Windows Random Shut Downs - no error messages

[AlanTech]

Dear SevenForum users

Last night i noticed by PC decided to randomly shut down but didnt think much of it as thought it might be something i scheduled and forgot but 30 mins ago it happened again - so first thing i done was scan with Malwarebytes which found nothing and also done a scan with Microsoft Security Essentials and nothing found

Have looked around on the net and have already tried Memtest+ and HDD checking software very recently on my PC and they both returned nothing

What should i try ?

Thanks

AT

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Alan try these mate if you haven't already


http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1538-sfc-scannow-command-system-file-checker.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/433-disk-check.html < use the /f and /r options in Option2 if necessary

http://www.superantispyware.com/


http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/adwcleaner/

download from bleeping computer – delete any rubbishthese find.

Run Speccy mate and lets see what the temps are too if you haven't already
Speccy - Download

 

[AlanTech]

Ok thanks , will report back

 

[AlanTech]

I have added my CHKDSK Results - as you will see - it fixed quite a few things and i also ran a scan with SAS and ADW and the only things that were picked up by them were advert cookies apart from one registry item named "Conduit" which i know is linked to Conduit Search but i dont have that on my pc so it must have been left over from an installer , below there is a screenshot from Speccy :

I havent noticed it since

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Ok Alan Conduit mate is a toolbar that downloads with stuff if one isn't vigilant when installing things - have done this sort of thing many times myself.

Have a look in Programs and Features and delete it. You may even like to try Revo too it is a little more thorough Download Revo Uninstaller Freeware - Free and Full Download - Uninstall software, remove programs, solve uninstall problems

To check to see if things are really cleared out (but ONLY if you are not absolutely sure) I usually go to regedit and open out the HKEY_CURRENT_USER and HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE go to the Software as in pic and scroll down the list if there is any trace of the wretch there I just highlight it and delete.

But a word of warning before you do anything like that back up the registry
use this http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/4230-registry-backup-restore.html as a matter of habit I always do this when I install an OS.

 

[AlanTech]

Im always vigilant with installers and theres nothing related to it in Add/Remove Programs and yeah Revo is great - have been using it for over a year and just checked the Registry and nothing else is in there either - im guessing a bad installer installed the reg keys but not the actual toolbar itself if that makes sense

But yeah , havent noticed a random shutdown since

Thanks for the help so far , much appreciated

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Ok Alan we had beter look elsewhere then good to know you are on the same page LOL!!

Mate first port of call would be the volts on the PSU try this HWiNFO, HWiNFO32/64 - Download get the right bit version (you will know this already but I have to say it) run it close the right hand window go to Sensors in the large window and then scroll down to the volts - see pic

If ypou have a multimeter (digital not analogue) you might just check the volts at pin 8 (grey cable) - it is the Power_Good pin and regulates whether the machine will boot or run
see this Voltage Rails - Power Supply 101: A Reference Of Specifications scroll down to the POwer_Good section

 

[AlanTech]

Done a test with HWINFO and got the following :

I mean i guess at this point its just finding out if theres anything else causing it - because even though i havent noticed it since i done the CHKDSK , i have a hunch that something else is causing it

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Well the next thing is to have a good look around inside the case for dustetc etc and have a good look at all the capacitors you can see - any bulging orleaking ones and signs of scorching on the motherboard and maybe just reseatall the cards and sticks once more.

I take it the CPU has a stock cooler on it? and when was the last time thethermal compounds replaced / redone? because according to the HW Info those CPUtemps are a tad on the warm side if this is just on idle - the Tcase I know isn't much of a guide but it is just 71.4C

ARK | Intel® Core?2 Quad Processor Q8300 (4M Cache, 2.50 GHz, 1333 MHz FSB)
Might be worth a run with this Core Temp as I find the temps are more realistic than Speccy as a general rule.

 

[AlanTech]

Have just checked the capacitors very recently and also reinstalled the RAM / Graphics card where at one point it would beep wierdly but that problem has passed and havent seen it for 2 months

Temps taken from Core Temp 1.0 RC6 x64 :

And i could re apply the paste but at the most it will drop 6c and yeah its a stock cooler from Acer and the PSU is a pretty cheap one (since it was just replacing a basic blown PSU that Acer had provided when built :

CiT HE Black Edition 400W Power Supply - 400HE - CCL Computers

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Well mate we have got through a lot now and I have to say the finger could be pointing to that PSU as you say it is a cheap one and a dual 12v rail one at that. I did notice one of the 3.3v rails in the HW was a tad low but am not real sure what that voltage relates to.

