I need help with my computer

[warcraft2007]

My old computer isnt working.

I  turn the system on and it works. so then once it loads up windows it shuts down and then turns right back on with out me doing anything.

and it does it everytime. what should i do to keep it from turning off as soon as it loads windows.

[Jess607]

Re-install Windows.

[warcraft2007]

i put the disc in and it restarts b4 it reads it

[Jess607]

What is the error message?

[warcraft2007]

how do i get to the  bios?

isnt it the thing that first pops up and says hit like f12.

if it is it only apears for like half a second and i dont have time to hit it. is there any other way to access it?

[Jess607]

No, you have to push the "Delete" (DEL) button at the first screen, which should last a good few seconds.

[quaxo]

No, you have to push the "Delete" (DEL) button at the first screen, which should last a good few seconds.

The key to access the BIOS depends on the manufacturer of the board. It is not always 'del'.

[Jess607]

No, you have to push the "Delete" (DEL) button at the first screen, which should last a good few seconds.

The key to access the BIOS depends on the manufacturer of the board. It is not always 'del'.

True. Thank you for correcting me.
In any case, the first screen shall post directions on what key you must press in order to reach the BIOS page.

[Calum]

how do i get to the  bios?

isnt it the thing that first pops up and says hit like f12.

if it is it only apears for like half a second and i dont have time to hit it. is there any other way to access it?

It quite possible is that key.
You want to know what I do when I don't know what key I need to press?
Either look it up, or madly hit F1, F2, F10, F11, F12, Delete and Escape.
If that doesn't work, I reboot and try other keys like Ctrl+Alt+Escape.
It may not be an elegant solution, but it does work.

[WillyW]

...In any case, the first screen shall post directions on what key you must press in order to reach the BIOS page.

Unless said display has already been defeated in CMOS.

[GX1_Man]

Why don't we start with some facts, as we have guessed all over about the BIOS even though it is unlikely that the problem will be found there? 

Computer make and model number? (Or motherboard if not a brand name system)

Age of the system?

Make wattage and age of the power supply? (It's on the side of it.)

Open the case and see if the CPU fan is turning when you press the ON button.

All details of what happened prior to the problem.

Version of Windows being used?

Etc.?

[warcraft2007]

it is a ibm. i bought it from a guy and i dont know how old it is. i guess like 3-5 years.
its using windows melnium. 150w power supply. heres what when i got the computer it had windows melinium installed on it so i installed xp. then i worked fine for about 6 months then randomly it would just restart. so then i poped in the recovery disk wich reloaded malinium and now as soon as it starts up it restarts.

oh and the cpu fan does spin.

[patio]

It's older than 3 to 5 years if it was running WinME...
DLoad and run Everest Home and post the computer summary info...

[GX1_Man]

It sounds like about a Pentium 3, probably a 500 - 800. Those IBM PSU's do last a long time but not forever. Have you done ANY work inside the case? Does the CPU have a fan or just a heatsink?

You can google for Everest Home or click here:

http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4181.html

[quaxo]

150w power supply.

Make sure you're not over the PSU's limit. Overloading a power supply can cause the exact issue you're talking about.

Can we get your full exact specs of the entire system?

AMD or Intel?
Processor type and speed? (ex. Pentium 3, 500 Mhz)
Make, type, and model of video card? (ATI or Geforce, AGP or PCI, and the model of the card)
Amount and type of memory? (how many sticks, capacity of each stick, type of memory)
How many hard drives? (number of actual physical disks, not partitions)
What PCI cards do you have? (modem, sound, etc. as well as models if you know them)
Optical drives? (CD, CD-RW, DVD, DVD-RW and how many drives)
Number of external USB devices? (including all things: mouse, keyboard, cam, etc.)
Number of fans? (including fans on the case, but not the power supply or the processor)

With that information, we should be able to calculate power usage on your system.

I've already made an estimate of what you might have on a basic system, and it comes to about 180w, exceeding the 150w that your current PSU is supplying. However, with more accurate information, a more accurate calculation can be made.