Computer Hope
Hardware => Hardware => Topic started by: BCrolius on August 20, 2008, 10:32:33 PM
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I have had this computer for 2 years, and it has been through alot.
I dont know what brand it is. i think Microtel or something. But for the past month it has been shutting off after a few minutes of use.
when i open my documents or itunes or anything, the CPU usage meter on task manager redlines at 100%.
i thought it was the power supply, so yesterday i put a new one in, and my computer still turns off for no reason.
i cant even perform simple things on it... it just shuts off if i try to play a game...
I dont know that much about computers. but my computer is also experiancing memory loss...
my display memory is half of what it was, my regular memory is at 224.6 it was 500 something last year.
the problems could be related... but im not sure if its the motherboard, or what..
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Any ideas what you did before it?
What Operating System is this?
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ok.. operating system... um...
it uses microsoft xp home edition..
it is not connected to the internet, and hasnt been for over a year. so its probably not a virus..
and i dont do much on it, just play games and music.
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I would try a System Restore first of all.
Restore the computer to a few days before it happened.
More info on System Restore here:
http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000589.htm
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it shuts off before i can do that.
the average time it stays on is 2-3 minutes.
i dont know enough about computers to really use technical terms for things... but, if i open my computer and click on control panel, the computer shuts down... if i open the start up menu, and click on anything, it shuts down...
and if i try to turn it back on, i need to unplug it, flip the switch on the back a few times and then turn it on.
system restore isnt really an option.
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What about in Safe Mode (http://www.computerhope.com/issues/chsafe.htm)?
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there is no safe mode... i went into the options when it was rebooting.. and the only option was start windows normally... is it possible that safe mode was removed from my computer or it came without the option?
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I don't think that is possible.
Are you sure you're doing it correctly? Did you keep pressing F8 when you press the power button?
Also, do you have the Windows CD handy?
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oh... continually press f8... got it.
ok. i just got into safe mode. but that didnt help much. it locked up.. it brought down lists of drivers and stopped at system32/drivers/mup.sys
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It should stop there for a few minutes.
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ok. that seemed to work, it started in safe mode, i went into system restore and the most far back i can go is last week, it wont let me restore before that point.
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So you managed to restore? Any luck?
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sorry it took so long to get this reply in. no, it did not work.. it still turns off without warning. and ive tried it a few times... it stayed on for a few hours after, i thought it was working, but it turned off again.
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Ok, in Safe Mode, does it turn off.
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Yes. it turns off, even when in safe mode.
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How are the temperatures?
Download Speed Fan (http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php).
When you install it, run it and post the temperatures it shows.
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heres info it gave me:
Fan is running at: 2557 RPM
Temp1: 36c
temp2: 52c
HD0:38c
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They aren't that bad.
I suggest putting an external house fan and face it at the computer.
See if that lowers the temperatures down and keeps the computer on longer.
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alright
what would normal, computer temperatures be?
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My Laptop idles at around 50*C.
Your temps aren't that high but I just to make sure your problem isn't heat related.
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the temps actually rose..
38c
56c
40c
after being on a few minutes..
hasnt turned off yet.
ill give it some time and let you know later if it helped.
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If it rose, that means your computer is heating up fast, which is probably why it is shutting down.
Lets see what happens. Keep your eye on the temperatures. ;)
If you want, remove the fan and see what temperatures it goes up to and when it shuts down.
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Borrow a working PSU of the same wattage or greater and swap it in there overnite...
If the shutdowns stop replace the PSU...
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on SpeedFan when temperature 2 gets to 70c it shuts off..
the temp started rising really quickly after being on for a little while
it jumped from 52 to 70 in just over 15 minutes.
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That seems to be the problem then...
Is that with the external fan or not?
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with.
it heats up fast either way, the fan doesnt seem to make much of a difference
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I can't believe it's rising so fast and so high. :o
I think you will have to check to make sure all your computer is free of dust and it's not facing a wall or anything.
Also check the heatsink and make sure it's properly seated.
This is a recent issue, am I correct?