Random Reboots

[Wolfman11511]

Ok this may be kinda long for I have done alot to try to fix this problem. My computer reboots itself, Mainly when I am online certain websites do it more than others. Some websites that didn't used to do it make it reboot now. Now it used to reboot itself just sitting here idle, but I tore computer completely apart cleaned everything and put it back to gether, this seemed to fix that. This has been happening for about a year. I have a P3 500 mhz, win 98 OS, its a NEC puter that I bought from Circut City bout 3-4 years ago. Some people say its overheating but I dled Sandra and she says temps are fine...although I cannot open it in regular mode because it reboots me I can only use safe mode Here is the list of things I have done to try to remedy this:

1. I installed Voodoo 3 like 3 years ago, so I unistalled it and went back to On-board graphics...no workie

2. I installed Soundblaster X-gamer bout 2.5-3 years ago, so I uninstalled that went back to onboard sound.....no workie

3. I bought new PSU, it was like 150 watt I installed 300 watt antec....no workie

4. I bought new HD, was 8 gig I installed 20 gig...no workie

5. I bought new modem....no workie

6. I completely tore system down cleaned it all put it back together...like 3 times got better but......still no workie

7. I have reformatted like 4 times now....no workie

8. when I bought new HD I f-disked it and just installed windows 98, nothing else....no workie

Now I am thinking it must be MB or processor problem since thats all I haven't replaced. If anyone knows where I can get replacements for these or a solution to my problem........PLEASE let me know

BTW I am building a new pc right now, but I really would like to give this one to the kids but I would like it to work so I don't gotta hear "Daaaaaaaaaaad the computer did it again" all the time.

Thank you,

Wolf

[caddmannq]

Right off...did you leave the case open & just point a big (house-type) fan at it?

If it is overheat, that should mitigate the problem & tell you you need more fans, bigger heatsink, relocate hard drives etc.

[Wolfman11511]

lol, I didn't wanna add that seemed kinda insane, but yes I did try that. I also have airconditioner positioned right over it. that didnt help either.

[caddmannq]

Insane? Not a bit!

That's a well-recognized diagnostic procedure!

Did you look carefully at the motherboard? With a strong light?

Do any of the capacitors have a little black "tar" on or under them?

Power regulation section might be cooked. (Have only seen this on AMD systems myself...)

[screen]

You forgot one component; MEMORY. Test the memory. Since you have ruled-out everything else except memory, motherboard, and processor, you can try testing the memory using memtest86.

[Wolfman11511]

sorry forgot to add that yes I have replaced the memory was 64mb when I boutght it now its 128 one stick and where can I find memtest86....hopefully a site that wont reboot me...sorry bout adding things but its been doin this for a year lol and I forget everything I have tried

[jman01pa]

http://www.memtest86.com/#download0

[Wolfman11511]

ok tried that....dunno if it worked it did nothing. but anyways I'll go buy new memory this weekend.

[caddmannq]

Did you look at those caps?

[Wolfman11511]

yes I installed on a floppy but when I reboot nothin happens. I try to run floppy and it asks me to format floppy disk. Dunno guess I did it wrong. I will make it easy and just buy new Ram pc100 is cheap.