Computer Randomly Turns Off

[David K]

Recently my computer has started having problems, sometimes it has trouble booting up (it will get almost booted and then restart for no reason) and other times I will just be on my computer and have it click off suddenly. My power cable is connected and isn't loose, so it's not that. I'm not sure if it is the power supply or the fan (comp temp get to high and then click off) or some other problem I'm unaware of, but I would hate to have to replace everything before I found out. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

[merlin_2]

boot to safe mode hold down the the f8 key on boot and then try this>>control panel/system/advanced/settings <startup / recovery>/system failure/uncheck the automatically restart feature  i take it its winxp??

[David K]

correct, it is winxp, i will give that a try, thanks

[dl65]

David K.....Are you certain you dont have a virus causing the problems ?  You do have a good updated anti virus installed dont you .

let us know
dl65  

[Flame]

Well, I just got over a similar problem.... Have you installed any new hardware lately?

[glb]Flame[/glb]

[David K]

it could be a virus, but i have the new avg 7.0 antivirus, so i assume i'm clean. and yes, i have installed new hardware recently. i just got a new soundcard two weeks ago and a new video card a few months ago, i've had a second external hard drive for a while.

[Computer_Commando]

Sure sounds like hardware.  Is external hard drive powered from computer or does it have it's own power supply?  Could be new sound card.  Maybe computer power supply is pushed to the edge of its limits.

[David K]

external has it's own supply, it's powered by cord, but i never thought about all this crap being too much for the power supply... are they difficult to install, i may look at getting a new one...

[Computer_Commando]

I had a computer do this.  It turned out to be an intermittent short on a hi-power sound card.  Power supplies are short circuit protected, so what looks like a power supply problem could be something else.  Put your old sound card and old video card back in and see if problem goes away.

[David K]

well, i don't have the old video card anymore, but the old sound card is built into my computer. i checked out my power supply though and it is only 185 watt, which my friend said sounded kind of low, especially for the stuff i've hooked up.

[dl65]

well, i don't have the old video card anymore, but the old sound card is built into my computer. i checked out my power supply though and it is only 185 watt, which my friend said sounded kind of low, especially for the stuff i've hooked up.

By jove.......I think youv'e hit the nail on the head .
.....185 watt sounds a wee bit small , especially if you have added hardware ......I'd be looking at about 350 watts.
let us know how you make out .

dl65

[compEngineer0]

cool, thanks for all your help, i'm going to best buy today

[compEngineer0]

by the way, you don't think i could have damaged anything while running that low of a power supply do you? everything appeared like it was running normally

[Pipo-X]

I think I have the same problem too... I have a 430W power supply and my computer worked fine before I instaled my new 200gig hard drive and my ATI RAdeon 256 ddr AGP... when I run too much programs, it sounds like it will reboot but no... it continues running (it does the SAME sound as when  the computer reboots ou shuts down) but slows everything and eventually will freeze the computer... that's waht I now have in my case with a 430W power supply:

2.8 ghz Intel Pentium 4 processeur
ASUS P4P800 motherboard
1 gig RAM Kingston 400 mhz DDR (2 x 512)
ATI Radeon 9550 256 meg DDR AGP
Creative sound blaster 5
Western digital 120gig
Western digital 200gig
Maxtor 40 gig
Floppy
LG DVD writer super multi
firewire card pinnacle
430W power supply
and 3 auxiliary fans on case

maybe it's my video card that's not compatible with the motherboard.... *censored* computers!!!

[Pipo-X]

Also, when I boot, it never been so long to pass the drive detect. And I just remembered, the problem started with my DVD drive that could not be opened, had to push the reset button of the drive... I just want to be sure that it is the power supply before buying something else... because I changed the DVD drive thinking it was th eproblem and with the new one it continued... I unplugged a fan and those silly neon lights and the drive worked fine but problems continue to occured so I unplugged the 200 gig drive and the computer went better but still not working as supposed to... when I more than one program at a time it slows down or even freezes... with that weird sound that sounds like a reboot or shut down sound....I have a great computer acting as an old crappy 486

[Pipo-X]

ok welll, I just lost contact with my 40 gig maxtor... someone told me these hd were  not good and causing problems...maybe that's the problem...I'll try to unplug it and see... I have such a hard time with computers.....

[Dr Wahab]

Hello, how are  you? First of all try the suggestion of "merlin_2". I hope that will solve your problem otherwise if it doesn't then do the following:
Uncover your CPU and turn your PC "ON". Check the CPU fan if it is working. If it does not, replace or repair it. If it is working properly then turn your PC "OFF" and take the CPU fan out with CARE. Remove the dust and clean it with pressured air. Next take out the PROCESSOR with high care. Be sure to open the lock or clip presend very close to the PROCESSOR slot. To open the lock, press the clip down, then little outward(opposite to the PROCESSOR) and then upward. After taking it out clean the dust from the PROCESSOR slot with presured air. After cleaning it. put the PROCESSOR again into its slot same as it was and then lock the clip in the same manner. Be sure to note the position of PROCESSOR before taking it out, if you are new to this operation. Then place the CPU fan and connect its power wire. Turn your PC "ON" and enjoy....
I hope that it will solve your problem. Take care of you and others and be happy. Also try to make your room temperature normal for your PC.

De.wahab
Bye...

[Pipo-X]

Well, my CPU seems fine but when I unplugged my HD, one of my fans was resurected!!! PLus, when I rebooted, I had a disk check made by windows because there was a integrity problem with the HD... I went in windows, backuped my data on my other HD and unplugged the drive... but I still think that I need more power