PC hangs or reboots sporadically

sharkei · 09-16-2005, 01:23 AM

Microbell has been working with me on the HJT forum to ensure that my problems are not spyware related, and has concluded that my system is clean.

Over the last 2 nights I have recorded the problems I have been having and attach them here for you to see.

Microbell has suggested the following which I will run through tonight.

1 Run SFC from the run box and look for missing and corrupt windows files.
2 Run memtest86 to check your ram and make sure it's not failing.
3 Open Device Manager and look for any conflicts.
4 Reboot into safe mode and see if you have the same issues.
5 If you installed any software/hardware right before this issue appeared...remove it.
6 Check the Hard Drive for any errors or bad clusters and sectors.

Regarding these suggestions:
1 I'm not sure how I would spot a missing or corrupt file.
2 Will do this.
3 Will do this.
4 The PC has always booted into Safe Mode without a problem, and has only hung when ScanDisk found Message: 'Crossed linked files or folders found', and I accepted the default option, 'Give each file a separate copy of the shared cluster'.
5 I have (fairly) recently installed a firewire card for my camcorder, but there were no problems when I installed it. I will remove it later and see if that stops the problems.
6 I have recently run a thorough scan of C: in safe mode, with no problems found.

Wednesday evening's experience.

Booted PC.
Message: 'Windows protection error. You need to restart your computer'.
Pressed reset button.
Screen displaying 'Memory Testing ..... '
PC Hung

Pressed reset button and started in Safe Mode.
Ran Scandisk on drive C:
Message: 'Crossed linked files or folders found'. I accepted the default option,
'Give each file a separate copy of the shared cluster'.
PC Hung

Pressed reset button

Connected to Internet, and to Panda Active Scan.
The scan had nearly (or completely) finished when the PC rebooted.
Message: 'While Initializing device IOS:
Windows protection error. You need to restart your computer'

Switched PC off.

Booted PC in Safe Mode.
Ran Scandisk on drive C:
Message: 'Crossed linked files or folders found'.
I selected 'Delete all affected files'.
Message: 'C:\ folder contains incorrect information about BOOTLOG.PRV'.
I selected 'Repair the error'.
Message: 'C:\WINDOWS\Internet Logs folder contains incorrect information about TVDebug.log'.
I selected 'Repair the error'.
Message: 'ScanDisk found 20480 bytes in 4 lost file fragments'.
I selected 'Convert the lost file fragments into files'.
Switched PC off.

Booted PC.
After login to Windows,
Message: 'Vsmon - This program has performed an illegal operation and will be shutdown'.
Shut down PC and switched off.

Booted PC.
Connected to Internet, and to Panda Active Scan.
Panda Active Scan completed.

Thursday evening's experience

Booted PC.
Message: 'Windows protection error. You need to restart your computer'.

Booted PC in Safe Mode.
Ran Scandisk on drive C:
Message: 'C:\ folder contains incorrect information about BOOTLOG.PRV'.
I selected 'Repair the error'.
Shut down and restart.

After login to Windows,
Message: 'Nprotect - This program has performed an illegal operation and will be shutdown'.
Message: 'Pelmiced - This program has performed an illegal operation and will be shutdown'.
Whilst I was writing down these messages, the PC Rebooted.

Connected to Internet, and to Tech Support Forum.
As I selected 'Is my PC clean?' the PC Rebooted.

After the Windows logon, the Desktop screen had a red line across, about 1cm from the top, and the PC hung.

Switched off and rebooted.

Logged on to Windows, the internet and this thread.
Ran StartDreck and HJT without any problems, and posted this reply.

I will report back when I have more information.

Regards

Keith

~~whodat~~ · 09-16-2005, 05:57 AM

Quote:

I'm not sure how I would spot a missing or corrupt file

windows will deal with it:

Run the System File Checker

Go to the Run box on the Start Menu and type in:

sfc /scannow ( sfc if not reconized)

This command will immediately initiate the Windows File Protection service to scan all protected files and verify their integrity, replacing any files with which it finds a problem. You will need your Windows cd.

are you using norton?

sharkei · 09-18-2005, 01:49 PM

Whosdat

I'm not running Norton Antivirus, only Utilities Integrator 2002. My antivirus is AntiVir, and my firewall is Zone Alarm, free version.

