1. You are viewing our forum as a guest. For full access please Register. WindowsBBS.com is completely free, paid for by advertisers and donations.

Dell Dimension 3100/E310-constant reboot

Discussion in 'PC Hardware' started by Chloe Bug, 2007/09/22.

Page 1 of 2
  1. 2007/09/22
    Chloe Bug

    Chloe Bug Inactive Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2004/05/16
    Messages:
    37
    Likes Received:
    0
    Hi all!

    Haven't been here in a long time, all has been well thankfully!

    But of course, something new has popped up and I can't fix it. :mad:

    We have a Dell Dimension E310 that constantly reboots itself.

    I have done the following:

    Disk Clean
    Defrag
    Check for Errors
    Rolled back System Restore a month
    Checked the fan, it's working

    And when it does start up the drive makes a noise, and then sometimes will actually STAY on for a bit, then it will pop off and reboot. Last night it would do this over and over and turn off... then oddly, pop itself back on and start again!!! I finally had to just unplug it, lol!

    Any suggestions? Any more info that you need to help? The info on this one is in my sig. :) It's only MAYBE 1 1/2 years old too!

    Again, thank you for any assistance... we need this computer back!!

    Crysti
     
    Chloe Bug,
    #1
  2. 2007/09/22
    Steve R Jones

    Steve R Jones SuperGeek Staff

    Joined:
    2001/12/30
    Messages:
    12,315
    Likes Received:
    252
    Is your pc randomly rebooting itself? You can go to

    Control Panel->System icon->Advance tab->Startup & Recovery Settings button. UNcheck/disable the "auto reboot" option. Instead of rebooting you'll probably get a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) which can be searched on for a solution.

    You can go to http://support.microsoft.com/search/?adv=1 to search on for example: STOP 0x00000050
     
    Steve R Jones,
    #2


  3. to hide this advert.

  4. 2007/09/22
    Chloe Bug

    Chloe Bug Inactive Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2004/05/16
    Messages:
    37
    Likes Received:
    0
    Ok, that box is NOT checked
     
    Chloe Bug,
    #3
  5. 2007/09/22
    Chloe Bug

    Chloe Bug Inactive Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2004/05/16
    Messages:
    37
    Likes Received:
    0
    Anything else I can try? Test to run?

    Oh yeah, I also ran for virus' several times and disk clean, defrag again etc...

    It just did a windows update and didn't quit 1/2 way through like usual... and it's been on for awhile now... but it will eventually reboot again *sigh* ;)
     
    Chloe Bug,
    #4
  6. 2007/09/22
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

    Joined:
    2002/05/10
    Messages:
    28,896
    Likes Received:
    389
    Does that mean that it was checked and you have now unchecked it?

    If the latter is the case the computer will now blue screen on a System Failure and give a memory dump.

    This can be analysed using our Dump Data collection tool and the log posted here.

    If the computer still restarts without blue screening we need to look elsewhere, so hold fire on anything until you have another unexpected restart - of one sort (blue screen) or another.
     
    PeteC,
    #5
  7. 2007/09/22
    Chloe Bug

    Chloe Bug Inactive Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2004/05/16
    Messages:
    37
    Likes Received:
    0
    I'm sorry, no the box was NEVER checked....

    I've never gotten the blue screen either, just keeps going on a loop almost... :confused:
     
    Chloe Bug,
    #6
  8. 2007/09/22
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

    Joined:
    2002/05/10
    Messages:
    28,896
    Likes Received:
    389
    A noise that you have not heard before presumably.

    I think you should run the disk diagnostics from the hard drive manufacturer - you will need to download these from their web site.

    If you do not know the make of the hard drive Everest should give you that information under Storage > Windows Storage.

    If it is not a hard drive problem it could well be a failing PSU - Power Supply Unit or memory problems, but start with testing the drive.

    Another thing you can do if you feel sufficiently confident is to open up the case, unplug and remake all the power lead and ribbon cable connections, remove the RAM, clean the contacts with a soft pencil eraser and replace and the same for all plug in cards.
     
