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PC's Restarting Randomly

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by Member 23567752

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My company recently bought about 50 new IBM Netvista's. Of these some 25+ machines have an intermitent problem of restarting by themselves. To date no pattern has been found. We've tried a number of software configurations/updates (all on WIN NT4),even tried replacing individual componets on 5 test machines (eg CPU, Power supply, Motherboard, HDD, RAM). Each of these test machines still randomly restarted at some point. IBM have had thier "top" tech's on the job for some time now - maybe some real world techs like yourselves can beat them to the punch!

10 replies

by zlitocook

Check the boards with sisandra or other testing software, you could have received a bad batch of boards. Try a post card to see whats going on or just use the basic setup, video, memory and k/m to see if your other cards or programs are causing the problems. Where these refurbs or some thing that another company could not use? Look to IBM for the type of M/B and problems with it. I would tell IBM that I need a support tec. on site to help.

by jimandkathy

There are four reasons why a computer will reboot.

1. Bad Motherboard
2. Bad Power Supply
3. Software commands
4. Heat.

Since you have indicated you are looking at the first 3 consider the last. When heat builds up the computer will shut down to protect itself. If the temperature drops just a few degrees the computer may restart instead of shutting down. Check to see if all the fans are clean, ventilated, and working.

If the same units keep restarting try opening up the case and even consider put a small personal desk fan blowing into the unit, if the computer stops rebooting try replacing and/or upgrading the fans in the computer.

Jim

by Member 23567752

Thanks, looking at SiSandra now. Initial tests show CPU running at 70C! Now I know that CPU thermal sensors are notorious for being inacurate but that's hot. They are brand new machines so they're still under warranty, but IBM have yet to come to the party as we can't find a "suitable" cause. Currently looking at secondary testing method. Very hard to test as machines run stable for weeks at a time then may crash 3 times in as many days. The machines were brand new at purchase, but they were one of the first IBM batches with the then new PIV 1.5Ghz chips. Maybe they just didn't get the cooling right for this early batch.

by mgast

Do these machines have Wake-On-Lan NICs? If so they may be rebooting in response to that. ---just another thing to check out ---

by dozypillock

You already had a few good suggestions but couldnt find any mention of location??...Have you tried swapping the whole machines around to a location where they dont reboot...Many years ago I had a site with a problem like this, and it turned out to be a bad electricity supply, and some buildings have different "ringmains" for computers on different floors etc

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