Latest news:-

1 Run SFC from the run box and look for missing and corrupt windows files.

Ran SFC in both Safe and Normal modes, with no changes identified.

2 Run memtest86 to check your ram and make sure it's not failing.

Ran for 3 passes - no errors reported.

3 Open Device Manager and look for any conflicts.

No conflicts reported.

4 Reboot into safe mode and see if you have the same issues.

I've not had any problems whilst in Safe Mode other than when ScanDisk found Message: 'Crossed linked files or folders found', and I accepted the default option, 'Give each file a separate copy of the shared cluster'.

5 If you installed any software/hardware right before this issue appeared...remove it.

I have removed Dial-up and Broadband modem cards, and the IEEE 1394 Firewire card.

6 Check the Hard Drive for any errors or bad clusters and sectors.

I have recently run a thorough scan of C: in safe mode, with no problems found.

Tonight when I booted:-

Booted PC.
Message: 'Windows protection error. You need to restart your computer'.
Switched off.

Booted PC in Safe Mode.
Ran Scandisk on drive C:
Message: 'C:\ folder contains incorrect information about BOOTLOG.PRV'.
I selected 'Repair the error'.
Shut down and restart.
Windows started OK.

Look forward to hearing from you soon.

Kind regards

Keith

~~whodat~~ · 09-19-2005, 06:43 AM

have you looked through these microsoft faq's ?

sharkei · 09-19-2005, 12:50 PM

Whosdat

The problem for me is that the error is not repeatable, i.e. sometimes everything loads properly, but sometimes the PC hangs before or after Windows loads, on the click of the mouse on a web page, or reboots itself when I'm not doing anything. KB188867 Troubleshooting Windows 98 Startup Problems assumes that the same problem happens everytime the PC is booted.

I think that I may have to do a clean install of Windows, to eliminate a possible software problem. If there is then still a problem, it points to hardware. Surely, the Crossed linked files or folders found by ScanDisk suggests a problem with the hard drive?

What do the experts think?

Kind regards

Keith

~~whodat~~ · 09-19-2005, 01:39 PM

Quote:

I think that I may have to do a clean install of Windows

thats probably the way to go.

good luck

sharkei · 09-23-2005, 05:57 AM

I'm progressing with the reinstall of Windows, and loading the other applications, plus downloading all the updates, and so far so good. No hanging or surprise reboots.

Let's hope it continues.

Thanks to everyone who has helped so far.

Regards

Keith

sharkei · 10-03-2005, 03:46 AM

I have finished loading all the applications I need to, and apart from having to re-boot after installing some of them (even when setup didn't require it), everything is working as it should.

Others with similar problems should consider a clean install of Windows, however, make sure all drivers and software are available.

It (seems to have) worked for me!

Regards everyone

Keith

sharkei · 10-09-2005, 09:43 AM

I had no problems for a few days, and then the same old problems have returned.

Today's events

Booted and connected to the internet, opened Outlook, clicked on send/receive when the PC rebooted.

Message: 'Windows protection error. You need to restart your computer'.
Switched off.

Booted PC in Safe Mode.
Ran Scandisk on drive C:
Message: the 'C:\WINDOWS\Profiles\Keith and Sharon\Start Menu\Programs' folder is damaged. This folder contains one or more long filenames that are no longer associated with files. ScanDisk repairs the error by deleting these filenames.
Whilst I was trying to see what the filenames might be, the PC rebooted. In Safe Mode!

The PC booted to the Windows password screen.
Presses the first letter of the password and the PC rebooted.