    PeteC,
    #7
  9. 2007/09/22
    Chloe Bug

    Chloe Bug Inactive Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2004/05/16
    Messages:
    37
    Likes Received:
    0
    Yes a new noise.

    I will try and do the diagnostics and check that out.

    Do you think it could be a virus or something that wasn't caught? I've ran AVG maybe 5 times and it didn't find anything... just wondering.

    Thank you! I'll let you know what happens!
     
    Chloe Bug,
    #8
  10. 2007/09/22
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

    Joined:
    2002/05/10
    Messages:
    28,896
    Likes Received:
    389
    A virus is unlikely, but you could run an online scan through Quicklinks in my signature for further confirmation.
     
    PeteC,
    #9
  11. 2007/09/22
    Chloe Bug

    Chloe Bug Inactive Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2004/05/16
    Messages:
    37
    Likes Received:
    0
    Ok, I thought I'd try something first...

    I took the side off, took the HD out, checked the wires-all ok

    unplugged the CD drive, nothing wrong there

    cleaned the memory, all is fine there

    and tried to boot it w/o the hard drive....

    OK, it seems it's not the HD doing this, it's the power box in there? I don't know what else to call it. In the front of the puter, where the power button is? It's revving like if you were to put your foot on the gas pedal... but you rev it and it doesn't take, so you try again... make sense?

    I'm going to try to plug the HD back in but I don't think it's that, I think it's that part there, where the power button is...

    I'll report back :D
     
    Chloe Bug,
    #10
  12. 2007/09/22
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

    Joined:
    2002/05/10
    Messages:
    28,896
    Likes Received:
    389
    I think you are describing the PSU - Power Supply Unit.

    If you have a digital camers take a snap and post it on Photobucket or similar and the URL here.
     
    PeteC,
    #11
  13. 2007/09/22
    Chloe Bug

    Chloe Bug Inactive Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2004/05/16
    Messages:
    37
    Likes Received:
    0
    Oh boy it's dirty! :(

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    The big black box. ;)

    I plugged the HD back in and it's doing the same thing.

    Oh and the noise that I was hearing, that was the CD changer. When I unplugged it, it didn't happen again.
     
    Chloe Bug,
    #12
  14. 2007/09/22
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

    Joined:
    2002/05/10
    Messages:
    28,896
    Likes Received:
    389
    Yes they do get dirty inside, especially if the tower is on or close to the floor - dust from the surroundings gets sucked in.

    The 'big black box' shown in your pictures - worth a thousand words :) - the one with the silver heat sink with the fins showing is the CPU heat sink and fan. Under that cooler is your Pentium 4.

    The PSU is the silver box in the top right hand corner of the first jpeg.

    Carefully blow out all the dirt and dust - use a toothpick or similar to clean out between the fins of the heat sink. Whatever you do do it gently and do it with the computer disconnected from the mains supply! When you have cleaned it leave the side of the case off and check that the CPU fan is spinning (rapidly).

    You can check the running temps using Everest which I posted above - Motherboard > Sensor. Check before and after cleaning and post the temps, fan speed and voltages here please.

    The reboots may be caused by overheating and a clean up may resolve this.

    The other thought is ....
    Is there a CD in it? - that will cause it to spin up when you boot up. A bit of a long shot but try running the computer with the CD drive disconnected - I have never heard of a faulty CD drive causing reboots, but there's always a first time.
     
    PeteC,
    #13
  15. 2007/09/22
    Chloe Bug

    Chloe Bug Inactive Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2004/05/16
    Messages:
    37
    Likes Received:
    0
    Ok, will do the cleaning :)

    OH and I did run it w/o the cd hooked up and NO NOISE :) But it does keep doing the reboot thing.

    Now since putting it all back together, it won't even boot up... just to the first blue/black DELL screen, then turns off again. Maybe it IS overheating!

    And it doesn't live on the floor here, it's on a A-frame stand oh about 6-7 inches off the ground, but it IS dirty so that could be something...

