I'm Stumped...

[Black_Z28]

Ok, I've been messing around for a few weeks with my computer, and I can not figure out what's wrong with the damn thing.

It's a HP m8200n, here's a Link to the model and specs on the PC. Currently, I'm running Vista Home Premium. Recently, within the past month I've been having problems when booting up. Specifically last week I had an issue. Started up and ran all day Monday and Tuesday. Then Wednesday, I had an issue during start up, I would get past my login screen, and everything would start loading correctly, then I would get a black screen. It would hang at this black screen with no HD or CPU activity, then restart. It did that one more time, then it ran all day without a problem. By all day I mean, I would have it run from about 10am-12pm. Thursday, it started just fine, and ran all day to about 8pm, then the random black screen, hung at the screen for a while, then restarted. Then ran fine the rest of the night.

Speed up to this week, got the same thing yesterday. Started up, black screen, restarted, then black screen, restarted, then ran fine all day. Today, it did the same, but only went to black screen once. And it's been running fine all day since.

I've ran RAM test, I've ran a CPU test via the "ultimate boot disc", with no issues. At first I was thinking video card issues, but when the computer goes to black screen, I'm really not doing much that uses much video resources. Usually on facebook, or some other webpage. I was told it could be a power supply issue. The only additional thing I've added to my computer is a wireless card. Nothing else. I'm stumped at this point. Any ideas guys?

If the link doesn't work, here's the specs:
Base processor
Athlon 64 X2 (W) 6000+ 3.0 GHz (89W)

*
2000 MT/s (mega transfers/second)
*
Socket AM2

Chipset
GeForce 6150SE nForce 430
Motherboard

*
Manufacturer: ECS
*
Motherboard Name: MCP61PM-HM
*
HP/Compaq motherboard name: Nettle2-GL8E
Memory
Component Attributes
Memory Installed 3 GB
Maximum allowed 8 GB (4 x 2 GB) (64-bit OS)

4 GB* (4 x 1 GB) (32-bit OS)

*Actual available memory may be less
Speed supported PC2-5300 MB/sec
Type 240 pin, DDR2 SDRAM
Hard drive

*
500 GB SATA 3G (3.0 Gb/sec)
*
7200 rpm

16X DVD(+/-)R/RW 12X RAM (+/-)R DL LightScribe SATA drive

* Must use Double-Layer media discs in order to take advantage of the DL technology
* Must use LightScribe-enabled media discs and supporting software in order to take advantage of the LightScribe technology

Function Maximum speed
DVD-RAM Up to 12X
DVD-R DL Write Once Up to 8X
DVD+R DL Write Once Up to 8X
DVD+R Write Once Up to 16X
DVD+RW Rewritable Up to 8X
DVD-R Write Once Up to 16X
DVD-RW Rewritable Up to 6X
DVD ROM Read Up to 16X
CD-R Write Once Up to 40X
CD-RW Rewritable Up to 32X
CD-ROM Read Up to 40X
Modem
56K bps data/fax modem
Video Graphics
Integrated graphics
Television
TV tuner card with FM tuner
Sound/Audio
High Definition 8-channel audio

* ALC 888S chipset

Network (LAN)
Integrated 10/100 Base-T networking interface

[NE-Firebird]

Does the PC restart by itself?

When it hangs, if you do
CTRL+ALT+DEL
CTRL+ALT+DEL
CTRL+ALT+DEL
CTRL+ALT+DEL

(4 times to be sure)
Will the PC reboot?

When the PC reboots, do you get an improper shutdown message, and Vista does a disk scan?

Do a full disk scan to be sure that it's not a disk file problem.

Also, check out:
http://articles.techrepublic.com.com...1-6108150.html

[tnthub]

Have you examined the event logs? I would do that and look especially for the red splats and see if they coincide with the black screen issues...

Check your power settings and disable hibernation.

I had a Dell desktop last week that would randomly "shut down" according to the customer, and disabling hibernation cured the problem (which really wasn't a problem)...

You may want to check the HP site for machine specific updates and/or service packs.

[Black_Z28]

After the black screen goes away, the computer will restart on it's own. It will go through it's improper shutdown procedures. What's weird, is sometimes I will get the black screen, and sometimes I will get the BSOD.

I did a disk check, and all is well with the HD.

I do not have any power settings turned on other then to shut the monitor off after 10 minutes.

I did go to the HP site to look for a BIOS update for my MB, and found one, but it won't let me install it, which is also pretty irritating. Because my roommate was having similar shut down issues, and a BIOS update seemed to fix it.

I have looked at the event logs, and haven't really found too much out. I googled most of my error codes, and all I found where people that had similar problems. I did some of the things they did to correct it, but with no success.

[redls1]

Bad memory could cause things, whats the BSOD you get?

[shady milkman]

i would assume with you getting a bsod etc look into the drivers ......the black screen is odd tho..as is the random restarting..id go with what tnt said..see if the logs and bitching..if not then uninstall the wireless card and see if that takes care of the restarting and black screen...if not i feel as if it could be memory related