Interrupted the normal boot into Safe Mode.
Ran Scandisk on drive C:
Message: the 'C:\WINDOWS\Profiles\Keith and Sharon\Start Menu\Programs' folder is damaged. This folder contains one or more long filenames that are no longer associated with files. ScanDisk repairs the error by deleting these filenames.
I selected 'Repair the error'.
Shut down and restart.
Windows started OK.

Needless to say, I am getting a bit fed up with all this.

I'm spending more time booting, rebooting, scanning etc than I am using the PC, and I'm ready to throw the current box away and buy a new one. However, money doesn't grow on trees so I'm prepared to give a few more days before taking a sledge hammer to it.

Do we need to run through the virus checks and HJT process again, or is there an alternative.

As alsways, grateful for any suggestions.

Kind regards

Keith

~~whodat~~ · 10-09-2005, 10:38 AM

keith
can you list your computer specs?
mainly your power supply and ram info

sharkei · 10-10-2005, 12:43 PM

Dear Whosdat

I have run a hardware related report using Everest which should provide you with the information you need. Hopefully it is attached to this reply.

If not, then please let me know.

Regards

Keith

Uranium-235 · 10-10-2005, 06:53 PM

definetly adaquate for Win98. I wonder if your hard drive is starting to go south

sharkei · 10-11-2005, 01:31 AM

Hi

Are there tests like MemTest and Windows Memory Diagnostic for hard drives, or is it a case of substitute and see if the problem goes away? I have obviously run ScanDisk a few times recently and previously Norton Disk Doctor, but no serious problems have ever been reported. However, ScanDisk has reported 'Crossed linked files or folders found' in the past which might suggest write problems?

Can you tell from the Everest report how big a drive would be supported by my system.

Regards

Keith

~~whodat~~ · 10-11-2005, 03:39 AM

try running 1 stick of memory at a time.

~~whodat~~ · 10-11-2005, 04:16 AM

also, your slightly overclocked, maybe go into bios and set everything to default settings.
how old is the system? which would tell us how old the powersupply is.

sharkei · 10-11-2005, 05:19 AM

I bought the PC almost exactly 3 years ago, it's not branded (Dell, Compaq etc) but was custom built by a local company.

As far as I know, none of the bios settings have been changed since purchase.

Regards

Keith

~~whodat~~ · 10-11-2005, 05:40 AM

would you look at the back of the psu and tell us the name and wattage? some of the local shops have been known to install cheapo 250 watt no name units.
setting the default bios settings might be advisable, even though its just slightly overclocked.

sharkei · 10-11-2005, 10:14 AM

The power supply details are as follows:

Q-TEC PSU ATX 300W
Item number: 13233
Power rating: 115/230VAC 7A/4A

I will see if I can reset the bios as suggested.

By the way, it rebooted itself for my wife twice today

Regards

Keith

sharkei · 10-11-2005, 11:00 AM

The BIOS setting for the Clock Control is set to 'By Hardware', which I guess is why the CPU FSB is slightly above 100 Mhz. The alternative parameter is 'By Software' which the BIOS suggests would force HOST and DRAM to be exactly 100 Mhz.

I will set it to 'By Software' and see what happens.

Regards

Keith

~~whodat~~ · 10-11-2005, 04:59 PM

also, here is what your psu is ranked
ATX Power Supplies - Brands from A to Z

*** RATED BY QUALITY ***

Key
H = High Quality (Good Solid Reliable Brand)
L = Low Quality (Cheap Generic)
M = Medium Quality (In-between)
U = Unknown

