Hi all, I started having a problem a few months back, my system started shutting down by itself for no reason. It would just go blank all of a sudden. The system would sometimes run for 1-2 hours, then sometimes 30 minutes, then sometimes 5 minutes before shutting down. It was completely random.

I built the system myself and it ran great for about 2 years. Windows 2000 Server; Pentium 4 2.8 ghz Prescott; Gigabyte GA-81PE1000-G Motherboard with Intel 865PE chipset.; 1 gig PC3200 Ram (Geil) Nvidia GeForce MX4000 graphics card; 160 gig Segate SATA Hard Drive. I also had a 300 gig Western Digital IDE drive installed as a data drive.

My first thought was the system was overheating, I looked in the BIOS and it did seem like the chip was running HOT, I can't remember the exact temp but it was on the high end of the temp spec range. The case was full of dust so I blew it out and it seemed to run cooler after that ( in spec range ). The problem kept occuring and along with the shut downs I started getting lock ups, hard locks, no CTR-ALT-DLT, the only thing I could do was shut off the power. I decided to put in a new power supply and that did nothing.

I pushed the computer to the side and pulled back out an old system to use running Windows XP. I decided to pull the 300 gig data drive out and put it in this computer so I could recover some of my data, but when I tried to access it, it said drive is not formatted would you like to format it now. I said no and stuck it back in the other machine. I booted the other machine and it was now trying to boot from the IDE drive (300 gig WD data drive that I just put back in) instead of the SATA drive (which has the OS). Now I could never boot the computer with this drive installed (no OS on data drive), so I pulled it back out.

I decided to try a new motherboard and bought an ASUS P4S800D-X, I hooked everything up and tried to boot up with the Win 2000 Server SATA drive, everything looked good then I got a Blue Screen error saying Inaccessible_Boot_Device. I then decided I'd try my WD drive. I installed it, booted with a Win95 boot disk and formatted the drive and did a clean install of Win XP, after the Dos portion of setup it tried to start windows and I got another blue screen saying Unsormountable_Boot_Device, or something like that.

I then decided to go back to the SATA drive and try to get it to work, I followed some information about the Inaccessible_Boot error which said put back in the old motherboard expand some cab files and merge a registry file to fix the problem. I did this, swapped motherboards again. When I booted I was getting no video, no beeping from the motherboard, no lights on the keyboard. I cleared the CMOS, reinserted everything, tried a different monitor and nothing.

At this point I put back in the original motherboard, booted and everything came up like before Win 2000 started 10 minutes went by and it shut itself down. I had the case open and put a fan blowing directly inside and tried again. It seemed to run for a while but as soon as I touched the mouse it shut down, I tried again same thing but this time as soon as I touched the keyboard it shut down.

I then disconnected the SATA drive, and hooked up the WD IDE drive, I booted with a win95 disk and tried to install XP, everything went fine untill it rebooted and then I got the blue screen again saying Unsurmountable_Boot_Device. Same thing as when I tried to install it on the new motherboard.

I am ready to throw it all in the trash. Where do I begin? My thoughts, did I damage the P4 2.8gig processor by it running hot and is that my problem? Is the motherboard trully bad and is the new one I got bad also? Is there a problem with the SATA hard drive? Is there something wrong with the WD 300 gig IDE drive? Where do I begin? Any help , advice would be greatly appreciated. :-?holy crap, all that and still nothing,
someone will help this soon (it's early am) I'm guessing your hd might be bad.
hang on.....So, you've replaced the a) motherboard & power supply b)changed out some hard drives c) all fans are running & still have a lockup problem. Hmmm... :-?

Seems you've done a pretty extensive process to diagnose the issue. Good job Unfortunately, the problem still exists.

[highlight]Where do I begin? My thoughts, did I damage the P4 2.8gig processor by it running hot and is that my problem? Is the motherboard trully bad and is the new one I got bad also? Is there a problem with the SATA hard drive? Is there something wrong with the WD 300 gig IDE drive? Where do I begin?[/highlight]

You might try a couple of other things:
1. How many sticks of RAM do you use? If more than 1 (which I prefer) then pull one of them out and see what happens / Try different RAM altogether
2. Did you look at the processor for any discoloration from overheating?
3. Try a different video card
4. Try a different mouse / keyboard

I know this is a PITA (Pain-in-the-*ss) but it's going to be a process of elimination that will help you solve this problem.

You can do it!!

Alan <><



I am running 2 sticks of 512mb Ram, pulled one out and same thing. It ran OK until I touched the mouse then boom off. Why would it run until I touch it? Mouse movement or keyboard input? What could that relate to?

I have allready switched the mouse and keyboard.

I don't have another video card around, but will get one.

The processor looks ok

Also same thing happens in safe mode as in regular mode. I have taken out all cards and only have mouse, keyboard, and monitor connected.[highlight]I am running 2 sticks of 512mb Ram, pulled one out and same thing.[/highlight] Did you swap them around, trying both SINGULARLY?

Are your video drivers updated?

Tried booting with only the keyboard and not the mouse?

Starting to run out of ideas

Sounds like it's a motherboard issue. Can you remove the motherboard from the case with the power supply / keyboard / monitor connected and boot the system?

Alan <>< Yes tried both sticks of RAM singulary. Booted with only keyboard and no mouse, seems to run a little longer but still shuts down after a few minutes. Don't think it will run long enough to update any drivers. I did notice that if I don't touch it it will run for a long time, but as soon as I touch the mouse - boom - shut down. I scheduled it to run chkdsk at start up, it ran for hours, but I think it locked up during chkdsk as it was hanging on step 4 of 5 forever. Will keep posting ANYTHING I find. ThanksAre you using PS/2 or USB mouse and keyboard?Originally I had a USB mouse hooked up, then switched to a PS/2. Keyboard has allways been PS/2.
sounds like an IRQ conflict with the video card and the mouse...(wild guess)

video card = IRQ 2
mouse = IRQ 12

have you tried working your way to the device manager using only keyboard commands? (without touching the mouse)

try that in safe mode and see if there is a conflict. :-/Can you boot into SafeMode and, using only the keyboard, get into DM & delete the mouse & video drivers, then reboot?

Alan <>< I assume this is a USB mouse and keyboard? Do you have a real PS/2 mouse and keyboard totry with? THey may not be "kewl", but they always work. You have to do a little more process of elimination.I know this sounds stupid and you probably have done this already but have you checked tyhe pins on the drive to make sure they are all okay?