Help

[mighty peace warrior]

My computer is restarting itself. Any ideas? usually happens when I play BF2142. though this morning it shut itself off on its own it looks like. When i go into the even viewer there are lots of DCOM error messages

[Woody]

It sounds like your machine might be overheating. Have you checked the fans on your video card and CPU? Make sure those are running and aren't clogged up with any fuzz or gunk.

The DCOM errors are almost always due to one of it's related services being disabled... which is normal since you don't need any of that crap anyways... I wouldn't sweat that. :niterider

[mighty peace warrior]

cool it sounds like some of them are running at least..i will double check

[35Pete]

My computer is restarting itself. Any ideas? usually happens when I play BF2142. though this morning it shut itself off on its own it looks like. When i go into the even viewer there are lots of DCOM error messages

Check the fans! An overheating power supply will cause a reboot.
Fans on the power supply, case, and CPU.

Also, how many watts is your supply? How old is it? Have you added a lot of new junk to your MOBO since you bought it?

If all is well consider a full sweep using anti-spyware and anti-virus. Always make sure that you get daily updates on those too.

[35Pete]

DCOM errors are usually related to missing or invalid certificates on the server that you are accessing. Funny, this should not cause a crash though.

Here is a link to follow....

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/298095

Typically DCOM errors are no big deal. So I am still inclined to agree with Woody. The number cause of spontaneous reboots is a faulty power supply.

How many watts do you have MPW? What cards are in your machine? Maybe you are underpowered.

Run this trial version (Thanks R&R for this one. I like it a lot). It's only good up until April 1st so do it now.
http://www.f-secure.com/blacklight/try_blacklight.html

[Merc]

MPW-
Can you give us your full system specs, like I have mine, along with the power numbers on the side of your Power Supply Unit (PSU) specifically the 12v and amps listed. I posted a guide on how to check your PSU voltages. It is fairly easy to do.

[mighty peace warrior]

ya i havent updated anything since i bought it..it only seems to do this when i play 2142. All the fans seem to be going.

II. Configuration

Processor(s)


Processor 1
Name: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.40GHz

Manufacturer: GenuineIntel

Caption: x86 Family 15 Model 3 Stepping 4

Version: Model 3, Stepping 4

Processor Id: BFEBFBFF00000F34

Current Clock Speed: 3395MHz

Address Width: 32Bits

Data Width: 32Bits

Socket Designation: Socket 775

Processor 2
Name: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.40GHz

Manufacturer: GenuineIntel

Caption: x86 Family 15 Model 3 Stepping 4

Version: Model 3, Stepping 4

Processor Id: BFEBFBFF00000F34

Current Clock Speed: 3395MHz

Address Width: 32Bits

Data Width: 32Bits

Socket Designation: Socket 775

Verified Hardware Device against Order: CPU-3.4P4550S775
Verify Correct Processor Frequency


Case Color: New Background


System Memory


Memory Module 1
Capacity: 512MB

Bank Label: Bank0/1

Data Width: 64Bits

Socket Designation: A0

Verified Hardware Device against Order: MEM-DDR2512PC4200CRU

Verify Correct Memory Type

Verify Correct Memory Size

Memory Module 2
Capacity: 512MB

Bank Label: Bank4/5

Data Width: 64Bits

Socket Designation: A2

Verified Hardware Device against Order: MEM-DDR2512PC4200CRU

Verify Correct Memory Type

Verify Correct Memory Size


BIOS Information


Manufacturer: Phoenix Technologies, LTD
Name: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
Version: 6.00 PG
Version: IntelR - 42302e31

Motherboard Information


Manufacturer: http://www.abit.com.tw/
Product: AA8XE (Intel 925XE-ICH6R)
Serial Number:
Version: 1.x
Verified Hardware Device against Order: MB-ABITAA8XE

Video Adapter


Caption: NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Series GPU
Adapter RAM: 256MB
DriverVersion: 6.14.10.7184
Verified Hardware Device against Order: VID-EVGAGF6800GT256
Test Video Card
Connect Power Cable

Hard Drive(s)


HDS722516VLSA80
Model: HDS722516VLSA80

Size: 164GB

Total Heads: 255

Total Cylinders: 20023

Total Tracks: 5105865

Tracks Per Cylinder: 255

Verified Hardware Device against Order: HD-HI160GBSATA

Verify Correct Hard Drive Size


Optical Drives / Other Storage


LITE-ON DVD SOHD-16P9S
Verified Hardware Device against Order: DVD-16XDVDROM2
Ensure drive level is correct
Connect Power Cable
Test Optical drive
Connect Data Cable

Power Supply im not sure about..its the one that came with the machine..i havent upgraded any parts but did update some drivers.

