Computer just switches off!

[Lionel van den Berg]

X-posted to a.c.h and a.c.h.h

I'm trying to debug the problem with my brothers computer that I built a
few years ago. I'll explain the details that I have seen first hand as I
will probably make a mistake if I try to give the symptoms he told me.

The computer is an Athlon XP 2000+ with an Asus Mobo, simple model with
2 PCI ports, onboard video and sound. As a quick aside I had to replace
the old motherboard about a year ago. There is 2 RAM chips at 512 and 256.

Windows crapped itself (boot.ini is empty) and I have been personally
using Lindows live cd for diagnosis. When I boot up the machine it often
makes it to the end of the splash screen and is about to load KDE when
the system switches off with no warning, like I turned the power point
off. However, it sometimes boots up and runs for a while without a
problem and then switches off.

I've tried just leaving one RAM chip in at a time (1 then the other),
have unplugging everything except DVD combo drive and the same problem
occurs. I have also tried plugging in a different power supply, but in a
dodgy way. I unplugged the plug from another machine and ran it to the
problem machine, I didn't actually swap any hardware. Anyway that didn't
help either.

Does anyone have any ideas what the problem may be?

A thought just occurred to me while I have been writing this message.
The switch on the front is a bit sticky at times - now it actually seems
quite possible to me that this is the problem, I'll follow that one up.

Thanks in advance,

Lionel.

 

[Lionel van den Berg]

Sorry to follow up to my own post.

After the computer switches off I need to turn it off at the power point
until the mobo light switches off and then turn it back on. If I don't
do that then it won't start when I press the power button.

I also didn't mention that I tried using an AGP video card to no avail.

I'm at work at the moment so will only be able to test the switch when I
get back home . . .

Lionel.

 

[paulmd]

Sorry to follow up to my own post.

After the computer switches off I need to turn it off at the power point
until the mobo light switches off and then turn it back on. If I don't
do that then it won't start when I press the power button.

I also didn't mention that I tried using an AGP video card to no avail.

I'm at work at the moment so will only be able to test the switch when I
get back home . . .

Lionel.

Sounds like bad capacitors, or a bad bower supply.

Look for any capacitors that are bulging or leaking. Even a little.

 

[CBFalconer]

.... snip ...

Sounds like bad capacitors, or a bad bower supply.

^^^^^
What kind of harem are you running

 

[Rod Speed]

Sorry to follow up to my own post.

Nothing wrong with doing that.

After the computer switches off I need to turn it off at the power
point until the mobo light switches off and then turn it back on. If
I don't do that then it won't start when I press the power button.

Its unlikely to be the power switch with that effect.

I also didn't mention that I tried using an AGP video card to no avail.

I'm at work at the moment so will only be able to test the switch when I get back home . . .

Dont bother.

Since the power supply swap made no difference, its gotta be bad
motherboard. Check for visibly bad caps and if you plan to swap the
motherboard, try running it loose on the desktop. You can get that effect
with an intermittent short to case and thats the best way to check for that.

If it isnt that, it may well be time to replace the
system and reuse the drives in the new system.

 

[Joel]

Sorry to follow up to my own post.

After the computer switches off I need to turn it off at the power point
until the mobo light switches off and then turn it back on. If I don't
do that then it won't start when I press the power button.

I also didn't mention that I tried using an AGP video card to no avail.

I'm at work at the moment so will only be able to test the switch when I
get back home . . .

Lionel.

Something has messed up Windows? I think the Windows get messed up
(driver at StartUp or Virus). In other message you mentioned Linlows but I
have no idea what Linlows is how how it works is what I have in mind.

So my idea if you want to check to see if something is wrong with the
mboard, memory, or card etc.. or the Windows itself then

- Boot Windows in SAFE MODE or DOS Prompt

- If it boots fine then you know the hardware is fine, and Windows itself
may be the problem

- If it won't boot to Safe Mode or DOS Prompt then it's possible that
there is some hardware problem.

That's about all I can think of.

 

[Lionel van den Berg]

Something has messed up Windows? I think the Windows get messed up
(driver at StartUp or Virus).

Or even that the computer just switches off the hard drive head moves
randomly and messes up the data. It appears to be that boot.ini is empty.


In other message you mentioned Linlows but I

have no idea what Linlows is how how it works is what I have in mind.

It's Lindows.

So my idea if you want to check to see if something is wrong with the
mboard, memory, or card etc.. or the Windows itself then

- Boot Windows in SAFE MODE or DOS Prompt

It won't boot to safemode.

- If it boots fine then you know the hardware is fine, and Windows itself
may be the problem

- If it won't boot to Safe Mode or DOS Prompt then it's possible that
there is some hardware problem.

I can't see how this would help. We can see that sometimes Lindows boots
and most of the time it doesn't. Why do I need to try stuffing around
with Windows too? It's much easier to run a live cd then to stuff around
with a corrupted OS.

