Computer reboots halfway through start-up screen

[Strikeman]

Hi Guys,

Hope you can help?

I have recently built a new pc using a barebones package and adding bits to it, the barebone package consisted of the following:

Processor: AM2 Dual Core 4600+ 2 x 2.4ghz (not overclocked)
RAM: 2x 1024Mb 667Mhz PC5400 240pin DDR2
Motherboard: nVidia 6150 Motherboard
Graphics: Sapphire Radeon 3850HD 512mb PCI Express x16
Sound: X-Fi Xtreme Gamer
Harddrive: Western Digital CAVIAR 500GB 16MB 7200 SATAII (Partition 50GB/450GB)
PSU: 400Watt
Optical Drive: Samsung IDE LightScribe CD/DVD ATA133
Floppy Drive
Network Card: Netgear RangeMax Wireless Adaptor PCI Card
Anti-Virus: Norton 360
Keyboard: USB
Optical: USB

The PC has been running fine apart and halfway through the soundcard software installation the computer restarted itself. After the initial diagnostic checks, the screen goes black and it shows a set of options on how I would like to start the PC up after the unexpected restart.

The first problem is the keyboard doesn’t seem to work on this screen (I know it does work as I have gone into the BIOS and moved around via the keyboard to check it wasn’t the keyboard itself). The “Start PC in normal windows mode” is highlighted with a 30 second counter, when this counter reaches zero (as I cant move around the screen to load in safe mode anyway) the pc gets to the windows loading sctreen.

After about 5 seconds on the windows loading screen, the screen goes black and the computer restarts itself. Restating the whoe process again. It would literally be a case of if I left my pc on for an hour, it would just keep going round and round, restarting itself.

Has this happened to anyone before? The problem is everything has been working perfectly fine for a week and now I just had to istall the last bit if software and its already given up the ghost, despite being 2 weeks old!

If anyone can help, then it would be most appreciated

Thanks,
Mark

[JPMiller]

Have you tried removing the soundcard?

[Strikeman]

No I havent yet as it only happened late last night. I switched it off and went to bed, hoping the problem would go away however when I swtiched it back on at lunchtime, nothing had changed. I will try that when I get home from work later, its just a shame as it was a mission getting everything aligned so the screws and plates would go back in!!
Could it be a PSU issue as im worried that 400w isnt enough to power everything, the system has intermitently been crashing after prolonged periods of time. Its a shame the graphics card hasnt got an externam power supply like my old one had to take a lot fo drain away from the PSU.
Would an upgrade to 600w from 400w cover a system set up like this?

[JPMiller]

Overall wattage means nothing...
What is the brand and amperage of the +12V rail from the sticker on the PSU?

[Strikeman]

I'll check when I get home and let you know. It's a budget brand as it was preinstalled into the barebones package I purchased that consisted of the motherboard, case, processor and RAM preinstalled.

[Strikeman]

Ok ive managed to narrow it down to tghe soundcard malfunctioning as I have now removed the card and it works perfectly fine, loads up and everything. The problem now is that I purvhased it as a retail pack from novatech.co.uk and I havent got the box anymore to return it. Do you reckon Creative would take it back direct?

Also the PC still keeps randomlu restarting by itself, I've checked the ram individually and couldnt find any problems... Anyone?

[JPMiller]

random restarts point to the PSU if the memory checks good

[Strikeman]

I think I am going to purchase a higher quality PSU and hopefully that will cure it. Saying that thopugh, I have ran a virus check and it picked up on a 'Tracking Cookie'. This has now been deleted and it hasnt restarted since so maybe it was that?

I think I will see how it goes over the next week