Major PC issues. 911 at DVinfo.net

Ryan Laytart · January 1st, 2019, 02:26 PM

Happy New Year!... I'll try to keep this brief. I'm just looking for any thoughts/ideas:
I replaced our family computer with a Refurbished HP Z420 (very similar specs to my editing pc), last year. It was fantastic, for the first year, but many issues have emerged, in the past 6 months.

Essentially, the computer kept crashing (random corrupt files, blue-screens, automatic "attempting to repair", etc...

After many wipes and fresh installs, the hard-drive eventually wasn't recognized by the PC, and I had nowhere to install Windows to. I ended up getting an SSD for the OS drive, and a WD Blue 1TB as a storage drive.

It worked great, for 3 or 4 weeks, and now it has been randomly restarting itself. Last night, it just kept turning on/off, over and over. After unplugging it, my son had it running fine, and then the problem began again.

Could this be a power issue? Maybe a bad power supply? I wouldn't take it as a memory issue, but perhaps? It seems strange that it would run flawlessly with the new drives, but only for a while.

Specs:
HP Z420
Z series
600W power supply
Windows 10 Pro
Intel C602
Xeon 6 core, 3.2GHz
1600MHz FSB
Nvidia Quadro 600 DDR3
16 GB DDR3 1600

Thanks for any input!

Cary Knoop · January 1st, 2019, 02:41 PM

Likely a memory issue but this computer is a bit past its lifetime. I would not spend too much good money after bad on it and consider something more modern.

Ryan Laytart · January 1st, 2019, 03:06 PM

That's what I'm trying to avoid, but it runs beautifully, if it's just a simple fix. So, memory would cause all this? Well, let me say that they installed server memory in this computer. They "assured" me that it isn't an issue.

Pete Cofrancesco · January 1st, 2019, 04:17 PM

You can get free memory testing software. It works the same as hard drive testers, writing 1s and 0s to every bit. It takes a long time but leaves no doubt. Another method is if you have multiple sticks of ram pull all of them, then put only one in and run the computer. If the ram checks out ok it could be the mobo.

Ryan Laytart · January 1st, 2019, 05:15 PM

Thank you. I'll try it.

Andrew Smith · January 1st, 2019, 07:01 PM

Also, take out the memory chips and wipe along the connector with alcohol wipes. Just like mobile phone SIM cards playing up, a layer of oxidisation can accumulate on the copper contacts which becomes enough to change the level of resistance. This in turn can give you some impossible to track down issues.

While you're in there, do this for the add in cards such as the video card in addition to using pressured air to blow out any accumulated dust.

Do let us know how you go with this.

Andrew

Chris Soucy · January 2nd, 2019, 01:45 PM

Hi all..................

This sounds like an action replay of a problem I had about two years ago.

I had my 10 yo system rebuilt in its entirety into my original Coolermaster CM stacker case,(yes, they really do have wheels, cos you sure as hell can't carry the things) re-using ONLY my 700 watt PS (hey, if it ain't broke, don't fix it!). New raided hard drives, the lot.

Ran like a dream for three months, then bang. Problem after problem - hangs, error messages, BSOD's, the lot.

Finally replaced PS, bingo, all's right with the world once more.

Sound familiar?

Regards,

CS

Ryan Laytart · January 2nd, 2019, 02:03 PM

Sounds very familiar, and it really makes sense. I'll be ordering a new one, next. I'll check back after I've tried everything.

Thanks!

Greg Smith · January 8th, 2019, 01:17 PM

From the symptoms described, I would strongly suspect a power supply issue, and would start there first.

- Greg

Ryan Laytart · January 8th, 2019, 05:56 PM

Just an update... I picked up a new power supply, at Best Buy. Brought it home and realized I needed an adapter for the main connector (24-pin to 18-pin). The adapter was delivered today, and upon getting it all installed, the pc worked for a bit, then did the same thing. Shut itself off, restarted, then did so several times, without even getting to the windows screen. On a hunch, I disconnected the blu-ray drive. It's been working fine, since then.

Anyone ever hear of a disc drive causing all this mayhem? I suppose any malfunctioning hardware could do the same thing?

I'm hoping this truly was the solution, but if it happens again, I'll check back. Thanks for all the input.

Ryan

Pete Cofrancesco · January 8th, 2019, 07:54 PM

Computers are difficult to troubleshoot usually a process of elimination. Sounds like you figured it out.

