Burn in test Help needed...

[ctohelpsu]

We have a machine that has been restarting/crashing numerous times.  The machine then would run the chkdsk then be ok...We have run the System check and the Extensive HD test on the machine which all report no problem but when we run the Burn in test the machine crashes...This seems like HD failure but could be alot of things...any advive...

[fwilson]

ctohelpsu,

Sounds like a heating problem to me.  When a system runs OK except when it's really busy, like running CPU intensive programs or specifically the burn in test it overheats and reboots or shuts itself off to prevent damage.

Check the CPU heatsing for dust bunnies or cooked thermal paste.  The Chipset heatsink has also been known to cause this.

Blow out the CPU fan and heatsink, remove the heatsink, scrape old paste off with a razor blade and then clean with alcohol.  Reapply new paste and see how she runs.

-Fred

[ctohelpsu]

Also it is not a Thermal shutdown...We did replace the fan in the box about a week ago...Fan had stopped...

[ctohelpsu]

OK will do...thanks

[fwilson]

ctohelpsu,

If the case fan had stopped, it is probably cooked thermal compound.  When a system overheats the compound can become hardend acting almost as an insulator instead of a thermal conductor.

-Fred