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Computer Shutdown



 
 
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  #1  
Old June 21st 04, 06:30 AM
Mia
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Computer Shutdown

Tonight my desktop computer shut itself off. (I'm using
the laptop now). I started it again a few minutes later
but it shut down again after only a few minutes. I assume
it's overheating, but I verified that the fan is running.
I realize this may be tricky to diagnose, sight unseen,
but does anyone have any idea about what may be happening,
and is this something I might be able to fix myself?

Thanks in advance.

  #2  
Old June 21st 04, 03:45 PM
Mart
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Computer Shutdown

Mia, as you say ' sight unseen' but maybe this might help:-

You may need to determine whether its a heat/hardware issue rather than a
WinMe issue. If heat related, then the inside of the box may need a good
clearout. (A lot of dust gets sucked into box due to the fan(s) and can
reduce the cooling efficiency)

Boot using your Windows Startup (floppy) Disk and select the DOS Help page
option. Leave it running for several hours, scrolling up and down the pages
every so often and see if it still shuts down/reboots.

If so, then it's a problem with your PC and not with WinMe.

If not, then boot into Safe Mode (F8 or Ctrl keys at boot-up) and leave it
running in that mode for a few hours and see if it shuts down/reboots. If
so, you may
need to disconnect external items of hardware to see if you can isolate it.

Mart


"Mia" wrote in message
...
Tonight my desktop computer shut itself off. (I'm using
the laptop now). I started it again a few minutes later
but it shut down again after only a few minutes. I assume
it's overheating, but I verified that the fan is running.
I realize this may be tricky to diagnose, sight unseen,
but does anyone have any idea about what may be happening,
and is this something I might be able to fix myself?

Thanks in advance.



  #3  
Old June 22nd 04, 12:58 AM
Mia
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Computer Shutdown

Mart,
Thanks for the suggestions. The culprit may well be the
dust. I noticed when I replaced a slave drive a month or
so ago that it was pretty dusty in there. I cleaned it
some, but not thoroughly. I'll go back in and do a good
cleaning and see what happens after trying your other
suggestions. When it shuts down, it doesn't reboot--just
quits. Later I can start it again, so it does sound like
an overheating issue. Guess I'll treat it like I do the
dust on furniture--dust twice a year, whether it needs it
or not.

Thanks again.

Mia

-----Original Message-----
Mia, as you say ' sight unseen' but maybe this might

help:-

You may need to determine whether its a heat/hardware

issue rather than a
WinMe issue. If heat related, then the inside of the box

may need a good
clearout. (A lot of dust gets sucked into box due to the

fan(s) and can
reduce the cooling efficiency)

Boot using your Windows Startup (floppy) Disk and select

the DOS Help page
option. Leave it running for several hours, scrolling up

and down the pages
every so often and see if it still shuts down/reboots.

If so, then it's a problem with your PC and not with

WinMe.

If not, then boot into Safe Mode (F8 or Ctrl keys at boot-

up) and leave it
running in that mode for a few hours and see if it shuts

down/reboots. If
so, you may
need to disconnect external items of hardware to see if

you can isolate it.

Mart


"Mia" wrote in

message
...
Tonight my desktop computer shut itself off. (I'm using
the laptop now). I started it again a few minutes later
but it shut down again after only a few minutes. I

assume
it's overheating, but I verified that the fan is

running.
I realize this may be tricky to diagnose, sight unseen,
but does anyone have any idea about what may be

happening,
and is this something I might be able to fix myself?

Thanks in advance.



.

  #4  
Old June 22nd 04, 12:20 PM
Mart
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Computer Shutdown

Mia wrote:-

....when I replaced a slave drive a month or so ago --- Coincidence??


Whilst you're in there with the vacuum cleaner & brush, check to see if you
may have dislodged any cabling whilst you were changing the drive. Check all
cables are fully seated - at both ends!! Also check that the fan on the CPU
(if fitted) is clear and running OK.

Good luck

Mart


"Mia" wrote in message
...
Mart,
Thanks for the suggestions. The culprit may well be the
dust. I noticed when I replaced a slave drive a month or
so ago that it was pretty dusty in there. I cleaned it
some, but not thoroughly. I'll go back in and do a good
cleaning and see what happens after trying your other
suggestions. When it shuts down, it doesn't reboot--just
quits. Later I can start it again, so it does sound like
an overheating issue. Guess I'll treat it like I do the
dust on furniture--dust twice a year, whether it needs it
or not.

Thanks again.

Mia

-----Original Message-----
Mia, as you say ' sight unseen' but maybe this might

help:-

You may need to determine whether its a heat/hardware

issue rather than a
WinMe issue. If heat related, then the inside of the box

may need a good
clearout. (A lot of dust gets sucked into box due to the

fan(s) and can
reduce the cooling efficiency)

Boot using your Windows Startup (floppy) Disk and select

the DOS Help page
option. Leave it running for several hours, scrolling up

and down the pages
every so often and see if it still shuts down/reboots.

