Computer switches off and wont restart from power switch.

[ImnoGuru]

Yep its Satans computer, The Dell from *censored*.

We have pieced it together and got it running well, you and I, and now we have
A 500 gig Sata drive
1 gig RAM
WIN XP SP3 (Clean install )
Pentium 4 Dual Core
E 210882 MOBO

So I tried to run a game to see how it goes, Sim City 3000, and it plays that game well.

The computer has developed a habit of turning itself off.
So far, it has been idle when doing so, (that I can think of.)
(I wonder if it just a hibernation setting)
Thats good enough if it just a setting, however it wont restart from the power button on the front of the computer. I have to remove the power cord and replace it to get it to start into windows again???

Being a clean install I can understand that I may not have all the settings right yet, but there is a second.. well... problem... I suppose, and that is that the computer doesnt load CD's,(Autoplay) when I put them in the drive.Music or Data.
I have to go to Start Run Browse.... etc..  to get a Cd to run.
Are these just settings that I havent personalized or do you see them as problems with the computer?
Any thoughts are welcome.
Thank you.                           

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

First of all, I would check to see if the problem is temperature related.

Download and install Speed Fan.
When you run it, post the temperature readings when the computer is idle, and when you about 10 minutes into a resource-intensive game. (Sims City would work).

I found this as well (for your CD Problem)
http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000130.htm

[ImnoGuru]

Thanks Carbon, it could be temperature related. The computer had some thermal events in the beginning. I'll try the speedfan and see what comes of it.

Ive been playing Sims for about an hour now and everything seems to be working well.

Other than these small glitches all seems to be going OK.
I'll look into the cd player part too.. TY.

Oops spoke too soon. Just stopped on me. No warning just shut down "click" No reboot.
So yes seems like thermal events are the cause.
I'll do that tommorrow  now then.

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

Also, you can confirm this theory if you open up the case and place an external house-fan next to the computer to keep it cool.

[ImnoGuru]

The heat sink doesnt seem to be very hot. I think I'll run the comp with the fan shroud off to see how long it lasts. I might as well get some goo for the chip tommorrow as well.

Another thing How do I get rid of the log on window at start up please?

Yes I did that during the build and had no turn off events, and this time the computer wasnt idle when it shut down I had just taken a short break off the game to post here when it shut down.

[Carbon Dudeoxide]

I found this for your logon screen issue:
http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/article04-103

[ImnoGuru]

Im in the edit file type and it has &Play in the box, should I change then?

[ImnoGuru]

Ouch she's real hot this time.
I'll get the goo and check the fan speed.
Gnight.

[patio]

Did you not use Thermal paste when building this  ? ?
I thought we had that covered...
Also did you re-use a PSU ? ?
If so what brand and how many watts is it ? ?

[ImnoGuru]

Yes we covered this part but No I didnt use any new paste I couldnt get the heat sink off. I was applying a LOT of pressure to the clip area and didnt want to break anything.

The PSU seems to be the original Dell build HP-P2507FW... Max output 250 watt it has Dell sticker on everything including the PSU.

This computer was built in 2004 yet when I go to the DELL website they dont like my service tag number. However this computer was given to me from a business that replaced their system. So I have no Idea of its history sorry.
The computer was a more modern faster bigger.... so on from my old and trusty... Oh yeah and it was free.. So greed got the better of me and I wanted to use it.

[patio]

Since you have upgraded and added components you are most likely under-powered...
But you will need to replace that PSU with a DELL psu...
WARNING ! !: Using another brand may fry major components you have spent hard earned money on
You've been warned.

[ImnoGuru]

Do you think the hard drive and the cd player is going to increase the power useage?
I'll have to look into that then and see if I can get a Dell power unit. Thanks. I would never have thought of that.