    I'll let ya know about the temps etc IF I can get it started up!! It hasn't done it yet for me, so if I CANNOT get it restarted, then I'll just clean it up real good and then try to start it???

    Thanks so much!!!
     
    Chloe Bug,
    #14
  16. 2007/09/22
    Chloe Bug

    Chloe Bug Inactive Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2004/05/16
    Messages:
    37
    Likes Received:
    0
    Ok cleaned it all really well.. there wasn't a lot of dust in there though, just a bit came out...

    It won't do anything different, except now it's beeping once when it tries to start up. It sometimes gets to the Dell loading screen, other times not when it just shuts down again.... stays off for a bit and gives it another go.

    There is a little cell battery in there with a light next to it, what is that for?

    I don't know what to do, it won't even START now!

    I'm going to just leave it "on" and see if it finally boots up... am I SOL?
     
    Chloe Bug,
    #15
  17. 2007/09/22
    Chloe Bug

    Chloe Bug Inactive Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2004/05/16
    Messages:
    37
    Likes Received:
    0
    Ok it started, I d/l Everest and went to the Samsung site, which wasn't much help... it had 2 downloads for this HD and I d/l them and nothing happened. And there wasn't a diagnostic test to be found there either... no drivers, nothing.

    It's been on for about 10-15 minutes without rebooting...

    Is there anything I can do while its still on???

    Roll it back again or ???

    Thanks!!
     
    Chloe Bug,
    #16
  18. 2007/09/22
    Chloe Bug

    Chloe Bug Inactive Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2004/05/16
    Messages:
    37
    Likes Received:
    0
    Well it lasted about 30 minutes and then shut down...

    I tried to reboot with F8 and I got:

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    After about 5 minutes, it rebooted and is on now... it's only been a minute....

    Now getting error at startup, I have to hit F1 to continue b/c it can't find the floppy drive... there never has been one... :confused:

    This is driving me crazy!!! :eek: :eek:
     
    Chloe Bug,
    #17
  19. 2007/09/23
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

    Joined:
    2002/05/10
    Messages:
    28,896
    Likes Received:
    389
    Did it not beep once after the POST screen before - that is normal .....
    That is the CMOS battery which provides power to retain BIOS information when the computer is powered down - the light next to it is the power light showing that the motherboard has power connected to it - this will remain lit as long as there is power supplied to the computer from the wall socket - regardless of whether or not the computer is actually running.
    the screen you posted shows the computer booting into Safe Mode - that screen should scroll down as the drivers, etc are loaded - can take a minute or so and should end up at a black screen with Safe Mode in each corner. Then Windows starts - in Safe Mode - only Windows drivers loaded and you need to type in your Administrator password to enter Windows - often a blank.

    I found the hard drive diagnostics on the Samsung site - once downloaded they have to be extracted to a floppy - which you don't have or burnt to a CD, depending on the file downloaded. You then boot the computer from the floppy or the CD to run the test.

    Rather than post the URL I suggest you run the Dell Diagnostics as outlined in the Service Manual

    I suggest you read the section Advanced troubleshooting and check out the System lights and Diagnostic lights and post back.
     
    PeteC,
    #18
  20. 2007/09/23
    Chloe Bug

    Chloe Bug Inactive Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2004/05/16
    Messages:
    37
    Likes Received:
    0
    I am ready to scream!!!:eek: :eek: :eek:

    This thing won't stay on long enough to run the test.. I got to 89% then it rebooted again... grrrr.

    I'm gonna keep trying but this is really getting annoying! lol :D
     
    Chloe Bug,
    #19
  21. 2007/09/23
    Chloe Bug

    Chloe Bug Inactive Thread Starter

    Joined:
    2004/05/16
    Messages:
    37
    Likes Received:
    0
    Ok, finally got the Quick Test done, and NO PROBLEMS.

    I'm trying to do the Extended now but it keeps rebooting... I'll keep trying! ;)
     
    Chloe Bug,
    #20
Page 1 of 2

Share This Page

  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
    Accept Learn More...