My friend has an emachine T1742 (yea, ugh on the emachine) that runs Windows XP Home Edition. The computer basically freezes or shuts off when you try to load windows. It starts running chkdsk but shuts off during or right when you cancel it. I cannot login to safemode. I tried running recovery console using a windows disk but am still having issues. We're sure it's something wrong in the HDD itself, most likely an error in Windows. We replaces the power supply, no affect, and also switched the HDD to another computer with nothing fixed. I'm lost!!!

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Sounds like a heat problem or loose connection... Try this...

Remove the memory modules, and reseat them 3 or 4 times, gently rocking them back 
and forth in their slots while doing so.

Then, check the CPU heatsink and fan.  Make sure the fan is spinning as it should, 
and clean it of all dust.  If it appears in good working shape, try and remove the 
CPU heatsink and remove all the old thermal compound from both the heatsink and CPU, 
and reapply some high quality thermal compound, then reseat the heatsink and make 
sure it is securely attached to the CPU.

I recommend going to microsoft.com and searching for the windows memory diagnostics 
software.  Its a free memory test utility that is excellent for testing hardware. 
 Create a boot disk on another PC with the memory diagnostics software, and use this 
to boot your problematic PC.  Run the memory test while tapping (gently) on memory 
modules, and the motherboard, etc...  If anything is loose or bad, the system will 
freeze or give memory errors.. If it is a heat problem the system will probably freeze 
or power off shortly after starting the memory tests.  If the system runs stable 
for a good hour or so with the memory test, then it is probably safe to say that 
you do have some kind of strange software glitch.  But, again, this sounds like a 
hardware issue.  The memory test will also help you to test the system while preventing 
you from damaging the windows installation any more from the continued inproper boots/shutdowns.

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Actually, after making the post I got the idea to check the RAM. I removed one stick 
and the computer got to the Windows login screen and shut off, then I put the one 
I removed back and removed the other. This time it actually got into Windows before 
it shut down.

I then got another stick from a friend (a 512 MB) who works on computers and it got 
to the login screen and shut down. I tried this on the other connection too. I then 
tried running it with the network card disconnected, the floppy disconnected, and 
the new DVD writer disconnected. None of this worked and we decided maybe the RAM 
slots are bad. 

He wants to buy a new computer but I may try to see if I can get the emachine working 
by trying that with the CPU. I did disconnect and reconnect the CPU, but didn't put 
anymore thermal grease (that's it right?) because I didn't have any. That sounds 
like a plan.







On Tuesday, September 4, 2007 at 4:54 pm, appleoddity wrote:

>


>Sounds like a heat problem or loose connection... Try this...

>

>Remove the memory modules, and reseat them 3 or 4 times, gently rocking them back 

>and forth in their slots while doing so.

>

>Then, check the CPU heatsink and fan.  Make sure the fan is spinning as it should, 

>and clean it of all dust.  If it appears in good working shape, try and remove the 

>CPU heatsink and remove all the old thermal compound from both the heatsink and 
CPU, 

>and reapply some high quality thermal compound, then reseat the heatsink and make 

>sure it is securely attached to the CPU.

>

>I recommend going to microsoft.com and searching for the windows memory diagnostics 

>software.  Its a free memory test utility that is excellent for testing hardware. 

> Create a boot disk on another PC with the memory diagnostics software, and use 
this 

>to boot your problematic PC.  Run the memory test while tapping (gently) on memory 

>modules, and the motherboard, etc...  If anything is loose or bad, the system will 

>freeze or give memory errors.. If it is a heat problem the system will probably 
freeze 

>or power off shortly after starting the memory tests.  If the system runs stable 

>for a good hour or so with the memory test, then it is probably safe to say that 

>you do have some kind of strange software glitch.  But, again, this sounds like 
a 

>hardware issue.  The memory test will also help you to test the system while preventing 

>you from damaging the windows installation any more from the continued inproper 
boots/shutdowns.

>

>

>
 

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

CPUs are pretty sensitive to overheating.  THere has to be a solid connection between 
the heatsink and the CPU, and thermal grease is what does that.  After a period of 
time the grease hardens up and, especially after you remove the heatsink, you need 
to remove the old and reapply the new.  Its just something to try.  Like I said, 
sounds like a hardware issue, but a good test of that would be to let the memory 
tester I told you about run.. See if it is able to run for an extended period of 
time or not.  It will heat the CPU as good as any stress tester.

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

I will try the grease. The problem with running that program is the computer won't 
stay on but for about 30 seconds.






On Wednesday, September 5, 2007 at 6:08 am, appleoddity wrote:

>


>CPUs are pretty sensitive to overheating.  THere has to be a solid connection between 

>the heatsink and the CPU, and thermal grease is what does that.  After a period 
of 

>time the grease hardens up and, especially after you remove the heatsink, you need 

>to remove the old and reapply the new.  Its just something to try.  Like I said, 

>sounds like a hardware issue, but a good test of that would be to let the memory 

>tester I told you about run.. See if it is able to run for an extended period of 

>time or not.  It will heat the CPU as good as any stress tester.

>

>
 

[Reply or follow-up to this message]

Have you tried it????

THe idea is, if it is a hardware issue the memory test will fail to run for an extended 
period of time without the computer shutting down.. If it is a software issue, then 
it will run fine...

If the only way you are deciding that the computer wont stay on for more than 30 
seconds, is to try and boot windows, then that doesn't tell you much. :)

Ofcourse, you will have to download the memory diagnostics software on a working 
PC and make the bootable CD on the good PC.

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