A-Power................L
A-Top..................L
A+GPB..................L
AcBel..................L
AC Ryan (Ryanpower)....L
Aerocool...............U
AG.....................L
Ahanix.................L
Akasa..................L
Allied.................L
Antec..................M/H
AOpen..................L
APC....................L
Apex Allied............L
Aspire.................L/M
Astec..................L
Athena.................L
BFG....................L
Broadway Gaming........U
Channel Well...........L
CHAS...................L
Chenbro................U
Chieftec...............L
Coba...................L
Codegen................L
Conrad.................M
CoolerMaster...........H
CoolMax................M
Crystal................L
Dell...................L
Delta..................L
Diablo.................L
Eagle..................L
Echo Star..............L
Enermax................H
Engleking..............M
Enlight................M
Epson..................L
FDK....................L
Fortron (FSP)..........H
Gateway................L
Gazelle Multimedia.....L
Global Marketing.......L
GPower.................L
Guardian...............L
Herolchi...............M
Hipro..................L
HP/Compaq..............L
HPC International......L
Huntkey................L
I-Star.................L
IBM Redundant..........U (expensive)
Intel Redundant........U (expensive)
In Win.................L
Jaguar.................U
Kensington.............L
Kingwin................L
L&C....................L
Leadman................L
Levicom................L
LiteOn.................U
Logisys................U
Mad Dog................L/M
Maxtron................L
MGE....................L
MGE Vortec.............M
MorningStar............L
NEC....................L
Newton.................L
Nexus..................L
Noise Magic............L
NorthQ.................M
Nspire.................L
OCZ....................H
Omega..................L
Packard Bell...........L
PC Power & Cooling.....H
PC-World (PCW).........L
PCMCIS.................U
Power..................L
PowerStream............L
PowerTek...............L
PowerUp................L
PowMax.................L
PowMax XPower..........L
Premium................L
Pyramid................L
Q-Tec..................L
Q-Technology...........L
RaidMax................U
Real Power.............L
Rosewill...............L
SCS....................L
SeaSonic...............H
Shuttle................L
Silent Purepower.......U
SilenX.................L
Silverstone............H
Sky Hawk (Eagle Tech)..L
Sparkle................H
Star Micronics.........L
StarTech...............L
Sun....................L
SuperFlower............L
Supermicro.............L
Tagan..................H
Task...................L
ThermalTake............M
Topower................L
Tri-Mag................L
TSP....................L
Tyan Tiger.............L
TTGI...................L
Ultra-Power Computer...L
Ultra..................M
Ultra X-Connect........L
Vantec.................H
Verax..................H
Vigor..................U
Xion...................L
xPCgear................L
Zalman.................H
Zippy..................L

09-16-2005, 01:23 AM	#1 (permalink)
sharkei Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 55 OS: Windows XP Home	PC hangs or reboots sporadically Microbell has been working with me on the HJT forum to ensure that my problems are not spyware related, and has concluded that my system is clean. Over the last 2 nights I have recorded the problems I have been having and attach them here for you to see. Microbell has suggested the following which I will run through tonight. 1 Run SFC from the run box and look for missing and corrupt windows files. 2 Run memtest86 to check your ram and make sure it's not failing. 3 Open Device Manager and look for any conflicts. 4 Reboot into safe mode and see if you have the same issues. 5 If you installed any software/hardware right before this issue appeared...remove it. 6 Check the Hard Drive for any errors or bad clusters and sectors. Regarding these suggestions: 1 I'm not sure how I would spot a missing or corrupt file. 2 Will do this. 3 Will do this. 4 The PC has always booted into Safe Mode without a problem, and has only hung when ScanDisk found Message: 'Crossed linked files or folders found', and I accepted the default option, 'Give each file a separate copy of the shared cluster'. 5 I have (fairly) recently installed a firewire card for my camcorder, but there were no problems when I installed it. I will remove it later and see if that stops the problems. 6 I have recently run a thorough scan of C: in safe mode, with no problems found. Wednesday evening's experience. Booted PC. Message: 'Windows protection error. You need to restart your computer'. Pressed reset button. Screen displaying 'Memory Testing ..... ' PC Hung Pressed reset button and started in Safe Mode. Ran Scandisk on drive C: Message: 'Crossed linked files or folders found'. I accepted the default option, 'Give each file a separate copy of the shared cluster'. PC Hung Pressed reset button Connected to Internet, and to Panda Active Scan. The scan had nearly (or completely) finished when the PC rebooted. Message: 'While Initializing device IOS: Windows protection error. You need to restart your computer' Switched PC off. Booted PC in Safe Mode. Ran Scandisk on drive C: Message: 'Crossed linked files or folders found'. I selected 'Delete all affected files'. Message: 'C:\ folder contains incorrect information about BOOTLOG.PRV'. I selected 'Repair the error'. Message: 'C:\WINDOWS\Internet Logs folder contains incorrect information about TVDebug.log'. I selected 'Repair the error'. Message: 'ScanDisk found 20480 bytes in 4 lost file fragments'. I selected 'Convert the lost file fragments into files'. Switched PC off. Booted PC. After login to Windows, Message: 'Vsmon - This program has performed an illegal operation and will be shutdown'. Shut down PC and switched off. Booted PC. Connected to Internet, and to Panda Active Scan. Panda Active Scan completed. Thursday evening's experience Booted PC. Message: 'Windows protection error. You need to restart your computer'. Booted PC in Safe Mode. Ran Scandisk on drive C: Message: 'C:\ folder contains incorrect information about BOOTLOG.PRV'. I selected 'Repair the error'. Shut down and restart. After login to Windows, Message: 'Nprotect - This program has performed an illegal operation and will be shutdown'. Message: 'Pelmiced - This program has performed an illegal operation and will be shutdown'. Whilst I was writing down these messages, the PC Rebooted. Connected to Internet, and to Tech Support Forum. As I selected 'Is my PC clean?' the PC Rebooted. After the Windows logon, the Desktop screen had a red line across, about 1cm from the top, and the PC hung. Switched off and rebooted. Logged on to Windows, the internet and this thread. Ran StartDreck and HJT without any problems, and posted this reply. I will report back when I have more information. Regards Keith

