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Computer Problem, need help

maharbamaharba Member Posts: 44
in Off-Topic Discussion
Alright, so i built my own computer for the first time in 2003, since then it's been running fine.  I've only had minor problems with it that i have been able to fix.  Well recently my computer just started shutting off on its own.  The time from turning it on to it shutting off kept getting shorter and shorter, to the point where windows wouldn't boot up.  I tried to insert the window disk, but even then it would still shut off. A friend of mine told me it was probably just a psu problem, but i just want to see what you all think.

Comments

  • EggFteggEggFtegg Member Posts: 1,141
    I've not had that happen, but I have had to replace the power supply unit on my computers on a few occasions. Usually, in my experience they just stop working altogether when they go wrong, but what you're describing may well be the psu anyway. One thing you might want to check before replacing the psu, is that all your fans are working. It might be possible that one has failed and the PC shuts down to protect itself from over heating.

  • amousamous Member Posts: 169
    Originally posted by EggFtegg

    I've not had that happen, but I have had to replace the power supply unit on my computers on a few occasions. Usually, in my experience they just stop working altogether when they go wrong, but what you're describing may well be the psu anyway. One thing you might want to check before replacing the psu, is that all your fans are working. It might be possible that one has failed and the PC shuts down to protect itself from over heating.
    I would have to agree here, it really sounds like you have a heating issue. Something might have burnt out and that is why it will not boot. I would also check the seating of the heat sync, I had the fasteners on mine break once and didnt even know it.

    image

  • maharbamaharba Member Posts: 44
    I checked to see if all the fans were working, and they all were.  I checked the BIOS settings to see if the temps were normal, and everything seemed fine.  When i try to boot normally it makes it to the loading screen, and when it goes to the users screen the computer just shuts off.
  • maharbamaharba Member Posts: 44
    bump
  • xpyrofuryxxpyrofuryx Member CommonPosts: 1,587
    Originally posted by maharba

    Alright, so i built my own computer for the first time in 2003, since then it's been running fine.  I've only had minor problems with it that i have been able to fix.  Well recently my computer just started shutting off on its own.  The time from turning it on to it shutting off kept getting shorter and shorter, to the point where windows wouldn't boot up.  I tried to insert the window disk, but even then it would still shut off. A friend of mine told me it was probably just a psu problem, but i just want to see what you all think.
    Its most definately a PSU problem, I work at a computer repair shop and I've seen this a few times before.

    image

  • maharbamaharba Member Posts: 44
    Alright, so a little bit of a check up.  I ended up buying a new PSU from newegg and got it in.  It looked nice and had more power than my last one.  So i start up my computer and there was a moment where i didn't think it was going to start, but everything was fine.  Then when i tried to update windows my computer shut off.  I turned it on and it started acting the same again.  So i tried booting from my windows disk and it actually kept working, though it said it couldn't find my HD.  So pretty much i now need to also buy a new HD.  So anyways anyone know of some good decent priced hard drives?
  • gpettgpett Member Posts: 1,105
    Do some troubleshooting by process of elimination.  You know your new PSU is good.  So, unplug anything that is not necessary to make your computer run.



    Only have your hard drive, motherboard, processor, and video card.  Unplug any optical drives, additional cards, and memory.  Boot the machine to see if there are any problems.  Then add the pieces back one at a time to see when your problem occurs.



    It sounds like a heat problem to me.  Try pointing a space fan at your open computer case and see if you still have the random reboots.  I doubt it is your hard drive.  If your hard drive is indeed dead something caused it to die.
  • GresloreGreslore Member Posts: 243
    Originally posted by maharba

    Alright, so a little bit of a check up.  I ended up buying a new PSU from newegg and got it in.  It looked nice and had more power than my last one.  So i start up my computer and there was a moment where i didn't think it was going to start, but everything was fine.  Then when i tried to update windows my computer shut off.  I turned it on and it started acting the same again.  So i tried booting from my windows disk and it actually kept working, though it said it couldn't find my HD.  So pretty much i now need to also buy a new HD.  So anyways anyone know of some good decent priced hard drives?
    If it worked via booting off a CD, then your problem is either the hard drive itself, or a software issue. 



    If you need a hard drive upgrade anyway, now is the perfect time to replace it.  Backup your old hard drive, format, install Windows.



    If you want to keep the existing hard drive, back up your data, format the drive, install Windows.  However, if the problem was not software and is a bad hard drive, don't be surprised if you get more intermittent issues down the road.  Bad sectors have a way of appearing and causing "weird" things to happen.  Apps will crash, defrag'ing may fix it temporarily, etc.

    "...and with that cryptic comment, I'm off to bed!"

  • maharbamaharba Member Posts: 44
    Well when i tried booting from the windows disk it started normal but then when it went to go to copy the data to my hard drive it said it could not recognize my hard drive.  I checked to see if my connections were good and there was power to it, and everything was fine, but it still didn't work.  I put in one of my old hard drives and it was able to install windows on it.  The only problem with it is it's only like 9 GB, it's slow, and its very loud.  So i'm pretty sure my old hard drive died, but if it's something else please let me know, because if i can save my old hard drive that would be great.  For the time being it looks like i have to get a new one.
  • DekronDekron Member UncommonPosts: 7,359
    PSU



    CPU temp may be getting way too high (check cooling in other words)



    Bad RAM



    Just to name a few. But, PSU more than likely.
  • xxthecorexxxxthecorexx Member Posts: 1,078
    have you tried swapping out the ide ribbon ? sometimes it's the simplest solutions to the biggest problems, quite often when i'm fighting with something and think that i've gone thru EVERYTHING it's the simplest overlooked thing, that makes me smack my forehead "DOH"



    just thought i'd throw that in.

    ____________________________
    TheCore

  • GresloreGreslore Member Posts: 243
    Originally posted by maharba

    Well when i tried booting from the windows disk it started normal but then when it went to go to copy the data to my hard drive it said it could not recognize my hard drive.  I checked to see if my connections were good and there was power to it, and everything was fine, but it still didn't work.  I put in one of my old hard drives and it was able to install windows on it.  The only problem with it is it's only like 9 GB, it's slow, and its very loud.  So i'm pretty sure my old hard drive died, but if it's something else please let me know, because if i can save my old hard drive that would be great.  For the time being it looks like i have to get a new one.
    If your mobo takes sata: check out newegg.com, they have a 320gb for $79. 



    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148140


    "...and with that cryptic comment, I'm off to bed!"

  • DekronDekron Member UncommonPosts: 7,359
    Originally posted by Greslore

    Originally posted by maharba

    Well when i tried booting from the windows disk it started normal but then when it went to go to copy the data to my hard drive it said it could not recognize my hard drive.  I checked to see if my connections were good and there was power to it, and everything was fine, but it still didn't work.  I put in one of my old hard drives and it was able to install windows on it.  The only problem with it is it's only like 9 GB, it's slow, and its very loud.  So i'm pretty sure my old hard drive died, but if it's something else please let me know, because if i can save my old hard drive that would be great.  For the time being it looks like i have to get a new one.
    If your mobo takes sata: check out newegg.com, they have a 320gb for $79. 



    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148140



    I just bought that about 1 week ago. Awesome price. Great drive, no problems at all. It is a little high on the temp, but nothing proper cooling and airflow can't fix.
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