Date: Tue, 13 Mar 2012 08:44:05 +1000 From: Da Rock <freebsd-questions@herveybayaustralia.com.au> To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Subject: Re: 9.0 spontaneously reboots Message-ID: <4F5E7C35.2090807@herveybayaustralia.com.au> In-Reply-To: <4F5E2ADB.6020104@FreeBSD.org> References: <4F5E031D.5060203@gmail.com> <4F5E2ADB.6020104@FreeBSD.org>
next in thread | previous in thread | raw e-mail | index | archive | help
On 03/13/12 02:56, Matthew Seaman wrote: > On 12/03/2012 14:07, Volodymyr Kostyrko wrote: >> What should I blame now? Is it some programming error or should I >> continue with testing/changing motherboard and cpu? > Instability that appears spontaneously (and especially if it persists > across system updates) is almost always caused by hardware problems. > So, yes, carry on swapping out components until you can isolate where > the problem is. > > Some common hardware problems which might result in the problems you've > seen: > > * PSU going flakey. If you have the right measuring equipment, this > is pretty easy to detect by looking at the output voltages -- if > they've drifted out of spec, or if you've got mains frequency > jitter leaking through then its no wonder your system crashes. > > * Similarly, if the crashing is associated with system load, > (particularly at startup, when things are happening like disks > spinning up) this can indicate a power supply fading under load. > That can happen due to age, or because you've been adding extra > hardware and haven't considered the power requirements. > > * The other reason for crashing under load is overheating. > Sometimes this can be cured easily by cleaning dust out of vents > and heat-sinks. Check too for fans either seized or running > slowly. > > * You may need to clean off any old heat-sink compound and re-apply > a fresh layer, especially if you've taken CPU coolers off at > some point. > > * There's also the old capacitor problem: electrolytic capacitors > have a failure mode that generates some positive pressure inside > them. This is detectable by the end of the capacitor being bowed > out, rather than slightly concave. (Generally this means a new > motherboard, although I've heard of people being able to solder in > replacements successfully.) Yes, that works (relatively easily); but you need to be good with a soldering iron and be able to remove the cap without breaking tracks or shorting them. If you're not that or confident, I wouldn't try; although if the MB is cactus anyway you may have nothing to lose :) > > Other than that, try disconnecting and reconnecting peripherals like > disks or DVDs and so forth in various combinations to test if that > improves system stability. One faulty component can knock the whole > machine over. > > Cheers, > > Matthew >
Want to link to this message? Use this URL: <https://mail-archive.FreeBSD.org/cgi/mid.cgi?4F5E7C35.2090807>