computer shuts off automatically after 4 seconds

  • Thread starter Thread starter Bond
  • Start date Start date
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Bond

The problem started a month ago when playing Half Life 2. Out of no
where I could play the game for about 15 minutes before it would boot
me out and then restore to the desktop. So I decided to try a
different game like Need for Speed Underground 2 to see what would
happen... and of course the same thing did happen; it would kick me
out of the game after about 10 minutes to the desktop. I can do
anything else on my computer other than play games. I have a roommate
so I decided to try his video card in mine (his video card is
equivalent to mine) and still got the same results... tried his ram
and even in different slots, still nothing different. Oh, and I also
tried these combinations after reformatting my computer. Finally after
talking it over with some friends we thought maybe it could be a power
shortage of some sort. So i decided to try a different (working) power
supply. Then a new problem occurred where the computer would boot up
and then restart after about 4 seconds. After checking the comuter for
loose connections I still had the same problem, therefore I decided to
put my power supply back into the computer and well, it still would
shut off after 4 seconds. I thought maybe the motherboard was touching
the case so i took it out and made it more secure using more screws...
still nothing... then I decided to start taking parts out until I had
the motherboard out of the case with only the RAM and Video Card
connected but still would shut off after 4 seconds. Now I'm thinking
my processor or motherboard is screwed.
So does anyone have any ideas or suggestions up to this point?


I'm thinking that I might have to buy a new motherboard or processor
but I'm not sure which to buy. For some reason I was thinking that I
wouldn't be able to buy one without the other. Reason behind this is
because if I buy a new processor and the motherboard is bad, it could
just damage the new processor... and vice versa, if i buy a new
motherboard and it ends up that the processor is bad, the processor
could damage the new motherboard... not sure if this logic is true...
if not, where should I go from here?

Well, thanks to all that attempt to help me out.
 
The problem started a month ago when playing Half Life 2. Out of no
where I could play the game for about 15 minutes before it would boot
me out and then restore to the desktop. So I decided to try a
different game like Need for Speed Underground 2 to see what would
happen... and of course the same thing did happen; it would kick me
out of the game after about 10 minutes to the desktop. I can do
anything else on my computer other than play games. I have a roommate
so I decided to try his video card in mine (his video card is
equivalent to mine) and still got the same results... tried his ram
and even in different slots, still nothing different. Oh, and I also
tried these combinations after reformatting my computer. Finally after
talking it over with some friends we thought maybe it could be a power
shortage of some sort. So i decided to try a different (working) power
supply. Then a new problem occurred where the computer would boot up
and then restart after about 4 seconds. After checking the comuter for
loose connections I still had the same problem, therefore I decided to
put my power supply back into the computer and well, it still would
shut off after 4 seconds. I thought maybe the motherboard was touching
the case so i took it out and made it more secure using more screws...
still nothing... then I decided to start taking parts out until I had
the motherboard out of the case with only the RAM and Video Card
connected but still would shut off after 4 seconds. Now I'm thinking
my processor or motherboard is screwed.
So does anyone have any ideas or suggestions up to this point?


I'm thinking that I might have to buy a new motherboard or processor
but I'm not sure which to buy. For some reason I was thinking that I
wouldn't be able to buy one without the other. Reason behind this is
because if I buy a new processor and the motherboard is bad, it could
just damage the new processor... and vice versa, if i buy a new
motherboard and it ends up that the processor is bad, the processor
could damage the new motherboard... not sure if this logic is true...
if not, where should I go from here?

Well, thanks to all that attempt to help me out.
Click to expand...


IMO your heatsink isn't installed properly.
 
then why was everything working before and just now it stopped working.
Do you think that the processor is dead now because it just couldn't
take the punishment of overheating? or are you saying that the
heatsink isn't installed properly and therefore as a safety issue the
computer will not boot because of this (which I couldn't see being the
problem since everything was working before and I didn't screw around
with the processor).
 
Bond said:
then why was everything working before and just now it stopped working.
Do you think that the processor is dead now because it just couldn't
take the punishment of overheating? or are you saying that the
heatsink isn't installed properly and therefore as a safety issue the
computer will not boot because of this (which I couldn't see being the
problem since everything was working before and I didn't screw around
with the processor).
Click to expand...

Since this problem surfaced after swapping PSU's, there could
be the issue of forgetting to re-insert the 4-pin supplemental
12V power connector to the motherboard. A short delay is normal,
usually for the hard drives to spin up, before the CPU starts.
But if this 4-pin connector was not replaced --- and this is a
common oversight, even amongst experienced builders ---, the
symptoms as described would appear. Open the computer case and
check the leads from the PSU.
 
a 4-pin supplemental 12V power connector? Never heard of doing this
before... I've ever only had the one main connector from the PSU to
the motherboard.
 
I have the one 20 pin connector for the motherboard. Is there another
connector you are talking about? I mean I know I have to connect at
least one haha... but if there is another, please let me know.
 
ok... after looking at my roommates computer, I know what you are
talking about. He has it connected to his motherboard and I don't
because my motherboard doesn't have a spot for it. I have an ASUS
A7N8X-X
 
Bond said:
ok... after looking at my roommates computer, I know what you are
talking about. He has it connected to his motherboard and I don't
because my motherboard doesn't have a spot for it. I have an ASUS
A7N8X-X
Click to expand...

In this case, there is good possibility that the AMD CPU
has been fried. Was this motherboard over-clocked, in order
to play games? Get the CPU checked. If working, then the VIA
chipset would then be suspect.
 
By any chance, was there some overclocking going on? At first i would have said video drivers. Or vid card or onboard vid . However even the overclocking isn't convincing me. Who mucked with the power supply? if the power supply wasn't properly installed or it isn't as precise as it should be, which some older psupps can vary a bit much, it could have fried itself a cpu. I see it this way, you wanted to play games, you overclocked without the proper way, if there is a good way, to at least get a better fan. You didn't realize this and changed over the power supply which may have been set wrong, or someone touched something in the pc and wasn't grounded to the chassis at least and shorted something out without knowing it. Now that the mother board is probably fried, you change the power supply back to find it still won't work. The only thing you can try, and this is a loooonnnggggggg shot. Take out the cmos battery for about 15 seconds. Put it back in and try and boot. I honestly feel this is useless but it doesn't sound like you have alot to lose. I have gotten pcs to boot back up with a problem similar to yours by doing the cmos thing. All you can do is try.
 
Nothing has been overclocked... The computer i currently getting a
dignosis from a compputer technician.

Thanks!
 
As the front button will typically power off the PC if held for 4
seconds, perhaps it is shorted or jammed?
 
the problem was that too much dust had collected in the heatsink...
therefore it was overheating to quickly... plus my power supply was a
little screwy. Don't understand that since I tried a different one
that also wouldn't work on mine... but I was told some power supplys
will not work on some machines. meh, it works now! Thanks to all that
provided feedback.
 
In my other reply i did state that the power supply could be screwy, expecially if it's an older one. They tend to lose the AC to DC accuracy. Some power supplies won't work in other pcs, mostly if they don't support a certain voltage. 12v\ +\-3, 5 and 5 standby. I might be a bit off on these but you get the idea.
 
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