PC shuts down unexpectedly, unclear if it's a software issue
PC shuts down unexpectedly, unclear if it's a software issue
My partner's computer keeps shutting down unexpectedly during tasks like reinstalling the OS, playing games, or when idle. Initially we suspected faulty wiring at our previous home due to tripped protection circuits. Now that we're in a new location, the same problem persists. We replaced power supplies and the graphics card, but the issue remains unchanged. Both PSUs and GPUs passed testing, stress tests were completed, and the machine stayed operational throughout. I checked the RAM in the original slots (slots 2 and 4) and encountered the same problem. After removing one stick in slot 4, it booted briefly before powering off and then restarting. The other stick in slot 4 also failed to boot but all components powered on with fans running at full speed. The motherboard displays an orange LED indicating a memory issue, possibly suggesting a dead slot. Her motherboard is an Asus B550 Gaming, the GPU is a 2070 Super Zotac XC, and her PSU is the RPM850X. RAM specifications are GSKill Trident Z Neo 16GB DDR4 3600, with a 3700x CPU cooler from Corsair AIO, and an H150i Pro. I've verified all connections are secure, no signs of overheating, but uncertainty remains. Should I try the alternate stick first to see if the memory light appears, or should I proceed with replacing the motherboard? (CPU testing isn't possible without a spare and no thermal paste.) I'm considering whether this might be a faulty motherboard rather than a hardware failure.)
It looks like you haven't tested a new RAM yet, should have tried that first. If another RAM setup still causes random reboots, then the next step is checking the motherboard. I've faced this before—my motherboard was the culprit. I swapped everything except the CPU and motherboard, and once it worked fine again.
I agree with duke, but have you attempted resetting the CMOS? If not, try doing so. It might be helpful to fully remove the CMOS battery while the power supply is off. Then start the PC using auto settings. If DOCP is turned on, disable it and use auto settings instead. If you encounter any SATA hard drives or SSDs other than NVMe (M.2), consider removing those.
I believe resetting the CMOS helped. I wasn't able to locate the pins on her motherboard, so I just removed the battery, restarted quickly, turned it off, and reinserted it. Not only did I manage to complete installing Windows on her PC, but it's now fully updated with the correct drivers. I don't know what caused the problem or if it'll happen again—last time she faced this issue, I performed a full wipe and reinstall of Windows, which resolved it for a week. Until then, I'm counting the reset as a win. I was trying the standard method step by step, but her PC still wouldn't boot without two sticks. I switched to slots 1 and 3, which worked for starting up, though it didn't fully fix the problem at first.