Computer Suddenly Turning Off - Well it seems my computer doesn't like me. Sad huh?

KDEWolf

Aug 15 2006, 10:18 PM

My computer has been acting in a weird way for some time, and I don't remember doing anything that could cause this hardware-wise. I'll try to describe it:
After some time powered on, the system suddenly *poof* shuts down in a harsh way. I press the Power button but it doesn't turn on. Then, I remove the power cable from it's back, wait for some hour(s) and turn it on ok, until it turns off again. I'd risk also to say that the 'uptime' I get after a shutdown is somehow proportional to the time I left the power cable off it.

Some would say it's overheating, but I don't think so, since it has a nice cooling and it didn't change from some time to now. I (just wonder, no clue) think it could be some voltage issue, some hard disk problem, power cable issue, possibly some wire overheating (!?!), maybe too many devices connected to the power socket. Could his be caused by any BIOS configuration? By the way, it's running with no memory or processor overclock.

Someone people give me a light, or suggest some expert forums I could post my issue on.
Until the next shutdown, see you.

xboxrulz

Aug 16 2006, 01:38 AM

ummm... can you post us your computer's specification, especially the voltage that your country's electricity grid uses (ex: 120V in North America and 220V in Hong Kong). Also, can you give us the voltage of your Power Supply Unit?

Furthermore, can you provide what operating system you're running on?

xboxrulz

KDEWolf

Aug 16 2006, 02:56 AM

QUOTE(xboxrulz @ Aug 15 2006, 10:38 PM)

I'm running Windows XP PRO Enterprise in US English

PC Specs.:
Pentium 4 - 2.8GHz
512Mb DDR Ram (No idea of brand)
Seagate 80Gb - 2 Partitions (C: - 30Gb Windows Install) + (D: - 50Gb Storage)
Geforce2 MX 100/200 64Mb
Common peripherals, like PS2 Optical mouse and Multimedia keyboard, USB Creative labs webcam, Epson printer...

Here in Brazil we use 110V voltage, and my Power supply is 110-127V 200W.

Today I'm running it for hours and had no power down (yet). Am I on drugs or is there a possibility of accessing some bad clusters on my HD for example, be causing the shutdown? Because it usually happens when I'm running several programs that run using my D: partition, like Winamp and musics, Photoshop files, games. Today I kept computer use basically on C: partition (Firefox, IM program, downloaded files, System files) and didn't happen. Would that be possible? I mean, damaged clusters would have the power to shut a computer down suddenly?

Thanks anyway for the interest, xboxrulz.

HellFire121

Aug 16 2006, 05:49 AM

I've had this a few times but i just need to unplug the power cable and plug it back in again.
It sounds like a power supply issue, you might want to check if there is any visible problems with your power supply. When this was happening to my old computer it might have been because around the internal vents there was a burn (looks kind of like rust).
I doubt it is a software problem. If you can try another PSU and it still doesn't work it might be a motherboard or overheating problem.
Other than that i'm not sure

-HellFire

dhanesh

Aug 16 2006, 07:14 AM

Try a suggestion .. Use a Voltage Regulator .. or a SpikeGuard ... If you connected many plugs into an extension try replacing it with what i mentioned .. Voltage ups and downs can also cause shutdowns.

Fans May / may not help .. but its always better to replace your CPU fan every year and add an extra at the back vent.

Now you mentioned you had a 80GB HDD .. is it like 40+40 or a full 80 .. Here is the scene, if you have 40+40 and 2 CDRom drives you need to increase your Powersupply to 420w .. but if you have 80 and 2 CDrom drives then its not necessary .. I might not be that good of an explainer but its something like this :

2 HDD + 2 CD Roms = Increase powersupply + Fans
1 HDD + 2 CD Roms = No Change
2 HDD + 1 CD Roms = No Change

Atleast thats how my problem of restarting solved. Hope this helped.

Regards
Dhanesh.

justme

Aug 16 2006, 11:04 AM

i guess about these:
1-maybe your fan problem ( it dosent work properly)
2-or maybe there is connection betwin your motherboard and case body ( if your pc crach for minutes this one is your problem surely)

vhortex

Aug 16 2006, 11:38 AM

do the computer beeps when it shutdown and open again?

sometimes a bad memory module is causing this and most people do the the worst case scenarion problem solving..

As far as I am concern, the programs that you said that runs in your drive C: are not memory intensive programs so you will mostly hit the bad memory location less. While using the more memory intensive programs on Drive D wil end you up hitting that location more often and the shutdown more often..

