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PC's Crashes Continuously

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9 replies

by destroyer

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I have an PIII 600Mhz machine running a Supertek motherboard with the VIA chipsets on. I started haveing problem after a few months using the system. To fix my problem, I bought a new PC with an ALi chipset. My friend uses a ECS Motherboard (K7VMA) also with the same Via chipset (686 southbridge chip) and a AMD Duron 750 CPU. After 6 months of use, his PC shows the same problems as I had with my previous PC using the VIA chipset. The PC's was stable for the first few months, just suddenly you can't load any more programs on the PC, as it crashes the registry everytime, also if you FDISK, reformat and reload Windows, you can't get to a stage to use Windows as you get Kernell errors and a lott of other errors during the setup process. Givingthe fact that we used the PC with the same configuration for months before this started, it is not a configuration problem. It is as if the Chipsets are failing. Can anyone please help with possible solutions to help us fix this? Writing to VIA or the MB's manufacturer doesn't help, as you don't get any answer back from them.

9 replies

by bughunter

I don't have any helpful information but I just wanted to let you know that I've been researching some Win2K boot failures and they all have the Via chipset. These machines worked for about 3 months and then they just quit booting. In most cases the users got an error stating that the machine had an unmountable boot drive. Reloading Windows has worked so far but I expect them to fail again in a few months.

by destroyer

It is good to know that not only myself and my friends PC's with Via chipssets gives problems.

I took a look at the 2 systems again yesterday. As one always enables the Fast POST setting in the BIOS, memory isn't checked. We enabled this and found that the memory fails the bootup memory test of the MB. We replaced the DIMMS and everything was solved on my friends PC, running very stable for a change. We also tested my DIMMS of my PIII system, also bad.

I will rebuild my PIII system, as my friends system is running without a problem now, it should also fix my PC's problem if I get new DIMMS for it.

Have you tried loading Via's new 4in1 drivers for the chipset? If I can remember correctly, some time ago it was something they fixedwith one of their driver versions.

I have not yet received any errors like your. I ccould not get Win2K loaded on my machine, but this was when I started getting problems. I should be able to load Win2K now after a DIMM replacement.

by gigelul

You said that after few months you have problems. You can check your heatsink (cooler) processor. Try to clean it if needed and also you can use a silicone paste for good contact. Try to use computer with case open to see if is a temperature problem.

by thechas

Are you running Windows 9X/Me?

If so, how much RAM do you have?

There are known problems with W9X and more than 511MB of RAM.
The problems are VERY configuration dependent. Adding a piece of hardware, or software can trigger the problem.

Another problem with some motherboards and AMD processors is that thye do not set the CPU speed properly when you use the auto-detect setting.
See if manually setting the CPU speed helps.

Another thought, is Power Supply failure.
PC power supplies will put out extra power for a while, then they start to fail miserably.
I recommend at least a 300 Watt power supply, unless you have a very simple configuration.
(On-board sound and video, 1 drive, 1 DIMM)

As Florinel stated, heat could well be the problem. So, make sure that all the fans run properly, and that no vents are restricted.

AMD has a couple of white papers on thermal management. They are worth reading.

Chas

by destroyer

I have found the problem, it is not heat, or power supply related. The memory has failed.

by hjs

Just a couple of questions. Are you overclocking and are the chip fans seated properly? AMD chips run very hot. If you don't keep them cool they will die. I may be in the minority but that is why I don't use them.

by destroyer

I have not overclocked the PC, it was a memory issue. One of the Dimms have had better days. My PC was a Intel PIII giving the same problems as the AMD, it is not CPU related. I am currently running a AMD Athlon XP processor and won't go back to Intel, AMD provides better performance although they might according to you generate more heat than Intel chips.

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