Laptop randomly restarting?

[Chapster5]

Right not sure what to make of this... Fresh install of Windows 7, Core 2 Duo, 4GB RAM. Windows 7 x64.

You'll just be browsing the Internet and it will just restart for no reason. Checked error logs in windows and it just says

Critical Kernal-Power Event ID 41 which basically says nothing more than the system restarted suddenly. No s**t not helpful.

Just doing a Windows Memory test (rebooted from Windows disk as there's 4GB ram) no problems yet but it's only on pass one.

Where else could I look? Software or hardware issue do we reckon?

Cheers!

 

[Darius]

Is it overheating?

 

[ThomasBrentnall]

Download a run bluescreenview. Then tell me the output if anything is logged.

 

[Scrooge]

Ever get that Packard bell running mate?

 

[Chapster5]

Not sure Javva what's a good optimum temperature? Seems warm but nothing out of the ordinary where could I get the readouts is there a software?

Thomas I shall try that in a minute when windows startup repair has finished having a mosey RAM came back clean. Seems so strange since I only installed windows about half 5 today and have only been on Google Chrome.
Scrooge I never mate I couldn't be bothered with Packard bell trying to charge to look at it lol so I sacked it off

 

[ThomasBrentnall]

Not sure Javva what's a good optimum temperature? Seems warm but nothing out of the ordinary where could I get the readouts is there a software?

Thomas I shall try that in a minute when windows startup repair has finished having a mosey RAM came back clean. Seems so strange since I only installed windows about half 5 today and have only been on Google Chrome.
@Scrooge I never mate I couldn't be bothered with Packard bell trying to charge to look at it lol so I sacked it off

Could be something like a bad sector in the hard drive etc causing it. You can also disable automatic restart on system failure which will show a blue screen if there is one. Press f8 just after the bios screen.

Doubt it's overheating as it wouldn't turn back on. Speedfan is a good utility for measuring temperatures though!

 

[Chapster5]

Is there a HDD test software to check for bad sectors? Or will chkdsk suffice?

 

[ThomasBrentnall]

Chkdsk should do it. G SmartControl will also give you some good info about the drive to.

Bluescreenview output is more valuable at this point though!

 

[Chapster5]

Super just running a chkdsk now mate ask startup repair failed for some unbeknown reason :/

 

[ThomasBrentnall]

Super just running a chkdsk now mate ask startup repair failed for some unbeknown reason :/

Startup repair is w**k

 

[Chapster5]

Tell me about it lol wasted 10 mins of time with that but it started straight after the memory test lol! Couldn't stop the gut CHKDSK is looking good so far Stage 4 of 5

 

[Darius]

Startup repair is w**k

Does sound like dodgy hard drive sector to me or over heating, our Acer just used to cut out and them come straight back on for a bit, was some sort of built in protection

 

[Chapster5]

Looking good so far?

Would a reformat sort a bad sector out?

 

[Chapster5]

Right CHKDSK finished but flashed off too quick before I could see any bad sectors or not although it just said Volume is Clean when starting windows :/

 

[Chapster5]

Just tried downloading a sea gate utility to test the HDD the laptop restarted without notice again ffs

 

[ThomasBrentnall]

That chkdsk looks okay to me. A format won't fix bad sectors as it will need a low level format.

Bluescreenview output yet?

 

[Chapster5]

Oh crap forgot lol just installing .net 4 so I can run seagate tools

 

[Chapster5]

Would it still show a report even if it didn't blue screen?

 

[ThomasBrentnall]

Would it still show a report even if it didn't blue screen?

No

 

[Chapster5]

Back to the drawing board hey? I may just try another format and re install windows hmmm

 

[Chapster5]

Food for thought...

Bios is saying HDD not installed yet it must be as windows boots from it :/ and windows 7 installation formats the HDD just fine and CHKDSK ran just fine

 

[Chapster5]

Actually just went into Advanced on the bios and it said the HDD Mode was IDE/something I set it to AHCP? I think it was and now the HDD has appeared

 

[Chapster5]

Since changing that setting windows blue screens on boot... Maybe I'm getting somewhere might re install windows in this HDD mode instead?

Edit

This mode is probably the cause of the problem after reading this. I have now set it to AHCI.