The one that wont allow you to open again is BIOS issuing a POST faillure response.. POST is the checking done by the BIOS to ensure that all devices are working properly before letting the system boot up..

dhanesh

Aug 16 2006, 11:52 AM

QUOTE(vhortex @ Aug 16 2006, 03:38 PM)

POST is the checking done by the BIOS to ensure that all devices are working properly before letting the system boot up..

POST - Power On Self Test .. yeeeiiiiii .. i remember .. i bet my proff would be happy to know this after the time a gave my viva in 10th saying POST was something to do with emails

Regards
Dhanesh.

vhortex

Aug 16 2006, 12:20 PM

QUOTE(dhanesh @ Aug 16 2006, 07:52 PM)

POST - Power On Self Test .. yeeeiiiiii .. i remember .. i bet my proff would be happy to know this after the time a gave my viva in 10th saying POST was something to do with emails

Regards
Dhanesh.

I hope it was called PRE..
POST means only one thing here.. that is after..

Gives most of my old schoolmates why the word POST meaning after be use as term when you are actually opening the computer..

[Procedural Reliability Examination] PRE

---------------------

People with lots of time to waste a lot of time for nonsense..

---------------------

On the topic.. Please check the beeps..
If the unit beeps there was a problem..

lonebyrd

Aug 16 2006, 02:24 PM

My computer was doing the exact same thing. Thought it was a virus issue at first, but checked and couldn't find anything. I changed the power supply, and it did fine for a while, but sometimes it did anyway, then it shut down again. I never could figure out what was wrong with it. Now it is sitting in the back room collecting dust because it was about 4 years old, so I just bought a better computer.

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Atomic0

Jul 26 2008, 04:12 AM

I remember having a problem with my new computer before I even got to take it home from my local computer store. Apparently, the newly installed fan at the front of my computer case jammed the power button (i.e. kept the power button pressed continually) causing the motherboard to shut down every time the computer was started. It took a long while after numerous disassembling of the computer that we realised that the fan had jammed the power button, plus we originally thought the problem was with the motherboard since the diagnostic lights were showing red.

skoricd

Jul 20 2008, 10:56 PM

I would guess that it is a power suply issue, also check if it feels real hot, that could be a sign of over heating but otherwise maybe a new one would help lots???? possibly.... other than that you can alwaysd have your computer looked at by a pro, I had mine fixed when the fan inside the power supply fan stopped spinning causing it to shut down for a few hours until it cooled off inside......

iGuest

Jul 15 2008, 06:58 AM

laptop TURNING OFF/ RAM/POWER ISSUES
Computer Suddenly Turning Off

If a "Kr" sound is what you heard then your RAM is most probably what caused the problem. Try taking your RAM, cleaning the contacts with a clean fibreless cloth. Try blowing dust out of the RAM sockets as well. I had the same problem. Doing this worked for me.

and as far as power supply issues are concerned I wud go for the dust theory...ALSO...CHECK FOR A FAULTY POWER CABLE FROM YOUR SUPPLY. AT TIMES THE SLIGHTEST OF NUDGES OR DRAFTS CAN CAUSE A FAULTY WIRE TO CAUSE THE PC TO SHUT DOWN. I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. THOUGH MOVING THT EXACT CABLE AGAIN SOLVED THE PROBLEM EACH TIME.

iGuest

Jul 3 2008, 10:05 PM

Too much dust in CPU
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It IS overheating, but not because the fan doesn't work. I think it has too much dust near the CPU and doesnt cool down enough. Try opening it, and with an air blower, blow the dust away, and turn it on again.
BTW, this happend to me, and the dust was the problem

-reply by Alfredo

iGuest

May 26 2008, 02:28 PM

PC SHUTS DOWN
Computer Suddenly Turning Off

Ive had my pc for almost 4 years now and at the start was working brilliant.My pc is from aldi superstore.It has been switching off on it's own for some time now.Before it was doing it regular so I contacted medion who sent an ( expert ) who replaced the power supply a new graphics card and new motherboard.It took him a while to get the pc to boot but eventually everything was as normal and no shutting down.Now I have tried to burn discs and it gets to about 30% then the pc shuts down.Sometimes playing games it shuts off and looking at video on intenet.This is guiding me to either overheating which I do not know what to do or the graphics card or finally something wrong with the processor.Other ideas I have had are too many plugs in one circuit breaker,memory cards not fast enough only have 512mb ram.Please can someone help

-reply by john mccomiskie

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