computer is restarting randomly

[PilotDude11]

so my computer has the habbit of restarting while i am in middle of a flight....this does nto happen while i am running any other programs...anyone have any suggestions as to what the cause of this problem might be?

[bok269]

You could try downloading the new BIOS drivers from the support section of your computers website.  Download them to a disk, and enter setup mode at boot up to install.

[Daube]

Three causes come to my mind:
- computer overheating
- drivers conflict -> update your video drivers or eventually your motherboard drivers
- sound card malfunction -> reduce the sound hardware acceleration in the control panel

[ATI_7500]

- Weak PSU.

[Daube]

- Weak PSU.

Ahhhh yes ! I forgot that one, well done Bj

[ATI_7500]

LoL, never mind.

[PilotDude11]

- Weak PSU.

PSU? whats that

[Nick N]

PSU

Power Suppy Unit

Along with the above list, defective memory product -or- BIOS settings incorrect for the memory sticks are also a common cause of intermittant reboots. I have also seen that happen in AGP systems with the AGP appeture set too low in the BIOS.


MSFS palces a huge load on a system that can bring out problems that may otherwise may not bee seen using other software.


What I usually do with reboot issues is disable the reboot system and then the system will give me a blue screen with an error message I can dissect.

IRQ LESS THAN EQUAL blue screens are typically driver related but not always

There are an entire list of error codes possibilities that may be displayed


To shut down auto reboot so you get the error and string code:

Browse to CONTROL PANEL -
SYSTEM - ADVANCED TAB

Startup and Recovery, Settings button

UNCHECK Automatically Reboot

Click OK to close the box


From that point on you will have to manually reboot the computer by turning of the power switch on the PSU or unplugging the tower from the wall if there is no PSU switch on the back of the tower (some cheap OEM systems have no power switch on the back of the tower)

It will show you a blue screen, AKA BSOD or 'blue screen of death' with an error you can then use in Google or at MS to get an idea of what the probem may be and go from there.

[PilotDude11]

well psu you may be the problem then because i am running a AGP graphics card.... its voltage settings are set to 1.5 V any suggestions on wether that is correct or not?

[Nick N]

well psu you may be the problem then because i am running a AGP graphics card.... its voltage settings are set to 1.5 V any suggestions on wether that is correct or not?

That is correct for AGP. 1.5v is the standard for the AGP system. There are other standards for older AGP cards but in your case 1.5 is correct.

The appeture is not the AGP voltage.

The appeture is a BIOS setting that reserves a block of physical memory to the video system for overflow. For a 32-64MB video card the Appeture should be set to 128 in the BIOS. For a 256mb video card 128 may work fine but if available, 256 may work better. 512mb video cards would want a 256mb appeture setting.


As for PSU, if you find some type of voltage monitoring software and the motherboard supports voltage reporting, most do, you can check in Windows the 12v - 5v and 3.3v readings.

If the 12v is less than 11.8 you may very well have a weak or failing PSU. The 5v wants to be above 4.75v and the 3.3v must be above 3.18v


If the readings are low but above and close to the values I posted, when using MSFS you are loading the system down further and it is still very possible the PSU if falling below spec during game use.

[Nick N]

I would shut down the auto reboot system and check the error message when it happens. I would also verify the PSU voltages. If you can find software which will record a graph of the PSU outputs while you run MSFS, that would be even better. You would have to run MSFS for a short period and check the graph before the system crashed to see if the voltages dropped or dipped below spec during MSFS use.


There is software out there, some free, which will do that such as speedfan under the 'Charts' tab and you can use the voltage monitor graph features without having to set up the software, but the other features must be correctly set up before it will monitor the temps and fan speeds correctly.

[PilotDude11]

I would shut down the auto reboot system and check the error message when it happens. I would also verify the PSU voltages. If you can find software which will record a graph of the PSU outputs while you run MSFS, that would be even better. You would have to run MSFS for a short period and check the graph before the system crashed to see if the voltages dropped or dipped below spec during MSFS use.


There is software out there, some free, which will do that such as speedfan under the 'Charts' tab and you can use the voltage monitor graph features without having to set up the software, but the other features must be correctly set up before it will monitor the temps and fan speeds correctly.

there is no error code that shows up when it boots up again

[PilotDude11]

well psu you may be the problem then because i am running a AGP graphics card.... its voltage settings are set to 1.5 V any suggestions on wether that is correct or not?