I thought the problem was related to a DVD burner i tried to install that i had in my old machine. It started crashing when i installed that in this machine, but even after i yarded it back out it still crashes. I had the same problem with my old computer only it was more random..and that DVD burner was in the old machine so i thought it was related.

[mighty peace warrior]

DCOM errors are usually related to missing or invalid certificates on the server that you are accessing. Funny, this should not cause a crash though.

Here is a link to follow....

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/298095

Typically DCOM errors are no big deal. So I am still inclined to agree with Woody. The number cause of spontaneous reboots is a faulty power supply.

How many watts do you have MPW? What cards are in your machine? Maybe you are underpowered.

Run this trial version (Thanks R&R for this one. I like it a lot). It's only good up until April 1st so do it now.
http://www.f-secure.com/blacklight/try_blacklight.html


what is this blacklight thing and what will it tell me?

[mighty peace warrior]

i rechecked the error messages and it says a user hit CTRL ALT DEL

clearly that isnt true..

[35Pete]

what is this blacklight thing and what will it tell me?

It checks for rootkits on your PC. A rootkit is a spyware that completely hijacks your operating system and uses your PC as what is known as a zombie. It can slow your PC down, crash it, or cause it to spontaneously reboot. That's not why it is there. That's because the code is sloppy, has bugs in it, and screws up Windows.

Download it (Blacklight). It won't hurt your PC. Then run it, do a print screen, open MS paint and paste it in there. Then save the pic as a jpeg and post the results for us to analyze.

Rootkits are 10,000 times nastier than viruses and your anti-virus may not ever see it. Why? Because many rootkits (especially a variant known as "kernel rootkits") literally BECOME PART OF WINDOWS. They control the operating system and tell your anti-virus that "all is well" when it queries the operating system. That's why they are so goddammed nasty.

Wanna know the real shitty part of it? The little bastard sitting at his desk in Southeast Asia or Russia, via your internet connection, has more control over your computer than you do!

[Shakespeare]

Buy a new one. They're making them everyday.

[35Pete]

When done with that download this free utility. Install it and run it. Then email me the log file and I'll analyze it.

PM with my email coming...

http://www.download.com/HijackThis/3000-8022_4-10379544.html

[35Pete]

MPW.

Bad memory can cause this too. Download this.

http://www.memtest86.com/
(2nd download on the page)

Then follow the instructions under the technical info link on that page. Tell me if you see any errors.

My hunch is power supply. Especially when video cards ramp up MIPS (millions of instructions per second) when gaming. But it could be a number of things.

MIPS cost current. In fact, most processors have a spec called core current. It is measured in mA/MIP. (mA = milliamp). Crank up the card and the current goes up. Since DC power = voltage x current, and voltage had BETTER be constant, then increased MIPS means increased current, which means increased power draw from your supply. If the supply is defective, borderline rated, or even underrated, then when your rig exceeds current rating on that voltage supply (called a rail) the voltage slumps (loss of regulation). Then your PC will reboot.

[Merc]

One problem is that you have only 1GB of RAM (2x512MB). BF2 and 2142 both really need 2GB to run well. That wouldn't cause the problem you are seeing however. The 6800 cards that I had did not like the newer drivers and did all kinds of weird things including shutting down my sysytem. My advice is :
1. Remove the Nvidia Display drivers you now have. Run Drivercleaner Pro to get rid of the dregs leftover.
2. Install Nvidia 84.21. The 6800s seem to thrive on that version and it stops all the crap from happening.
3.. Upgrade to 2GB Memory. This won't give you greater FPS but it will get rid of those deep drops to 8FPS that you see.

PM me if you need some help but if you google either one of the above programs you'll find a download.

[35Pete]

One problem is that you have only 1GB of RAM (2x512MB). BF2 and 2142 both really need 2GB to run well. That wouldn't cause the problem you are seeing however. The 6800 cards that I had did not like the newer drivers and did all kinds of weird things including shutting down my sysytem. My advice is :
1. Remove the Nvidia Display drivers you now have. Run Drivercleaner Pro to get rid of the dregs leftover.
2. Install Nvidia 84.21. The 6800s seem to thrive on that version and it stops all the crap from happening.
3.. Upgrade to 2GB Memory. This won't give you greater FPS but it will get rid of those deep drops to 8FPS that you see.

PM me if you need some help but if you google either one of the above programs you'll find a download.
MAKE SURE IT's THE EXACT SAME MEMORY, brand included, or you're bound to get latency issues.

And more reboots but from a different cause. ;)

[Merc]

I second that. It is better to run single stick with some of these boards than dual channel with different memory in each slot.