Computer Turns Off -=Resolved=-

Hi,

I have a weird problem with my comp and I had it for a while now. It tends to turn itself off for some reason. I can't find what's exactly causing it but it's mostly likely the CD Rom Drive, The sound speaker or the sound card.

Does anyone else have a similiar problem? To get my computer working again I have to unplug the main power cord, unplug the computer, then plug the computer again and then plug the power cord in. A very uncomfortable procedure which requires me to go under the desk every time the computer turns off :(

Thanks for any help :D

you could run a series of tests .. unplug the CDROM and leave the computer on overnight to see if it is powered down the next day.

Of course if your Power Supply is at fault and failing at a certain load, a test like that could be misleading.

Intermittent problems really suck dont they?

The problem is not a power supply. I also had the computer taken to a professional but he couldn't figure it out :P

BTW it sometimes turns off if i shake it or kick the lower desk stand.

Replace the hard drive in another computer with the one in yours, and see if that crashes the other system

If you're on XP (and this has been a problem for others), there's a checkbox, somewhere, that says 'shutdown on error' or something. Uncheck it, and maybe it's solved. But if you're on a different OS, there may actually be something wrong :p :D

Maybe it's overheating and the motherboard is protecting the CPU by cutting the power.

Quote:

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Originally posted by parksie
Maybe it's overheating and the motherboard is protecting the CPU by cutting the power.

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That's what I'd suggest.

But the shaking presents a new problem, I'd check the power connector to the MB. Also, look for bare wires, check for the MB touching the base, or mounts.

Possibly, an expansion card is loose.

As someone has mentioned, possibly the HD platters are loose, but that wouldn't seem to crash the system. Freeze is most likely that result.

Check your LEDs and other wires(power/reset) wires going to your MB.

Is this a factory built machine? what brand?

It isn't a factory built machine - a proffesional company upgraded it and then it started doing this.

I am on Win98 :p and i dont' have "Shutdown on Error"

Weird Stuff :confused:

Check that your cables are in right, and there not being pulled out by other cables.


Other wise, try Dig's solutions :)

What upgrades did they make?

Upgrades:

New HDD, 233 to 533 Mhz, added 96 mb more ram, new Video Card, New Monitor, New Motherboard, CD Burner.

Pretty much a new computer.

The IDE cables are fine.

I suspect that there is a crack inside some card.

Some motherboards have a problem that the chipset overheats. You can try and put a fan or heatsink on your chipset.

How does it turn of? Is it just *Klunk* and the power is offline, or do you first get the "Windows is shutting down" screen? 'Cause if it's the latter, it could be some software forcing a shutdown.

My computer just turns. No shutdown screen, nothing

Sorry, whats a chipset? Sorry, i am not good with hardware. I have an extra fan through.

Have you made sure there are no loose components?

The 'hit and crash' problem would indicate something's loose.

Check your RAM, make sure it's pushed all the way in and locked securely.

So all the lights go out on system unit?

Yes, all the lights go out. Also, the computer has to be replugged in order to get working again.

The ram is fine.

I suspect that one of the component has a crack or a mis-contact inside it, especially I am looking at speakers that make weird sounds sometimes and CD-RW drive, which has problems with some of the CD's (turns off during read). These are the major causes but I suspect that both of them affect something else, like the motherboard? the CPU? etc.

Mystical Problem :(

I wouldnt be so quick to discount the PS as the potential culprit ... maybe the box got upgraded past the PS capability.

Quote:

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Originally posted by made_of_asp
The problem is not a power supply. I also had the computer taken to a professional but he couldn't figure it out :P

BTW it sometimes turns off if i shake it or kick the lower desk stand.

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How do you know its not the Power Supply? What is your PS rated 300watt?

In the past problems like this have always been related to the power supply, either being just poorly built or too weak.

I'm with Muddy on this one, I mean can a bluesman be wrong.

Try replacing the power cord.

Your symptoms suggest a short circuit. (if your power supply checks out)
especially the part about kicking the stand.

it is probably where the cord plugs intot the back of the computer,
and when you
unplug/plug it makes contact again.

I would suggest replacing the power supply, cord and where the cord plugs into it. ( I think that's all included, but I've never replaced one)

Just my $0.02

Like I said before, move the hard drive into a different computer.
Then you can tell for sure whether its the harddrive/OS/applications or the rest of the hardware...