That is correct for AGP. 1.5v is the standard for the AGP system. There are other standards for older AGP cards but in your case 1.5 is correct.

The appeture is not the AGP voltage.

The appeture is a BIOS setting that reserves a block of physical memory to the video system for overflow. For a 32-64MB video card the Appeture should be set to 128 in the BIOS. For a 256mb video card 128 may work fine but if available, 256 may work better. 512mb video cards would want a 256mb appeture setting.


As for PSU, if you find some type of voltage monitoring software and the motherboard supports voltage reporting, most do, you can check in Windows the 12v - 5v and 3.3v readings.

If the 12v is less than 11.8 you may very well have a weak or failing PSU. The 5v wants to be above 4.75v and the 3.3v must be above 3.18v


If the readings are low but above and close to the values I posted, when using MSFS you are loading the system down further and it is still very possible the PSU if falling below spec during game use.

so when i look through the bios menu what heading would those settings be under?

[Nick N]

I would shut down the auto reboot system and check the error message when it happens. I would also verify the PSU voltages. If you can find software which will record a graph of the PSU outputs while you run MSFS, that would be even better. You would have to run MSFS for a short period and check the graph before the system crashed to see if the voltages dropped or dipped below spec during MSFS use.


There is software out there, some free, which will do that such as speedfan under the 'Charts' tab and you can use the voltage monitor graph features without having to set up the software, but the other features must be correctly set up before it will monitor the temps and fan speeds correctly.

there is no error code that shows up when it boots up again

Assuming you disabled the "automatic restart" feature as I outlined.. when it crashes you should get a blue screen right away and the system should NOT reboot by itself.

verify "Automatically Restart" is indeed unchecked. That is the only one to change.

Also, right under the check box is a drop down menu .. make sure "SMALL MEMORY DUMP" is selected

If it is, and your system is shutting completely down when it crashes and not showing a bule scree error code.. you have a hard failure in the hardware taking place.

Either the CPU is too hot or defective, the memory is defective or the PSU is being overtaxed.

Windows should log and record the error in the Administrator log file too.

CONTROL PANEL - ADMINISTRATIVE TOOLS - EVENT VIEWER

There will be at least 3 logs. APPLICATION - SECURITY - SYSTEM

You can click on the SYSTEM and the APPLICATION logs, scroll down and look at the errors that may appear. They are time stamped so you will know when it occurred. If you are not sure which one may be the problem because multiple errors show, clear the log files by right clicking each one and select CLEAR ALL EVENTS, then select NO to not save the file data. The files will then be clean and you can then fly and when the problem happens, boot back into Windows and check them right away for errors.

If you are not getting a blue screen -or- and log file error recorded.. you have hardware failing completely which is crashing Windows completely out and not allowing any errors to be recorded.

[Nick N]

well psu you may be the problem then because i am running a AGP graphics card.... its voltage settings are set to 1.5 V any suggestions on wether that is correct or not?

That is correct for AGP. 1.5v is the standard for the AGP system. There are other standards for older AGP cards but in your case 1.5 is correct.

The appeture is not the AGP voltage.

The appeture is a BIOS setting that reserves a block of physical memory to the video system for overflow. For a 32-64MB video card the Appeture should be set to 128 in the BIOS. For a 256mb video card 128 may work fine but if available, 256 may work better. 512mb video cards would want a 256mb appeture setting.


As for PSU, if you find some type of voltage monitoring software and the motherboard supports voltage reporting, most do, you can check in Windows the 12v - 5v and 3.3v readings.

If the 12v is less than 11.8 you may very well have a weak or failing PSU. The 5v wants to be above 4.75v and the 3.3v must be above 3.18v


If the readings are low but above and close to the values I posted, when using MSFS you are loading the system down further and it is still very possible the PSU if falling below spec during game use.

so when i look through the bios menu what heading would those settings be under?

That differes from BIOS to BIOS and there are some cheap systems that do not allow access to the setting.

If you post your motherboard model and name I will see if I can find the manual and look it up

Usually it is a video catagory found under the advanced chipset settings for the board.