09-19-2005, 06:43 AM	#4 (permalink)
~~whodat~~ Register user Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 5,931 OS: XP	have you looked through these microsoft faq's ? Last edited by whodat; 09-19-2005 at 07:01 AM.

09-23-2005, 05:57 AM	#7 (permalink)
sharkei Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 55 OS: Windows XP Home	A result! Maybe? I'm progressing with the reinstall of Windows, and loading the other applications, plus downloading all the updates, and so far so good. No hanging or surprise reboots. Let's hope it continues. Thanks to everyone who has helped so far. Regards Keith

10-03-2005, 03:46 AM	#8 (permalink)
sharkei Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 55 OS: Windows XP Home	Progress is still good I have finished loading all the applications I need to, and apart from having to re-boot after installing some of them (even when setup didn't require it), everything is working as it should. Others with similar problems should consider a clean install of Windows, however, make sure all drivers and software are available. It (seems to have) worked for me! Regards everyone Keith

10-09-2005, 09:43 AM	#9 (permalink)
sharkei Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 55 OS: Windows XP Home	Oh Dear - I spoke too soon! I had no problems for a few days, and then the same old problems have returned. Today's events Booted and connected to the internet, opened Outlook, clicked on send/receive when the PC rebooted. Message: 'Windows protection error. You need to restart your computer'. Switched off. Booted PC in Safe Mode. Ran Scandisk on drive C: Message: the 'C:\WINDOWS\Profiles\Keith and Sharon\Start Menu\Programs' folder is damaged. This folder contains one or more long filenames that are no longer associated with files. ScanDisk repairs the error by deleting these filenames. Whilst I was trying to see what the filenames might be, the PC rebooted. In Safe Mode! The PC booted to the Windows password screen. Presses the first letter of the password and the PC rebooted. Interrupted the normal boot into Safe Mode. Ran Scandisk on drive C: Message: the 'C:\WINDOWS\Profiles\Keith and Sharon\Start Menu\Programs' folder is damaged. This folder contains one or more long filenames that are no longer associated with files. ScanDisk repairs the error by deleting these filenames. I selected 'Repair the error'. Shut down and restart. Windows started OK. Needless to say, I am getting a bit fed up with all this. I'm spending more time booting, rebooting, scanning etc than I am using the PC, and I'm ready to throw the current box away and buy a new one. However, money doesn't grow on trees so I'm prepared to give a few more days before taking a sledge hammer to it. Do we need to run through the virus checks and HJT process again, or is there an alternative. As alsways, grateful for any suggestions. Kind regards Keith