Yes I guess a temp drop would only be in the range you state but all the same this is at idle what does it do on say a malware scan? I would be inclined to look at a decent cooler and think about that PSU .

Plus you said the RAM made a very strange beep a while ago could be the RAM is also not that good although you have done a memtest. Can you remember what the beep was actually like as in was it a double beep triple etc etc as you know there are set things for set beep codes.

Anyway run say a malware scan and watch the Core Temp as you do it.

Now I don't like saying it but all in all looks like the machine maybe getting near its use by date.

I have an old one a bit like yours I use (a Q9650 core with 4GB DDR2 that I had to replace the PSU on twice using ever larger output ones) for testing but would not rely on it for general use.

Maybe if the budget can stand it - time for a build mate??

 

[AlanTech]

Just ran Core Temp while doing a SAS Complete Scan w/Full Boost - it seems to be hitting around 63c MAX at 75-80 percent load

And RAM-wise the beep was i think just one long one if i remember rightly but then id move the sticks into different slots and it would beep - move them around again and it would be fine so it didnt make sense

And i have been debating on a new custom build or not but im in that situation where yes , i can can afford a new one but when this PC works , which is most of the time , it does what i need it to to be honest so im not sure what to do although ive though to myself if i did build a new one id go slightly overkill for my needs incase i do end up doing other things on it

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Ok temps look ok to me and I just had another look at your first post and you said you ran some hard drive tests - am just wondering which ones you ran as most run the usual Seatools or the brand it is.

I use another one - this one it tests the actual surface of the spinner and to some extent the read / write heads ie the ability to contact the surface.
See my pic and try it if you want it does take some time though. Best Free Partition Manager Freeware and free partition magic for Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows Vista and Windows XP 32 bit & 64 bit. MiniTool Free Partition Manager Software Home Edition. (very handy tool for other stuff too) Am suggesting this because of the drive's age

Now on building I am really sorry you are stuck with this machine right now but you are right it is best (in my view) to build in a bit of overkill without going completely mad. When you are ready just drop a thread in here and you will instantly get advice from everyone it is a topic of great discussion

 

[AlanTech]

Thanks again - i will check out the Surface test later as its like almost 6am here - and the tool i used before was indeed SeaTools - i will update this thread later on today in around 6 hours or less - gonna get a little sleep as i have to go out early

Cheers

AT

 

[ICIT2LOL]

No problems Alan I shall be on night duty tonight so it works in quite well as that test does take some time
John

 

[AlanTech]

Ok just started the Surface Test and estimate time for completion is about 1 hr 42 minutes so ill update as soon as i can

 

[AlanTech]

Surface Test Results :

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hum Alan am back online and seems like the hardware although not perfect (as in new) I am beginning to run out of ideas as things have been cleaned reseated etc etc.

Just going back to the software side I am wondering if a run with this might eliminate some deeply embedded malware if nothing else.

USING THE KASPERSKY RESCUE DISK

Downloadthe software from here Download Kaspersky Rescue Disk 10 and make a bootabledisk or USB stick. Set the BIOS to boot from either the optical drive or the USB stickwhichever you prefer I like the disk myself but the choice is yours.

Insertthe disk and then reboot and let the program run it will scan from the verystart of power on for malware that may be otherwise too well hidden.
Another scan that you could try is from here Emsisoft Free Emergency Kit: portable malware scanner | Free removal of Viruses,Bots, Spyware, Keyloggers and Trojans
I only usually run the Emergency Kit run and the Command Line scan..

If we come up with nothing then we might ask for some help if that is ok with you.

 

[AlanTech]

To be honest , looking at what we have done already - and considering i havent noticed any issues like shutting down since the CHKDSK thing - it might be best just to leave it and see how long it goes before i get any issues again as right now its working fine

Gonna give the Kaspersky thing a go anyway and see if it picks anything up just for the sake of it

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Yes mate I think you are right I was going to say something along the same lines but all the same I do dislike things beating me LOL!! and you do from time to time get some members being forever pedantic and it can be very annoying but you have been very patient and I must say it has been a pleasure working with you

Yes those scans are worth doing for the heck of it and don't take long and cannot do any harm anyway. Let me know how it goes.

John