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Question

Win 8 random restart loop

Aug 20, 2013 1:36AM PDT

Having a bit of a headbanging issue here.

A couple months ago I got a new desktop (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883229362&nm_mc=KNC-GoogleAdwords&cm_mmc=KNC-GoogleAdwords-_-pla-_-Desktop+PCs-_-N82E16883229362&gclid=CL2W_o71_7cCFZBj7Aodq18Akg)

Love it, works great, did what I needed to do, except blasted windows 8. Classic shell works wonders, but it's still not the same, in particular with troubleshooting issues. Thus is where my issue lies this time (As I have either fixed or found workarounds for other small issues).


Randomly my computer will "have an error occur" and restart. Sometimes it fixes it after once (although not usually) sometimes I have to do a system restore (and today that didn't even work.)

Once when it restarted it went to a black screen and never reloaded the OS today. Finally, randomly, it just worked. What irritates me is that I did a system restore from a few days ago and it didn't fix it, so now I have to redo my settings changes on some programs and such, and it's kinda annoying... which brings me to the next topic here:
A system refresh, both times I tried it (First a few days after I got the desktop, I just assumed it was a bad first install) and once not too long ago) fixes the problem. At least temporarily. I'm wondering what I can do on my end to help with this, or at least get you some info you need so that someone can help me. Happy


I JUST disabled driver signing (because it annoys me and wouldn't start anyways) and restart after failure (which it still restart a couple times which is even more annoying) and hybrid sleep has been disabled for a while since it has been known to cause problems and I don't use it anyways. I hadn't had the problem since I did that for about a week until a couple days ago so I assumed it fixed it.... but, alas no dice.

Discussion is locked

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Clarification Request
(NT) Have you booted to Safe Mode & checked for viruses?
Aug 20, 2013 2:06AM PDT
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I have
Aug 20, 2013 4:32AM PDT

Although due to timings of some of them I KNOW it wouldn't have been a virus that originally caused it anyways. When it's in a restart loop even opening safe-mode causes a reboot once it's done.

Someone recommended a faulty PSU, as a common issue for these off the shelf. I thought about that (knew it might be an issue ahead of time) but do to the sparseness of it and when it happens once it does it SEVERAL times and then just stops I'm not sure how logical that is?

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Answer
I see what you see.
Aug 20, 2013 1:46AM PDT

I've seen far too many unstable AMD PCs over the past few years. Since it is a bought and paid for PC, it's a warranty issue and should not be doing this. Not one of the dozen windows 8 PCs at the office or home is doing this so I'm left to guess why your PC is faulting.

No error message, not much software talk and not a word if you tried it with the cover off (of course after you repaired the OS.)

But if it's corrupting the OS, and given no story about use such as "I'm running torrents!" I'm left to defer this to its maker.
Bob

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I tried to post some error logs
Aug 20, 2013 1:58AM PDT

But, the forum says there are non-english / incompatible characters (which I couldn't find) and wouldn't let me post it. Any tips on that (if you still want the info)?

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Sorry
Aug 20, 2013 2:02AM PDT

But error messages may not be helpful in this machine. A stock install and normal use does not result in errors. And if you supplied me with errors I would have to (badly) guess that you were running torrents at the time of failure.

In all your years of PC ownership, have you found a direct link from the error message to the solution? I haven't.

There are tools to cleanup the texts but since any error message is better than none, supply it in one sentence form. Anyone that pastes in hundreds of lines of errors usually is met with no replies.
Bob

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shortened error codes
Aug 20, 2013 2:09AM PDT

-I see several that say it did not shut down cleanly (One of these labeled as "critical" instead of "error")

-6 in a row that say:
The server *registry location* did not register with DCOM within the required timeout.
(No idea what that one means or pertains to.)

-Numerous that say there was an unexpected shutdown (which makes sense since it told me that after the restart)

One that says:
The computer has rebooted from a bugcheck. With dumpfile location

-One that in particular that catches my eye because I've never seen it before that says:

"A fatal hardware error has occurred.

Component: AMD Northbridge
Error Source: Machine Check Exception
Error Type: HyperTransport Watchdog Timeout Error
Processor APIC ID: 0

The details view of this entry contains further information."

(By your answer you might want to jump to this, but on the previous time it's never occurred.)