Basically AHCI is a newer way to interface with the SATA controller. This allows you to take advantage of SATA features such as Native Command Queuing (basically, you give your hard drive a bunch of commands, and let it figure out the best order to run them in to increase total throughput... without command queuing, the operating system can only send one command at a time, and the OS really has very little idea how to do this in the optimum order... this helps most when you are accessing data scattered over the drive rather than in order... if you run multiple programs that both use the disk it'll help, but it will have little effect when playing a movie off the hard drive), there are some other features that are enabled, but are more appropriate for desktops. The downside is you need updated drivers (which are apparently not on the BART cd).

 

[ThomasBrentnall]

Yeah set it to AHCI!

Have you copied that from 1999? Ahci has been compatible with Windows for years, no extra drivers

 

[Chapster5]

Flol well apparently windows 7 only installs AHCI if its set in the bios I'm not formatting I shall report back with my findings so we reckon this could be the problem?

 

[ThomasBrentnall]

Yes it will do, however you don't need to reformat it to swap. You can change it in the registry then set it in the bios.

No it isn't, I've installed it on various machines in IDE mode! Worth a shot though!

Sorry for the slow replies, I'm on GTA

 

[Chapster5]

Don't worry about it lol going well so far when I first finished installing windows and it says "Preparing Desktop for First Time Use" it restarted there thought it was odd but now it's sailed straight through I'm trying to really push it to make it restart again

 

[Chapster5]

Seems to be running right as rain now, cheers all!!

 

[Chapster5]

Guess I spoke too soon woke this morning to find it had restarted itself a couple of times as I left it to windows updates last night. Ffs my patience is wearing thin...

 

[ThomasBrentnall]

Thought that may be the case. I'll be back to help you shortly I've just got to go and set the PA system up.

 

[Chapster5]

Trying to do a windows update it says setting restore point for about 2 minute then reboots. Hhmmm

 

[Chapster5]

Checking device manager there is an unknown device the hardware ID is something to go with ACPI which according to Wiki is Advance Configuration and Power Interface. Doesn't sound good to me.

It helps the OS control drivers and hardware power so I'm assuming it may be not doing that so well and cutting out. I have stripped a stick of ram out and left the bottom plate off also stripped the processor out and cleared a carpet out the heat sink.

The ACPI according to hardware manager has child dependencies which includes

Core 2 Duo
Thermal Sensor

So assuming that driver isn't there nothing is controlling the power (or efficiently at least) to the processor? My heads hurting

 

[ThomasBrentnall]

Checking device manager there is an unknown device the hardware ID is something to go with ACPI which according to Wiki is Advance Configuration and Power Interface. Doesn't sound good to me.

It helps the OS control drivers and hardware power so I'm assuming it may be not doing that so well and cutting out. I have stripped a stick of ram out and left the bottom plate off also stripped the processor out and cleared a carpet out the heat sink.

The ACPI according to hardware manager has child dependencies which includes

Core 2 Duo
Thermal Sensor

So assuming that driver isn't there nothing is controlling the power (or efficiently at least) to the processor? My heads hurting

That's probably causing it. Do you have any thermal paste spare?

Have you installed the chipset drivers

 

[Chapster5]

I have thermal paste at work (as its my job recycling computers lol) might try some and I can't find a driver anywhere! Not even on the manufacturer website.

RM Ultralight MKIV it's called it's an ex school laptop or university.

 

[ThomasBrentnall]

I have thermal paste at work (as its my job recycling computers lol) might try some and I can't find a driver anywhere! Not even on the manufacturer website.

RM Ultralight MKIV it's called it's an ex school laptop or university.

Might be worth just re applying some if you can then. Hm what bios does it have and what is shown for model in msinfo32?

Working in schools I f**king hate RM. They've stopped selling hardware now though!

 

[Chapster5]

Lol! Thank god you know them! They are shite most of the time we have a lot of the towers in at the moment a few I5's which I'm shocked at seeing I shall check the bios in about 10 mins

 

[ThomasBrentnall]

Haha, what company do you work for?

 

[Chapster5]

BTRUK it's called dude we collect all sorts of electronical and IT equipment then dispose, strip or recycle it

 

[ThomasBrentnall]

Ah not heard of your company before, we use a company called PRM Green for all of our computer recycling needs!

 

[Chapster5]

Should switch to us dude competitive prices lol! We also do data destruction and all that mumbo jumbo and asset inventory and imagining basically an IT solution.

Right here's the BIOS