January 1st, 2019, 02:26 PM	#1
Ryan Laytart Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Temperance, MI Posts: 86	Major PC issues. 911 Happy New Year!... I'll try to keep this brief. I'm just looking for any thoughts/ideas: I replaced our family computer with a Refurbished HP Z420 (very similar specs to my editing pc), last year. It was fantastic, for the first year, but many issues have emerged, in the past 6 months. Essentially, the computer kept crashing (random corrupt files, blue-screens, automatic "attempting to repair", etc... After many wipes and fresh installs, the hard-drive eventually wasn't recognized by the PC, and I had nowhere to install Windows to. I ended up getting an SSD for the OS drive, and a WD Blue 1TB as a storage drive. It worked great, for 3 or 4 weeks, and now it has been randomly restarting itself. Last night, it just kept turning on/off, over and over. After unplugging it, my son had it running fine, and then the problem began again. Could this be a power issue? Maybe a bad power supply? I wouldn't take it as a memory issue, but perhaps? It seems strange that it would run flawlessly with the new drives, but only for a while. Specs: HP Z420 Z series 600W power supply Windows 10 Pro Intel C602 Xeon 6 core, 3.2GHz 1600MHz FSB Nvidia Quadro 600 DDR3 16 GB DDR3 1600 Thanks for any input!

January 1st, 2019, 02:41 PM	#2
Cary Knoop Major Player Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Newark, CA Posts: 324	Re: Major PC issues. 911 Likely a memory issue but this computer is a bit past its lifetime. I would not spend too much good money after bad on it and consider something more modern.

January 1st, 2019, 03:06 PM	#3
Ryan Laytart Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Temperance, MI Posts: 86	Re: Major PC issues. 911 That's what I'm trying to avoid, but it runs beautifully, if it's just a simple fix. So, memory would cause all this? Well, let me say that they installed server memory in this computer. They "assured" me that it isn't an issue.

January 1st, 2019, 04:17 PM	#4
Pete Cofrancesco Inner Circle Join Date: May 2004 Location: USA Posts: 3,005	Re: Major PC issues. 911 You can get free memory testing software. It works the same as hard drive testers, writing 1s and 0s to every bit. It takes a long time but leaves no doubt. Another method is if you have multiple sticks of ram pull all of them, then put only one in and run the computer. If the ram checks out ok it could be the mobo.

January 1st, 2019, 05:15 PM	#5
Ryan Laytart Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Temperance, MI Posts: 86	Re: Major PC issues. 911 Thank you. I'll try it.

January 1st, 2019, 07:01 PM	#6
Andrew Smith Equal Opportunity Offender Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 3,066	Re: Major PC issues. 911 Also, take out the memory chips and wipe along the connector with alcohol wipes. Just like mobile phone SIM cards playing up, a layer of oxidisation can accumulate on the copper contacts which becomes enough to change the level of resistance. This in turn can give you some impossible to track down issues. While you're in there, do this for the add in cards such as the video card in addition to using pressured air to blow out any accumulated dust. Do let us know how you go with this. Andrew

January 2nd, 2019, 01:45 PM	#7
Chris Soucy Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fairfield, Dunedin, New Zealand Posts: 3,691 Images: 18	Re: Major PC issues. 911 Hi all.................. This sounds like an action replay of a problem I had about two years ago. I had my 10 yo system rebuilt in its entirety into my original Coolermaster CM stacker case,(yes, they really do have wheels, cos you sure as hell can't carry the things) re-using ONLY my 700 watt PS (hey, if it ain't broke, don't fix it!). New raided hard drives, the lot. Ran like a dream for three months, then bang. Problem after problem - hangs, error messages, BSOD's, the lot. Finally replaced PS, bingo, all's right with the world once more. Sound familiar? Regards, CS

January 2nd, 2019, 02:03 PM	#8
Ryan Laytart Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Temperance, MI Posts: 86	Re: Major PC issues. 911 Sounds very familiar, and it really makes sense. I'll be ordering a new one, next. I'll check back after I've tried everything. Thanks!

January 8th, 2019, 01:17 PM	#9
Greg Smith Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Champaign, IL Posts: 86	Re: Major PC issues. 911 From the symptoms described, I would strongly suspect a power supply issue, and would start there first. - Greg

January 8th, 2019, 05:56 PM	#10
Ryan Laytart Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Temperance, MI Posts: 86	Update - BluRay drive Just an update... I picked up a new power supply, at Best Buy. Brought it home and realized I needed an adapter for the main connector (24-pin to 18-pin). The adapter was delivered today, and upon getting it all installed, the pc worked for a bit, then did the same thing. Shut itself off, restarted, then did so several times, without even getting to the windows screen. On a hunch, I disconnected the blu-ray drive. It's been working fine, since then. Anyone ever hear of a disc drive causing all this mayhem? I suppose any malfunctioning hardware could do the same thing? I'm hoping this truly was the solution, but if it happens again, I'll check back. Thanks for all the input. Ryan

January 8th, 2019, 07:54 PM	#11
Pete Cofrancesco Inner Circle Join Date: May 2004 Location: USA Posts: 3,005	Re: Major PC issues. 911 Computers are difficult to troubleshoot usually a process of elimination. Sounds like you figured it out.