my OS got corrupt and I needed to clear my hard drives anyways since they were quite full so why not just re-format and then reinstall windows. Well I did just that and then began the install of windows, then the computer just restarted itself during the install. I figured maybe it was the SSD I was trying to install on to so I tried my other hard drive, still restarted during installation.

I have 2 separate copies of windows that I have been trying to install on to this computer, both on a flash boot drive made by Windows USB tool and a disk of Windows 7. I have also tried installing both the 64 and 32 bit but run in to the same problem. I finally got windows installed and could get to desktop but the computer would randomly reset at random times(not specific to high resolution games or web browsing or any specific program) and very frequently, only about 5-10 minutes after start-up.

I have played around with the parts in my computer, taking out the ram and only leaving 1 or 2 sticks in and it still does the same thing. The only thing I can access on my computer is the BIOS otherwise the computer restarts before I even get to windows start-up/login screen.

I've checked temperatures on the processor beforeand it was running no hotter than usual(around 40 degrees celcius) I'm very frustrated and have no where to turn. Thankfully I have this laptop for the mean time, but I can't game on this >.<.

I have also tried to even access Startup Repair or try to reinstall/re-format hard drive with windows disk but the installation freezes up after I click "Install Now" at first screen(before you pick hard drive/format screen). The computer either hard hangs or restarts blinking the CPU red LED and then the DRAM led light each once in that order.

Oh...Also during this process I RMA'd my motherboard so it is completely new and installed now but still have the problems. I'm pretty much down to a couple conclusions but don't have the parts to test. I narrowed it down to my hard drives(somehow both are dead/died at same time), CPU(even though temperature has never been high), or RAM(somehow all of my sticks are dead).

UPDATE: Windows finally installed and was running stable for a day or 2 and then begun to notice freezes/random reboots when starting programs, at least multiple ones, or high-res programs. I now get a BSOD(pic on later post of mine in this thread) that says "a clock interupt was not received on a secondary processor within the allocated time interval"
Any help or suggestions would be very appreciated. Thank you.
 
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mbarnes86

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Sep 16, 2010
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Hi

Have you tested your ram with memtest86 or memtest86+ or similar program ?
(bootable CD etc even similar ram tester on Windows 7 DVD)

Have you run manufacturers hard disk & SSD diagnostics to check for damage ?

Seagate bootable cd image will work for WD & other brands of hard disk
[Western Digital version is hard to find except for floppy disk version ??]

I presume Kingston will have some diagnostics disk for their SSD


good set of PC diagnostics found on ubcd and Hirens boot cd (including those I mentioned above)
(download image and burn to CD using ImgBurn)


best of luck

Mike Barnes

 
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MikeLowrey

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Apr 27, 2013
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I wish I had another, I have 2 already and figured it wouldn't be so that both would die at same time. I guess I could try my external or go pick up one from Wal-mart or something so I can return if that's not the problem.

The only thing that makes me think it's not HD also is the fact it freezes after 1st screen of Windows install, like even before I pick the HD to install it on. But I will go to store tonight or tomorrow and pick one up and give it a shot.
 
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MJSBLUES

MJSBLUES

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May 7, 2013
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hmm, this is weird. Just make sure you can return it :p
 
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MikeLowrey

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Apr 27, 2013
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I am starting memtest now with 1 stick of memory just to see, I will test with all 4 after this one is complete and will post results. I will have to look for diagnostics discs for my kingston SSD/WD Hard Drive.
Thanks



Thankfully Wal-mart has the worst(or best) return policy there is so hopefully I can, I will definitely ask before I buy it. Will update after I get new hard drive.

Thanks
 
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asven1

asven1

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Jul 29, 2010
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In my experience bad RAM sticks prevent BIOS from showing...

Have you tried running the SMART test on the hard drives to rule out that? I agree that its funny both of them are misbehaving but if they were on the same SATA power cord and then you had a surge or something... Hopefully your motherboard supports SMART test through BIOS. I have seen hard drives misbehave in all sorts of strange ways.
 
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MikeLowrey

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Apr 27, 2013
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Ok...well I ran the memtest all evening and over night and here are my results in a screenshot: 27 passes, 0 errors.

IMG_20130527_131702.jpg


I'm really in disbelief that it could be my hard drive just due to the fact that I can't even boot from windows CD without it random freezing/hard hanging/restarting before even selecting the hard drive to install windows onto. It can't even get through the set-up process. The furthest I've gotten lately has only been to picking 32 or 64 bit windows to install. If anyone has any other ideas it would be greatly appreciated. I figure the only thing I haven't tested is the processor yet I don't even think I would be able to get to BIOS nor boot from CD if that were the problem. The temperature has always been below average.
 
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asven1

asven1

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Jul 29, 2010
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I am not surprised your RAM passed. Like I said earlier bad RAM will prevent your computer from booting. If you don't want to tinker and do not have an external USB enclosure to test your hard drives on your laptop. Then I would buy a hard drive from the closest electronics store that will let you return it if you encounter the same error. If you have a Micro Center near by I suggest going there.

O and bad RAM will start to throw page file/fault error BSODS before it goes out.
 
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MikeLowrey

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Apr 27, 2013
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Cool, I wasn't surprised my RAM passed either, just figure I'd do it since I hadn't yet. I'm about to head to local electronics store now though and I'll give an update about what happens with different hard drive.
 
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MikeLowrey

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Apr 27, 2013
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So get this...

I got it to randomly work and finally install windows after doing the memtest. So I got windows 7 installed and it was running fine. Before getting too excited, I decided to run a couple of benchmarks and high res games for hours with no problem. I was yelling and screaming in excitement that it had finally worked.

Then Doomsday(yesterday night) came and my computer started freezing up and hard hang or just restarts itself. I didn't install anything that would've caused this. Now I can only get into Safe Mode without the computer just freezing/shutting off/restarting on me. I have no clue what is wrong now lol Back to stage 1.
 
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MikeLowrey

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Apr 27, 2013
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10,510
I actually finally worked it out to boot and get into windows(outside of safe mode) and noticed it may have been a RAM timing issue. I changed it from Auto to X.M.P and set the timings/voltage myself in the BIOS, same with Frequency(1866). It kept working on and off and for random amounts of time, although it did seem more unstable the more programs I had open and would eventually hang hang/freeze/BSOD. I have been getting the same BSOD over and over now and quite frequently(after 5-15 minutes of being on computer, usually when I start playing a game and have internet browser/ventrilo on too. Here is a pic of BSOD:



I have tried using different RAM configurations/sticks and still get it frequently. I have read up on the BSOD and it seems it's a common CPU issue or Overclocking issue(my computer is not OC'd nor never has been, never felt need) I'm curious if a faulty CPU is the cause of all these problems. I have narrowed it down to 2 possibilities I think(CPU or all 4 RAM sticks are defected) Any thoughts?

@asven1: S.M.A.R.T test passed fine. So I don't think it's the hard drive anymore either. Thanks for help by the way
 
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asven1

asven1

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Looked up the blue screen code just now and there are a few conflicting answers. Do you have speed step and turbo mode enabled and if so can you disable them in BIOS and see if that makes a difference. I had a i5 650 that after lots of use started to run a little hotter and did not like my OC anymore so I had to tune it down to make it behave properly.
 
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