help power keeps going off

  • Thread starter Thread starter D. M. Robles
  • Start date Start date
D

D. M. Robles

My computer just dies periodically, and it is inconsistent.
I need to unplug for about 10 seconds to power it on and boot it. Then I
can be on for 10-20 minutes and it will die. However, when Im doing
multiplayer games, I can play for hours with no power. recently I discoverd
that the clip on my cable modem broke and from time to time it slips off
cutting my internet connection, could this be contributing to my computer
cutting off.

specs.
amd 2200
512 ram
9500/9700 radeon
audigy gamer sound

ideas...
 
My computer just dies periodically, and it is inconsistent.
I need to unplug for about 10 seconds to power it on and boot it. Then I
can be on for 10-20 minutes and it will die. However, when Im doing
multiplayer games, I can play for hours with no power. recently I discoverd
that the clip on my cable modem broke and from time to time it slips off
cutting my internet connection, could this be contributing to my computer
cutting off.

specs.
amd 2200
512 ram
9500/9700 radeon
audigy gamer sound

ideas...
Click to expand...

"Usually", the need to unplug it is from a power supply that's either
defective, "worn out" or insufficient capacity on the 5VSB rail.
Either that, or a mildly failing motherboard, and/or defect that has
same effect, though if it didn't ALWAYS exhibit this problem, it would
seem a progressive degeneration of the power supply or motherboard.

You need monitor the circumstances when it "dies" after 10-20 minutes.
It would seem less likely power or overheating since the gaming
doesn't clearly exacerbate the problem. Is the system shutting off or
simply rebooting? If it's just rebooting, could simply be an
operating system or application issue, which WinXP (?) is set to
respond to with a reboot by default.

If it's running WinXP and set to reboot on errors, disable that:
Go to Start -> Control Panel -> System
Go to Advanced
Under the Startup and Recovery section, click Settings...
Under System Failure un-check "Automatically restart"

As for the cable modem, no, the cable slipping out should not do
anything more than disconnect you from the broadband.

I often forget to mention, but it's always a good idea to, check the
system for spyware/viri/etc, and if you haven't done testing of it's
memory in the current configuration, clock speed and bios timings, run
http://www.memtest86.com for at least a few hours.


Dave
 
Back
Top