09-18-2005, 01:49 PM	#3 (permalink)
sharkei Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 55 OS: Windows XP Home	Whosdat I'm not running Norton Antivirus, only Utilities Integrator 2002. My antivirus is AntiVir, and my firewall is Zone Alarm, free version. Latest news:- 1 Run SFC from the run box and look for missing and corrupt windows files. Ran SFC in both Safe and Normal modes, with no changes identified. 2 Run memtest86 to check your ram and make sure it's not failing. Ran for 3 passes - no errors reported. 3 Open Device Manager and look for any conflicts. No conflicts reported. 4 Reboot into safe mode and see if you have the same issues. I've not had any problems whilst in Safe Mode other than when ScanDisk found Message: 'Crossed linked files or folders found', and I accepted the default option, 'Give each file a separate copy of the shared cluster'. 5 If you installed any software/hardware right before this issue appeared...remove it. I have removed Dial-up and Broadband modem cards, and the IEEE 1394 Firewire card. 6 Check the Hard Drive for any errors or bad clusters and sectors. I have recently run a thorough scan of C: in safe mode, with no problems found. Tonight when I booted:- Booted PC. Message: 'Windows protection error. You need to restart your computer'. Switched off. Booted PC in Safe Mode. Ran Scandisk on drive C: Message: 'C:\ folder contains incorrect information about BOOTLOG.PRV'. I selected 'Repair the error'. Shut down and restart. Windows started OK. Look forward to hearing from you soon. Kind regards Keith

09-19-2005, 12:50 PM	#5 (permalink)
sharkei Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 55 OS: Windows XP Home	Whosdat The problem for me is that the error is not repeatable, i.e. sometimes everything loads properly, but sometimes the PC hangs before or after Windows loads, on the click of the mouse on a web page, or reboots itself when I'm not doing anything. KB188867 Troubleshooting Windows 98 Startup Problems assumes that the same problem happens everytime the PC is booted. I think that I may have to do a clean install of Windows, to eliminate a possible software problem. If there is then still a problem, it points to hardware. Surely, the Crossed linked files or folders found by ScanDisk suggests a problem with the hard drive? What do the experts think? Kind regards Keith

10-09-2005, 10:38 AM	#10 (permalink)
~~whodat~~ Register user Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 5,931 OS: XP	keith can you list your computer specs? mainly your power supply and ram info

10-10-2005, 06:53 PM	#12 (permalink)
Uranium-235 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Milky Way/Alpha Quadrant/Earth/US/Texas Posts: 189 OS: Windows 2000 Professional 2195	definetly adaquate for Win98. I wonder if your hard drive is starting to go south

10-11-2005, 01:31 AM	#13 (permalink)
sharkei Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 55 OS: Windows XP Home	Testing the Hard Drive Hi Are there tests like MemTest and Windows Memory Diagnostic for hard drives, or is it a case of substitute and see if the problem goes away? I have obviously run ScanDisk a few times recently and previously Norton Disk Doctor, but no serious problems have ever been reported. However, ScanDisk has reported 'Crossed linked files or folders found' in the past which might suggest write problems? Can you tell from the Everest report how big a drive would be supported by my system. Regards Keith

10-11-2005, 03:39 AM	#14 (permalink)
~~whodat~~ Register user Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 5,931 OS: XP	try running 1 stick of memory at a time.

10-11-2005, 04:16 AM	#15 (permalink)
~~whodat~~ Register user Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 5,931 OS: XP	also, your slightly overclocked, maybe go into bios and set everything to default settings. how old is the system? which would tell us how old the powersupply is.