While I have run torrents on this machine, the problem originally occurred before I even had a torrent downloader even installed, so that doesn't make sense (and I haven't run any in a few weeks at least)


Even if we don't solve the issue I like at least trying to figure out the "why".... :/

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Given that those are well discussed.
Aug 20, 2013 2:13AM PDT
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I mean, I can try it...
Aug 20, 2013 2:19AM PDT

But, those were off a cold start-up, I haven't told it to overclock nor used anything to make it do so on it's own (Barely made it to the desktop screen.), and even under a heavy load the temps of the CPU weren't getting to even 30C under medium load as of the previous use... T-T. I have posted on the maker's forum as well, but I'll keep your suggestion of the cover in mind next time it acts up.

If I hear anything from them as well I'll post it for reference purposes.

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PROBLEM
Aug 20, 2013 6:39AM PDT

When this problem happens, I go to services.msc and disable the services there. You should try it.

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That's not a good sign.
Aug 20, 2013 8:29AM PDT

That's a hardware symptom and it's best to get your files safe first then arrange for repair. If you read reviews you may want to return it and try something else.
Bob

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Just got off the phone with a techie with CyPow PC
Aug 20, 2013 9:11AM PDT

UPDATE 2:

Says it's more than likely the HDD, RAM, or MoBo. Chkdsk said HDD was fine. Tested the RAM, happened with both the RAM in, and either one in. Didn't matter. Gonna give them a call back in a bit, but in all three RAM combinations the PC eventually loaded fine given enough restarts.


That being said, the same AMD Northbridge error occurred times 2 in 13 restarts; once each with each RAM stick in (just in case it might matters to anyone), and still happened with the cover off.

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the PC eventually loaded fine given enough restarts.
Aug 20, 2013 11:04AM PDT

Sorry but I can imagine if this was your first Windows 8 machine you might think it's a Windows problem but here at the office the dozen Windows 8 machines start fine without such issues every day for months now.
Bob

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BIOS Updated
Aug 20, 2013 12:21PM PDT

Did a bios update. Didn't fix it though. I'll get around tomorrow to a memory test. I might also have a couple bad sticks of memory. I'm not sure if I should blame the makers or win 8. I still don't like it, esp from a troubleshooting side, although classic shell helps. I just find it full of useless features that would be better as a free optional download (MS is doing the same thing with the XBox One too). If there's a mystery problem with anything (even outside computers) I'll find it.

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Answer
Win 8 random restart loop
Aug 22, 2013 7:53AM PDT

Your computer certainly has issues and therefore intermittently its giving
some or the other error messages. If System Restore is not working then
seems that there are security and System Service related issues.

Please follow the following steps to resolve the issue and incase its not
resolved then post back with the status

01. Clean Boot Windows 8 to remove any startup conflicts -
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135
02. Open Command Prompt with Administrator Privileges and then run "SFC
/SCANNOW" - http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb491008.aspx
03. Restart the computer to make sure that your computer is working fine.
04. If SFC gives errors then post us the Log File so that we can provide
with a solution

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sent it in to the maker
Aug 22, 2013 10:17AM PDT

Probably a bad motherboard.

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Agreed!
Aug 24, 2013 1:35AM PDT

A hardware problem is what I was thinking from the start, and all signs point to it. Random problems can be hard to pin down, but after all the attempted software fixes without results, then no, look elsewhere. Although I would always try the easy, no cost ideas first. I've been through this kind of thing before, and I'll vote for motherboard or possibly power supply, if it's a cheap computer.

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Sent it in
Sep 12, 2013 5:06AM PDT

Just got it back earlier today, finishing adding all my basic programs and such to it again. Everything SEEMS to be working fine so far (other than it still having Win8, but the shell helps a good deal.)

They said they replaced the CPU (6-core, 3.5ghz). If anything changes I'll throw an update out. For what it's worth, outside of the $60 shipping fee (by friend works at a UPS store and got me 25% off from $80) to get it to them, the service they did, particularly from a technical aspect was phenomenal. They understand that not everyone is a complete computer illiterate idiot and simply ask if you did a certain thing instead of making you do it 9 times with them on the phone. It's great they have personalities too, after about 15 hrs on the phone it can get dull. Honestly though, to take it a step further, they even answered my "why" type questions. It was completely unnecessary, but they did it anyways.
5* for tech support
4* (5* if they would have at least split the shipping costs) for standing by their product
5* for RMA support / feedback.