Please help comp restarting

[brightgreen]

I bought a barebones set from tiger direct for my MOTHER-IN-LAW. After putting it all together the computer will restart when it tries to open windows. It first was doing it when trying to boot from windows install. So I installed windows using my PC.
Now it’s restating before windows loads. It is flickering(for a micro-second) the blue windows screen that tells you it is shutting down your computer to prevent damage, right before it restarts.
Items of note:
It’s an Athlon 3000, however it is saying it’s running at 1733 MHz on the memory testing screen. Also on the memory testing screen it say (secondary IDE channel no 80 conductor cable installed)
Also I don’t think the processor is overheating. It’s running at 160 F.
Any ideas?

It’s running XP home

 

[robina_80]

hard drive or memory id say hard drive

 

[brightgreen]

I don't think it's the hard drive because it works on my PC

 

[brightgreen]

I also just ruled out memory by taking a stick of mine and replacing it with the problem PC. It still restarted

 

[Johnnyboy0056]

160 degrees F?!?!! I think ur processor is running hot hot hot. u better check the ventilation and is that cpu fan even spinning???? the comp is shutting down to prevent you from toasting that cpu. it may be too late. do u have another processor u can test. 160 degrees....wow....mnormally processors run at about 95- 100 degrees Farenheit....especially if all the comp is doing is booting up. Id say this is your problem FOR SURE.

 

[brightgreen]

I don't have another processor to test(i'm not putting mine in their) however I am using the fan that came with the processor yes it is spinning and the mother board is set to turn off the computer if the processor gets to 190 F. I hope it's not the processor because the wrapping said no returns after it's open

 

[Johnnyboy0056]

what about the voltage shutdown prevention? what is that set to?

 

[Trizoy]

Do you have the thermal paste on there? The grey stuff? Looks like silly putty?

 

[Praetor]

It’s an Athlon 3000, however it is saying it’s running at 1733 MHz on the memory testing screen

Change the core/FSB speed (from within BIOS) from 133 to 166

Also on the memory testing screen it say (secondary IDE channel no 80 conductor cable installed)

That just means your HDD is limited to a ATA33 spec rather than the newer ATA66/ATA100/ATA133 spec... get a 80-wire harddrive cable from any local computer store (either free or less than $5)

Also I don’t think the processor is overheating. It’s running at 160 F.

It's overheating. Quite badly. Do you have a fan on that? Is it bolted down properly? Is there thermal paste? Too much? Thermalpaste + thermalpad?