System suddenly stops with no error message

Question

System: OptiPlex GX270
Service Tag: CRRH741

Ever since I installed another SATA II HD (Western Digital) and re-installed Windows XP (SP2) on that new drive, my system will occasionally just quit without any errors or warnings.

Symptoms when this occurs:
-Monitor goes to sleep
-HD activity light is on solid
-Indicator lights on the back of the unit are all off
-The system is still powered on, and I can hear the fans going but I don't hear any HD activity.
-The system must be manually powered off to reboot by holding the power button.

The only other clue that I can think of is that (I think) it only occurs when Outlook 2002 is running. I can consistently cause it to happen by remote controlling the computer via Remote Desktop and using Outlook for 1-5 minutes.

I'll try some diagnostics on the Western Digital drive, but I'm not convinced that it could be the culprit.

Any help suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Lehman's System Admin

Message Edited by LehmansInKidron on 03-15-2006 08:07 AM

Irish2005 · Answer

Have you taken a look at the motherboard and seen if any of the capasitors are expanding or gushing out some liquid?

LehmansInKidron · Answer

I'll try checking the capacitors next.

Here is what else I've tried, which didn't help...

- Removed the latest NVidia drivers and installed an older version of the video drivers (from the Dell drivers disk that came with the system, I think)
- Turned off themes
- Ran Western Digital diagnostics, which showed no problems with the new hard disk
- Set the video acceleration to the lowest setting

It has now also happened while sitting at the console, and also while remote controlling the computer and Outlook was not running.

I'm going to call Dell when I get back in the office this morning, after checking for bad caps.

patrickacox · Answer

glad you figured it out. I have replaced so many motherboard in the 270's I almost have nightmares at night about them. LOL   95% of any problems with our 270s are capacitor related.

LehmansInKidron · Answer

Thanks for the tip. I checked the mobo just now and did find two capacitors that are bulging, both marked with an X on top. One is labeled C259 on the mobo.

I'm going to work on contacting Dell about this right now.

Thanks again for your help Irish2005. I'd be pulling my hair out right now if it were not for your suggestion!

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System suddenly stops with no error message

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