Dell Optiplex GX520 keeps shutting off and restarting, over and over again

[shashgo]

Help,

Ive got a dell optiplex gx520 that suddenly just shut down when I clicked on a shortcut on my desktop, and now it just powers off, the on, gets to the dell logo screen, then powers off and back on.  It repeats this again and again, and I dont know know why?  I cant even get to safe mode to try to restore the computer to before when the problem started.  How do I fix this?

[patio]

Most likely over-heating...
When's the last time you opened it and did some housekeeping ?

[shekharsh.india]

Try disabling automatic restart in Advance Boot Menu.

[shashgo]

patio,

I had replaced the thermal grease about 4 days ago. But this problem started just now.  Do you think it still has to do with not enough grease between the CPU/heatsink?  Is Arctic 5 ceramique a good thermal compound?

shekarsh:

From one shashank to another, yup thats my name too.  How do I get to the advanced menu if the computer never boots up.  Do you mean the BIOS menu by pressing F2?

[Computer_Commando]

Just worked on one of those the other day.  Very odd machine, mirrored motherboard on opposite side of case, i.e. right side comes off, instead of left side.  First one I ever saw like that.  Heat sink is huge, fan is mounted in separate air duct, but large & very quiet, spins slowly.  If fan is not spinning, it probably won't turn on.

[shashgo]

The fans work, and everything seems to be okay.  So I guess the only thing that can be singled out is overheating caused by insufficient thermal paste.  I think that is the reason because even though I put enough paste on there, it seems that the paste is kinda dried out and is not a very free flowing paste but is kind of like dried toothpaste.  Its not taotally dry but it doesnt dlow as smoothly as when I first bought it
Ill see if I can get some new paste

[patio]

Too much can be just as bad as not enough...

Thermal Paste Guide

Best instructions i've seen...

[shashgo]

patio:

of all the arctic thermal pastes which ones are good or which one is good.  How would you compare the ceramique2 to the silver5

[Computer_Commando]

Just worked on one of those the other day.  Very odd machine, mirrored motherboard on opposite side of case, i.e. right side comes off, instead of left side.  First one I ever saw like that.  Heat sink is huge, fan is mounted in separate air duct, but large & very quiet, spins slowly.  If fan is not spinning, it probably won't turn on.

BTW, it's a modified BTX motherboard & case.

[patio]

patio:

of all the arctic thermal pastes which ones are good or which one is good.  How would you compare the ceramique2 to the silver5

All of their products are good...just depends on what you want to spend...

[bacon buttie]

Check the capacitors on the MOBO..

If the tops are bulging or there is a brownish discharge from them then they are no good, this will cause the restart problem.

[mjarju]

Sometimes either you or someone has messed with your computer and changed where it boots from. A scenario like what you have described happens when your computer tries to boot from your a CD which is not in there. So what you need to do is

1. Turn on your computer and as soon as it starts to boot, hit F2 to enter setup.

2. While there look for boot sequence and look at where your PC boots from

3. If it is booting form CD Rom, make sure you change that to Drive C.

4. You should be able to resolve the situation using this method if that is what is wrong.

I do not think it is overheating as if that is the case, it won't be starting over and over. It will just shut off to protect some of the devices from frying. Hope the above helps out. If not let me know and I will give you more detail.

[patio]

You have mis-diagnosed the issue...it's not a bootup problem.