My computer keeps shutting down, help!

kcrb · March 2nd, 2005, 01:22 PM

Ok, my computer is shutting down on me. It will just shut down completely, no restarting, nothing. Just shuts down (no "shut-down" process, it just turns OFF) and makes this high pitched noise until I turn off the power strip. It has been doing this on and off for several months and I'm at a loss as to why and am about to just get a new computer.

I went to Best Buy's geek squad several months back and they replaced: the motherboard, processor, power supply, power strip, re-installed windows xp pro. I thought that last one would do the trick but shortly after I got the computer back, it did it again. It happened again, after I installed office xp pro... So I uninstalled it. I then didn't have any problems for some time so I tried installing it again. Worked fine.

It has been several months since then and just recently started shutting down again! The only thing I've done lately is install some accounting (BETA stage) program from eBay...and it started shutting down again. First just once then once a day then a couple times until last night I couldn't even go into my outlook w/o it shutting down. I should say that I've been in several different programs inculding internet explorer during the shut-downs. I tried to "repair" office, and lost all my emails and it shut down again. Tried to uninstall the blasted thing and it won't even let it "configure" for the uninstall, just keeps shutting down.
Consiquently, I tried re-installing windows back then and it did the same thing, wouldn't even let me, which is why I had to have the geek squad do it.

I went into outlook today and got my new mail just fine but I know if I try to uninstall it, it will do the same thing...but my question is, what the heck is causing this??? Could it be a "bug" in my operating system or office software? I got those two from a friend long ago so they were burned and aren't the original, could that be why? Is it my memory? I've replaced everything else practically, I'm at my witts end.

Is the ANYONE else out there in America, the world, who has had this problem???

Please help.

red-dragon-69 · March 2nd, 2005, 01:27 PM

it might be the supply power you should try to connect the cable from your scren to your hard drive and c if it works if all else fails try to open it and see if the cables might have burned or got disconnected...if that fails simply disconect all cables and put one at a time and in each one check if it will turn on.

there is also a green light inside the harddrive after you take oe of the sides out you should be able to see it if you dont see it then the power suply is dead and you need a new one ..

is your computer a dell ??

kcrb · March 2nd, 2005, 01:33 PM

motherboard I bought soyo sy-k7vmp/k7vmp2; processor amd athlon 2400; power supply upped to 350watts; windows xp prof.; computer is on any specific brand, custom built...attached to my computer is a digital camera, printer, scanner. I've tried this search feature and many others and can't get someone else who's had this specific problem. Geek squad had no answer either because my computer didn't shut down at their store! Just at home...also, the wattage in which computer is plugged in is just fine, we have a new house, also tried plugging into the dryer plug-in because the watts are higher and still shut down. Umm, I also get NO ERROR MESSAGES before the shut down or after I turn computer back on. Please help me, I will be happy to provide you with anymore information I haven't thought of.

kcrb · March 2nd, 2005, 01:43 PM

My comp. is not a dell. Though I've been looking at them today, not a good choice? Anyway, as I stated prev. (you hadn't read my 2nd post when you responded) I got a new power supply 350w, doesn't seem to be the problem..?.Is there another power supply? Please advise: what do you mean, "connect the cable from my screen to my hard drive" which cable? Power cable? Also, my computer turns on just fine after it shuts off...it's just keeping it on...bare with me please, I'm not ultra smart about computers.

switlikbob · March 2nd, 2005, 01:50 PM

I would say that this is definitly a hardware issue. My first suspision is that your processor and or RAM are getting way too hot. I have had computers shut down on me (especially AMD powered) becuase the processor was getting too hot...that can happen if the processor is overclocked (running at a faster speed than it was designed to) or if the fan you have is not doing a good job. This sounds strange, but I have done this to test such problems before. Open up the computer case and aim a box fan (one of the big ones that can cool an entire room) directly at the inards of your computer. The fan must be very close to the computer...if you want, you can lay the computer on its side and put the fan directly on top of the case. This will cool everything down considerably. If your computer operates with the big fan blowing on it, then you know that something is getting too hot and causing the shutdowns.

kcrb · March 2nd, 2005, 02:06 PM

wow, really, a hardware issue? my ram huh..?..so you don't think it's software related...you know I had an amd before they replaced my prcessor with another amd...I also have like 3 fans in my cpu AND we took the back off our computer hutch so air could flow in there because geek squad did mention that...and my computer definately isn't as hot as it used to be (but still shutting down) but I will so do that with the box fan because I'll try anything at this point. Should I try to uninstall that office software (like I tried previously to no avail) after it cools it down to see if it shuts down then? Because I know if I do that now, my comp. will shut down...would you like my degrees of the comp? thanks for you help.

kcrb · March 2nd, 2005, 02:22 PM

Ok, I've got a box fan blowing di-rectly in that baby! both side are off my cpu and it actually feels cool to the touch. I tried to get my temp right at start-up but it didn't display like it used to, then I remembered geek squad changed that "feature" so it doesn't display anymore. (hope that makes sense). what to do now..?..patiently awaiting instructions.

switlikbob · March 2nd, 2005, 03:12 PM

Keep the PC on for a while...try running some programs...do what you normally would do...basically, try and ge tthe machine to shut down on its own...

kcrb · March 2nd, 2005, 03:14 PM

Ok thank you. I'm going to try what I tried last night and uninstall office xp prof. to re-install...that usually does it (makes it shut off). I'll let you know momentarilly. It's freezing in here

elroy · March 2nd, 2005, 03:28 PM

If the above suggestions don't help either take the pc to another house and try it there or plug it into a UPS and try it. You could have an electrical problem in your house since you said Geek Squad could replicate the shut down issue. I resolved a similar problem on a pc that was caused by a lamp on the users desk with a short in it. It also had been to a shop and diagnosed as "no problem found".