Ghosts in the machine

[Ivan]

Help one of my computers is haunted....

More seriously, i have a PC that locks up for unknown reasons, no matter what combination of hardware is put in

The strange thing is that if you put the hardware in another system, it works flawlessly.

Already changed the PSU for another one (both are OK voltage wise) System gives the same behaviour no matter if there is 250W or 300W PSU

Changed processor (original one was OK, and the replacement too) Both are 100% ok, and no damage whatsoever

Changed harddrives (original one works OK, and the new ones are OK too)

Changed video card (3 times already), no change either

Changed motherboard (1x), didn't help at all.

Only things that haven't changed are: LS-120 drive, CD reader and the case itself.
The CD drive should be OK, but came from a system that had the same problems in the last months of its assembled life, but that was the case with the harddisk too and that one works OK, as does the processor and the memory of that system.

Inside temperature is around 30C when running for a while, but nothing goes in the red at any time.

Anyone got a clue

[Pablo]

Hi Ivan...
I presume that if you have re-fitted a new hard drive, that you will have also re-installed a fresh operating system again...?

...there's little else left...!

Cheers...!

Pablo.

P.S. ...is there any chance that part of you motherboard might be shorting-out on one or more of the threaded support pillars on the case....(I stick pieces of sticky paper tape over them, just in case)... ...!

[the_autopilot]

Hmm, you've practically changed everything but the case.

I'm baffled. Try running the comp without the stuff you haven't changeded and see if that helps, though I doubt it will.

My only other suggestion is to check the stability of the power coming into your house, unstable voltages can stress the PSU and cause system hangups.

At my house, a tree's roots broke into my power line and damaged the neutral line causing an unbalence in the electrical line. My computers would hang and TV's turn off when I turned on a lot of power-hungry appliances. Called the repair man, came to my house, fixed the line and all is fine.

Now, the chances of this happening to you is slim, but maybe perhaps that particular outlet or wire is defective.

[Weather_Man]

Sounds like bad RAM or or possibly motherboard. Try testing the RAM with memtest86, or install other sticks if you have any.

http://www.memtest86.com

The quality of power coming from the outlet is a valid point also. Try at another outlet.

[Ivan]

RAM has been hammered with memtest a few times already (no hangs in that situation)

Power lines are clean enough to run my 500W monster which is on the same line, and even when there is nothing interference generating on the line it still crashes

[Pablo]

Help one of my computers is haunted....



Anyone got a clue

...have you been shouting at it lately...?

It might be sulking... ... ...!

Pablo.

[Ivan]

Pulled it apart and put it together again.

Haven't tested iot that long, but if the problem stays the only thing that i can think of is asking my girlfriend to try an 'evil eye' removal on it

[congo]

Only things that haven't changed are: LS-120 drive, CD reader and the case itself.
The CD drive should be OK, but came from a system that had the same problems in the last months of its assembled life

Need I say more?  A faulty CDrom drive will cause intermittent and odd behaviour, often resulting in the situation you have been through. Always treat Optical drives with suspicion and disconnect them as one of the first steps in process of elimination.

[Ivan]

I think i solved it... had the USB port power setting changed, and it doesnt hae acted naughty yet