Thanks for the suggestion but I suspect one of the other posts is right.

Lionel.

 

[Lionel van den Berg]

Since the power supply swap made no difference, its gotta be bad
motherboard. Check for visibly bad caps and if you plan to swap the
motherboard,

I looked and couldn't see a problem with bad caps. I'm guessing that
doesn't mean there isn't a bad one though? I've had a motherboard with
stuffed caps before and couldn't see it.

try running it loose on the desktop. You can get that effect
with an intermittent short to case and thats the best way to check for that.

I'll do that next, I didn't get time after work yesterday to pull it out
of the case .

If it isnt that, it may well be time to replace the
system and reuse the drives in the new system.

That option is already being considered .

Thanks for you reply and paulmd's reply.

Lionel.

 

[paulmd]

I looked and couldn't see a problem with bad caps. I'm guessing that
doesn't mean there isn't a bad one though? I've had a motherboard with
stuffed caps before and couldn't see it.

Alas, that's true. Also even tiny bulges can mean badness.

An alternate concern in overheating. Many processors and motherboards
support thermal shut down.

 

[paulmd]

I looked and couldn't see a problem with bad caps. I'm guessing that
doesn't mean there isn't a bad one though? I've had a motherboard with
stuffed caps before and couldn't see it.

Alas, that's true. Also even tiny bulges can mean badness.

An alternate concern in overheating. Many processors and motherboards
support thermal shut down.

 

[Rod Speed]

Rod Speed wrote

I looked and couldn't see a problem with bad caps. I'm guessing that doesn't mean there isn't a
bad one though?
Correct.

I've had a motherboard with stuffed caps before and couldn't see it.

Yeah, they are often visible, but not always.

I'll do that next, I didn't get time after work yesterday to pull it out of the case .

Yeah, its a damned nuisance to do it but worth it when you have eliminated
the other possibilitys and are about to replace the motherboard etc.

That option is already being considered .

Yeah, it can be a good excuse if you have been considering doing it anyway.

Thanks for you reply and paulmd's reply.

No problem.

 

[Mike Barnard]

the system switches off with no warning, like I turned the power point
off. However, it sometimes boots up and runs for a while without a
problem and then switches off.

I just had that problem with my father in laws PC. It was an
overheatich CPU. If your BIOS has the facility go look into it as
soon as you can and look at the tempratures.

 

[meow2222]

X-posted to a.c.h and a.c.h.h

I'm trying to debug the problem with my brothers computer that I built a
few years ago. I'll explain the details that I have seen first hand as I
will probably make a mistake if I try to give the symptoms he told me.

The computer is an Athlon XP 2000+ with an Asus Mobo, simple model with
2 PCI ports, onboard video and sound. As a quick aside I had to replace
the old motherboard about a year ago. There is 2 RAM chips at 512 and 256.

Windows crapped itself (boot.ini is empty) and I have been personally
using Lindows live cd for diagnosis. When I boot up the machine it often
makes it to the end of the splash screen and is about to load KDE when
the system switches off with no warning, like I turned the power point
off. However, it sometimes boots up and runs for a while without a
problem and then switches off.

I've tried just leaving one RAM chip in at a time (1 then the other),
have unplugging everything except DVD combo drive and the same problem
occurs. I have also tried plugging in a different power supply, but in a
dodgy way. I unplugged the plug from another machine and ran it to the
problem machine, I didn't actually swap any hardware. Anyway that didn't
help either.

Does anyone have any ideas what the problem may be?

A thought just occurred to me while I have been writing this message.
The switch on the front is a bit sticky at times - now it actually seems
quite possible to me that this is the problem, I'll follow that one up.

Thanks in advance,

Lionel.

Power down is software controlled, and the most common source of data
errors is bad ram, so the first thing I'd try is running memtest86
overnight.

If it passes, I'd consider formatting the windows drive and doing a
reinstall. Then reconnect data drive and virus & malware scan it.


NT

 

[Lionel van den Berg]

Power down is software controlled, and the most common source of data
errors is bad ram, so the first thing I'd try is running memtest86
overnight.

I changed between two ram chips to no avail, but running memtest86 won't
hurt.

If it passes, I'd consider formatting the windows drive and doing a
reinstall. Then reconnect data drive and virus & malware scan it.

Well it doesn't run on Lindows live cd so how is it possibly going to
pass a test and allow windows to be re-installed?

Thanks

Lionel.

 

[Lionel van den Berg]

Power down is software controlled

BTW, it's not power down, it switches off cold like in a black out.

Thanks

Lionel.

 

[Lionel van den Berg]

I just had that problem with my father in laws PC. It was an
overheatich CPU. If your BIOS has the facility go look into it as
soon as you can and look at the tempratures.

My brother said he monitored the temp before he gave it to me, but I
better not take his word for it. However, it turned off after about 5
seconds after I took the motherboard out of the case, that doesn't sound
like enough time to overheat to me!