10-11-2005, 05:19 AM	#16 (permalink)
sharkei Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 55 OS: Windows XP Home	I bought the PC almost exactly 3 years ago, it's not branded (Dell, Compaq etc) but was custom built by a local company. As far as I know, none of the bios settings have been changed since purchase. Regards Keith

10-11-2005, 05:40 AM	#17 (permalink)
~~whodat~~ Register user Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 5,931 OS: XP	would you look at the back of the psu and tell us the name and wattage? some of the local shops have been known to install cheapo 250 watt no name units. setting the default bios settings might be advisable, even though its just slightly overclocked.

10-11-2005, 10:14 AM	#18 (permalink)
sharkei Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 55 OS: Windows XP Home	The power supply details are as follows: Q-TEC PSU ATX 300W Item number: 13233 Power rating: 115/230VAC 7A/4A I will see if I can reset the bios as suggested. By the way, it rebooted itself for my wife twice today Regards Keith

10-11-2005, 11:00 AM	#19 (permalink)
sharkei Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 55 OS: Windows XP Home	BIOS Settings The BIOS setting for the Clock Control is set to 'By Hardware', which I guess is why the CPU FSB is slightly above 100 Mhz. The alternative parameter is 'By Software' which the BIOS suggests would force HOST and DRAM to be exactly 100 Mhz. I will set it to 'By Software' and see what happens. Regards Keith

10-11-2005, 04:59 PM	#20 (permalink)
~~whodat~~ Register user Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 5,931 OS: XP	also, here is what your psu is ranked ATX Power Supplies - Brands from A to Z * RATED BY QUALITY * Key H = High Quality (Good Solid Reliable Brand) L = Low Quality (Cheap Generic) M = Medium Quality (In-between) U = Unknown A-Power................L A-Top..................L A+GPB..................L AcBel..................L AC Ryan (Ryanpower)....L Aerocool...............U AG.....................L Ahanix.................L Akasa..................L Allied.................L Antec..................M/H AOpen..................L APC....................L Apex Allied............L Aspire.................L/M Astec..................L Athena.................L BFG....................L Broadway Gaming........U Channel Well...........L CHAS...................L Chenbro................U Chieftec...............L Coba...................L Codegen................L Conrad.................M CoolerMaster...........H CoolMax................M Crystal................L Dell...................L Delta..................L Diablo.................L Eagle..................L Echo Star..............L Enermax................H Engleking..............M Enlight................M Epson..................L FDK....................L Fortron (FSP)..........H Gateway................L Gazelle Multimedia.....L Global Marketing.......L GPower.................L Guardian...............L Herolchi...............M Hipro..................L HP/Compaq..............L HPC International......L Huntkey................L I-Star.................L IBM Redundant..........U (expensive) Intel Redundant........U (expensive) In Win.................L Jaguar.................U Kensington.............L Kingwin................L L&C....................L Leadman................L Levicom................L LiteOn.................U Logisys................U Mad Dog................L/M Maxtron................L MGE....................L MGE Vortec.............M MorningStar............L NEC....................L Newton.................L Nexus..................L Noise Magic............L NorthQ.................M Nspire.................L OCZ....................H Omega..................L Packard Bell...........L PC Power & Cooling.....H PC-World (PCW).........L PCMCIS.................U Power..................L PowerStream............L PowerTek...............L PowerUp................L PowMax.................L PowMax XPower..........L Premium................L Pyramid................L Q-Tec..................L Q-Technology...........L RaidMax................U Real Power.............L Rosewill...............L SCS....................L SeaSonic...............H Shuttle................L Silent Purepower.......U SilenX.................L Silverstone............H Sky Hawk (Eagle Tech)..L Sparkle................H Star Micronics.........L StarTech...............L Sun....................L SuperFlower............L Supermicro.............L Tagan..................H Task...................L ThermalTake............M Topower................L Tri-Mag................L TSP....................L Tyan Tiger.............L TTGI...................L Ultra-Power Computer...L Ultra..................M Ultra X-Connect........L Vantec.................H Verax..................H Vigor..................U Xion...................L xPCgear................L Zalman.................H Zippy..................L Last edited by whodat; 10-11-2005 at 05:01 PM.