Thanks for the idea.

By the way my power supply is inserted Upside Down comparing to other computers. Maybe this has to do something witih it.

Thanks for the HDD idea, but I can't try that now because I can't screw the Hard Drive out of the slot.

My computer probably sounds really weird :eek:

You sure its not just going into sleep mode (Not suspend, sleep all the lights and power supply fan turn off).

The chipset controls a lot of things. Its slightly smaller than a cpu but generally has no fans/heatsinks connected. I think they only started bringing those out with the p4's. It should be easy to spot, a big square piece of silicon that will be revealed.

Other things:
What Processor did you buy AMD, INTEL?
What motherboard did you buy? Exact model

I don't think a cdrom drive would cause a shutdown. Neither should speakers.

The fact that you have to reconnect the p/s strongly suggests that your motherboard is refusing to power up. Pulling the power cord would reset the board. Hence my first question. If this is not the case, then as mose have already said, it is either your p/s or your cable

Motherboards have had chipsets since forever. They control all the peripheral interfaces like ISA/VLB/PCI/AGP slots, serial ports, IDE, whatever.

Was talking about fans and stuff for chipsets. They only really needed them for the high bus speeds achieved lately, but I have seen a few AMD and cheaper boards bomb out because there chipsets overheat

If your OS in Windows XP Home / Pro or Whistler Build 2296, then you will need to make sure your IDE cables are UDMA 66/100 compliant.

I had a similar problem with a customers system where at anytime, it just switches off / reboots. No beeps, no warning, nothing.

Having read your post, i wouldn't of thought it's an overheating problem. If you have a static IP / no firewall, i can check your CPU and motherboard stats whilst you are online. All i need is your IP.

Replace ALL IDE cables (not just HD) to UDMA 100/133. Make sure your HD is DMA capable and SMART Interfacing is switched off in the BIOS. It's a strange, and yet simple fault. If i hadn't investigated the fault myself, i wouldn't have believed it!

Try it... and let me know how you get on. BTW UDMA100/133 cable packs are £3.

Whilst i'm not aware of any other issues similar to this in NT/2000, i wouldn't rule out the possibility.

Regards,

Paul.

He's already said he runs Win98 SE.

LOL

Didn't spot that :rolleyes:

Call me NOOBIE from now on...

Regards,

Paul.

What kinda power supply do you have? AT Or ATX?

y cant yo remove the harddrive? If you cant bring another computer as close as possible and hook it up from there.

Remove the New Ram and play.

Shouldnt the "Professonal" company be resposable for this problem?

after reading all the replies I would suggest this...

Make sure that ur power supply has got enough power...atleast 250W...

Check all the cable and pull them out and put them back in properly and make sure that u put them tight.

Check the BIOS battery.

Check if there is a setting in BIOS which mentions auto shutdown at certain temperature.

If u think doing so will increase temperature in PC put another fan.

After doing this all start the windows in SAFE mode and disable screen saver, stand by thingy and turn of monitor setting...I mean set ur PC as its a presentation machine in power settings.

Then leave it on and see what happens.

Hope this helps.

Cheers.

Of course, you guys all know that this is a 5 month-old topic ;)

Quote:

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Originally posted by Sastraxi
Of course, you guys all know that this is a 5 month-old topic ;)

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holly molly...never knew this b4...I think someone is just playing...

I am going to upgrade PS, motherboard, CPU and RAM soon, so the problem would probably go away.

Thanks for all the replies and help through :).

Quote:

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Originally posted by made_of_asp
I am going to upgrade PS, motherboard, CPU and RAM soon, so the problem would probably go away.

Thanks for all the replies and help through :).

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welcome...

If you think that ur problem is solved then please edit ur post and put { RESOLVED } in the subject so other knows that its ok now...

Cheers...

it sounds to me like it could be your heatsink. On one of my computers I accidenatlly installed the heatsink backwards, so it wasnt making very good contact, and crashing every once in a while. Also, refusing to turn on does seem more like a power supply problem, but i have had it happen before where something shorted out, crashed my computer, and wouldnt start up for a while. I would say maybe get a better heatsink possibly or try replacing the power supply.

I had that problem too Derrick... For example, if I was encoding audio and video at the same time, the computer would immediately turn off. Too much of a CPU load at the high temperatures it was at would've damaged the core.