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Computer shuts down on it's own

Discussion in 'PC Hardware' started by cheesesteak, 2005/07/18.

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  1. 2005/07/18
    cheesesteak

    cheesesteak Inactive Thread Starter

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    Hi everyone,
    My kids filled up their hard drive to the point where the computer started locking up and shutting down. I have gone in and deleted and moved files to another drive, so I'm back at about half full. Something must have happened because I had to reregister Windows XP because of software or hardware changes (didn't do either except delete and move files), and the computer still shuts down 10 to 15 minutes after I boot it up. Also, the power button now gives me problems, as in, you have to press it multiple times to turn the computer on. And after it shuts it's self down, you cannot turn it on right away. You have to wait.
    My first thought was that it was overheating, but the power supply fan is working.
    Any ideas?
     
    cheesesteak,
    #1
  2. 2005/07/18
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Sounds as if it may be a PSU problem - the fact that the fan is running is not indicative that the supply is functioning correctly. The power button may well be faulty, but that connects to the PSU which may need a few nudges to fire up.

    You should also check that the CPU fan is running - and if necessary clean it. Most systems have a built in safety device which will shut down the PC if the CPU overheats.

    Check your CPU and motherboard temps with Everest (freeware) - Compuer > Sensor.
     
    PeteC,
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  4. 2005/07/19
    mattman

    mattman Inactive Alumni

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    I have tried to think of what else it could be, but keep coming back to the PSU (and it may be the PSU itself with a heat problem).

    To test the power button, you can disconnect the cable from the case to the motherboard and momentarily short the two pins of the motherboard with the tip of a screwdriver.

    It seems to be time (cooldown?) based though.

    Matt
     
    mattman,
    #3
  5. 2005/07/19
    jaylach

    jaylach Inactive

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    I agree with Matt and Pete but you may also want to pull the power supply, open it up and see if there is a LOT of dust and buildup inside of it. If there is, take a soft brush and clean it out and see what happens. Sometimes a power supply collects a lot of garbage inside and this buildup can cause momentary shorts that wreck havoc with the entire system.
     
    jaylach,
    #4
  6. 2005/07/20
    cheesesteak

    cheesesteak Inactive Thread Starter

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    Thank you everyone for the help.

    After looking into it a little more, the fan I was hearing was the CPU fan and not the PSU fan. The PSU fan is not working at all. So I'm going to start with replacing that.

    Peter, I downloaded Everest. Is there a list of standards somewhere that I can compair some of the things it tells me, such as the listing under computer > sensor? I have a hard drive running around 100 degrees, does this seem normal? My motherboard is at 72 and my cpu is at 84.

    Thanks again for the help.
     
    cheesesteak,
    #5
  7. 2005/07/20
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    No list of standard temps - each and every set up will be different depending on the case geometry and the no. and positioning of the cooling fans - apart from the CPU and PSU fans which are clearly fixed and common to all m/c's.

    Although the temps from Everest cannot be relied upon absolutely I would say that you're running pretty much OK, although the hard drive temp seems a bit on the high side.

    FYI Everest reports my m/c temps at (in Deg F - we use deg C over here :))

    Mobo - 79

    CPU - 86 AMD tend to run hotter than Intel - I use AMD

    Hard drives - 93. 81, 86 - I find that Western Digital drives tend to run hotter than Maxtor or Hitachi.

    I am almost certain that your problem is with the PSU.
     
    PeteC,
    #6
  8. 2005/07/21
    mattman

    mattman Inactive Alumni

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    From memory (I don't have Everest installed on this system at the moment), in Everest there is a section for SMART and (I think) it has a drive temperature readout there.There should also be the SMART parameters, which will tell you the maximum and minimum that SMART will record a fault with the drive. This may give you a guide.

    If you wish to try and reduce the temperature of the drive, you will need to locate it in a section of the case where there is better airflow around it. I have mine situated near an air inlet. If you have trouble with drive temperatures, you can get special fan systems for them.

    Your drive temperature does not sound overly high to me though.

    Matt
     
    mattman,
    #7
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