Tower keeps turning off??

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ken
  • Start date Start date
K

Ken

Four times now over past week or so.
Plugged in to a surge protector and other things plugged into the same
protector are OK.
Tried other sockets and tried changing the power cable.
But again this morning it just turned off mid way through some work.
PC about two year old otherwise still excellent.
This sound like hardware - power pack. Or could it be software.

Help would be really good.

Ken
 
Ken said:
Four times now over past week or so.
Plugged in to a surge protector and other things plugged into the same protector are OK.
Tried other sockets and tried changing the power cable.
But again this morning it just turned off mid way through some work.
PC about two year old otherwise still excellent.
Click to expand...
This sound like hardware
Yes.

- power pack.
Click to expand...

Or the motherboard. Obviously cheapest to try the power supply first.
Or could it be software.
Unlikely.

Help would be really good.
Click to expand...

You've just got to go thru the possibilitys systematically.

If it isnt the power supply, check for bad caps on the motherboard
and even something as basic as a flakey power cord.
 
Four times now over past week or so.
Plugged in to a surgeprotectorand other things plugged into the
sameprotectorare OK.
Tried other sockets and tried changing the power cable.
But again this morning it just turned off mid way through some work.
PC about two year old otherwise still excellent.
This sound like hardware - power pack. Or could it be software.
Click to expand...

Could be any of those items based upon little information provided.
Your useful replies will only be as good as facts provided. Computer
repair starts with two tools - a screwdriver and a 3.5 digit
multimeter (a $20 tool sold in Lowes, Radio Shack, Wal-mart, Sears, K-
mart, etc)

Start by measuring DC voltage on purple wire from power supply to
motherboard. Push probe into nylon connector body to touch red meter
lead to conductor. Black meter lead connects to any black wire or
chassis. That voltage must exceed 4.87 volts DC when computer is off
and AC power cord connected to wall receptacle.

Next measure green wire. That voltage must be more than 2 volts
before switch is pressed and must drop to well below 0.8 volts when
switch is pressed.

Next is voltage on gray wire that must rise to well above 2.4 volts
within a second of power switch pressed.

And finally are voltages on any one of orange, red and yellow
wires. Those voltages must exceed 3.23, 4.87, and 11.7 volts.

Now we have facts. Now we have information so that someone can
answer your original question, suggest a suspect, or say what to do
next. When done, we will replace only the known suspect - not buy
parts forever until something works (also called shotgunning). Debug
procedure without disconnecting anything even says whether power cord
or surge protector is creating a failure.

Described is what even junior high school kids can do - take voltage
readings. But again, to get useful responses, then numbers must be
provided. Without that meter, then only other choice is to keep
fixing things (replacing good parts) until something works ... and
hope shotgunning does not exponentially complicate the problem.
 
Four times now over past week or so.
Plugged in to a surge protector and other things plugged into the same
protector are OK.
Click to expand...

That seems to rule out the surge protector but I'd plug it
in before the surge protector anyway, no sense in adding any
more variables than necessary.
Tried other sockets and tried changing the power cable.
But again this morning it just turned off mid way through some work.
PC about two year old otherwise still excellent.
This sound like hardware - power pack. Or could it be software.
Click to expand...

When it turns off, what is the *least* you have to do it get
it to turn on again? With pressing power switch on the
front of the case work, or do you have to unplug the PSU for
a moment or flip it's rear switch, or ???

It could be the PSU turning off due to not being able to
meet it's thresholds for voltage, overheat condition,
overcurrent, etc. What make, model and rated current on 5V
& 12V is this PSU? Please describe all the major components
in your system too. If you have a multimeter use it to
check voltages, or if not then check the bios or a software
health/hardware monitor for (less accurate) voltage
readings.

It could be a bios safeguard from a failed fan or CPU
overheating. Check that fans spin, and temperatures
(particularly of CPU).

It is unlikely to be software, unless you had some virus
doing it but that is uncommon. If you continue to suspect
software then run an Antivirus/Malware/Adware/etc scanner(s)
to check for this.
 
Ken said:
Four times now over past week or so.
Plugged in to a surge protector and other things plugged into the same
protector are OK.
Tried other sockets and tried changing the power cable.
But again this morning it just turned off mid way through some work.
PC about two year old otherwise still excellent.
This sound like hardware - power pack. Or could it be software.

Help would be really good.

Ken
Click to expand...

Thanks guys for all the help. I have looked at all connections including
behind the plug socket on the wall and tightened all up. Also looked a the
power pack and decided if that is the problem I will need to get someone to
do it for me as it looks too scary with too many wires for my liking and
limited time to sort it.
Thanks Again
Ken
 
w_tom said:
Could be any of those items based upon little information provided.
Your useful replies will only be as good as facts provided. Computer
repair starts with two tools - a screwdriver and a 3.5 digit
multimeter (a $20 tool sold in Lowes, Radio Shack, Wal-mart, Sears, K-
mart, etc)

Start by measuring DC voltage on purple wire from power supply to
motherboard. Push probe into nylon connector body to touch red meter
lead to conductor. Black meter lead connects to any black wire or
chassis. That voltage must exceed 4.87 volts DC when computer is off
and AC power cord connected to wall receptacle.

Next measure green wire. That voltage must be more than 2 volts
before switch is pressed and must drop to well below 0.8 volts when
switch is pressed.

Next is voltage on gray wire that must rise to well above 2.4 volts
within a second of power switch pressed.

And finally are voltages on any one of orange, red and yellow
wires. Those voltages must exceed 3.23, 4.87, and 11.7 volts.
Click to expand...

These numbers are pure drivel, this stupid clown cant even manage
to read and comprehend what the ATX spec says about these, or
even manage to grasp how a multimeter works either.

He's plucked these stupid numbers out of his arse.
 
Thanks guys for all the help. I have looked at all connections including
behind the plug socket on the wall and tightened all up. Also looked a the
power pack and decided if that is the problem I will need to get someone to
do it for me as it looks too scary with too many wires for my liking and
limited time to sort it.
Thanks Again
Ken
Click to expand...

If by "Surge protector" you mean "battery backup", you could also
have a dead battery inside. It may be trying to switch to the battery
on dips in the power, and if the battery's dead, the machine will
stop. It may be an interval *just* long enough to cause the reboot,
but not long enough for you (or other devices) to notice.


M
 
Ken said:
Four times now over past week or so.
Plugged in to a surge protector and other things plugged into the same
protector are OK.
Tried other sockets and tried changing the power cable.
But again this morning it just turned off mid way through some work.
PC about two year old otherwise still excellent.
This sound like hardware - power pack. Or could it be software.

Help would be really good.

Ken
Click to expand...

Now sorted as it turned out to be the power pack.
New one is so quiet compared with old one which was very noisy but funnily
enough you just get used to it.
Ken
 
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