If so, then it's a problem with your PC and not with

WinMe.

If not, then boot into Safe Mode (F8 or Ctrl keys at boot-

up) and leave it
running in that mode for a few hours and see if it shuts

down/reboots. If
so, you may
need to disconnect external items of hardware to see if

you can isolate it.

Mart


"Mia" wrote in

message
...
Tonight my desktop computer shut itself off. (I'm using
the laptop now). I started it again a few minutes later
but it shut down again after only a few minutes. I

assume
it's overheating, but I verified that the fan is

running.
I realize this may be tricky to diagnose, sight unseen,
but does anyone have any idea about what may be

happening,
and is this something I might be able to fix myself?

Thanks in advance.



.



  #5  
Old June 23rd 04, 04:56 AM
Mia
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Computer Shutdown

I think I see the problem. One of the 3 fans is not
working. It's the one that vents out the back, very near
the power plug/switch. Both the CPU fan and the other fan
are operating properly.

It would probably be a good idea to let a computer repair
person replace the fan rather than an amateur like me, so
I plan to take it to the shop tomorrow. All the cables
seem to be firmly seated, so I reckon the culprit is the
fan.

I did boot up using my rescue disk as you suggested and
after 15 minutes the computer shut down. An hour or so
later I disconnected the power, took off the cover, and
then reconnected the power and booted up to take a look at
the fans and that's when I discovered the problem.

Given a choice, I'd rather have that problem than a
Windows or other handware problem.

Thanks again for all your advice.

Mia



-----Original Message-----
Mia wrote:-

....when I replaced a slave drive a month or so ago -

-- Coincidence??

Whilst you're in there with the vacuum cleaner & brush,

check to see if you
may have dislodged any cabling whilst you were changing

the drive. Check all
cables are fully seated - at both ends!! Also check that

the fan on the CPU
(if fitted) is clear and running OK.

Good luck

Mart


"Mia" wrote in

message
...
Mart,
Thanks for the suggestions. The culprit may well be the
dust. I noticed when I replaced a slave drive a month

or
so ago that it was pretty dusty in there. I cleaned it
some, but not thoroughly. I'll go back in and do a good
cleaning and see what happens after trying your other
suggestions. When it shuts down, it doesn't reboot--

just
quits. Later I can start it again, so it does sound

like
an overheating issue. Guess I'll treat it like I do the
dust on furniture--dust twice a year, whether it needs

it
or not.

Thanks again.

Mia

-----Original Message-----
Mia, as you say ' sight unseen' but maybe this might

help:-

You may need to determine whether its a heat/hardware

issue rather than a
WinMe issue. If heat related, then the inside of the

box
may need a good
clearout. (A lot of dust gets sucked into box due to

the
fan(s) and can
reduce the cooling efficiency)

Boot using your Windows Startup (floppy) Disk and

select
the DOS Help page
option. Leave it running for several hours, scrolling

up
and down the pages
every so often and see if it still shuts down/reboots.

If so, then it's a problem with your PC and not with

WinMe.

If not, then boot into Safe Mode (F8 or Ctrl keys at

boot-
up) and leave it
running in that mode for a few hours and see if it

shuts
down/reboots. If
so, you may
need to disconnect external items of hardware to see if

you can isolate it.

Mart


"Mia" wrote in

message
...
Tonight my desktop computer shut itself off. (I'm

using
the laptop now). I started it again a few minutes

later
but it shut down again after only a few minutes. I

assume
it's overheating, but I verified that the fan is

running.
I realize this may be tricky to diagnose, sight

unseen,
but does anyone have any idea about what may be

happening,
and is this something I might be able to fix myself?

Thanks in advance.



.



.

  #6  
Old June 23rd 04, 08:45 AM
Mart
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Computer Shutdown

Mia, it looks like you've found it. Good luck with your computer shop.

Mart


"Mia" wrote in message
...
I think I see the problem. One of the 3 fans is not
working. It's the one that vents out the back, very near
the power plug/switch. Both the CPU fan and the other fan
are operating properly.

It would probably be a good idea to let a computer repair
person replace the fan rather than an amateur like me, so
I plan to take it to the shop tomorrow. All the cables
seem to be firmly seated, so I reckon the culprit is the
fan.

I did boot up using my rescue disk as you suggested and
after 15 minutes the computer shut down. An hour or so
later I disconnected the power, took off the cover, and
then reconnected the power and booted up to take a look at
the fans and that's when I discovered the problem.

Given a choice, I'd rather have that problem than a
Windows or other handware problem.

Thanks again for all your advice.

Mia



-----Original Message-----
Mia wrote:-

....when I replaced a slave drive a month or so ago -

-- Coincidence??

Whilst you're in there with the vacuum cleaner & brush,

check to see if you
may have dislodged any cabling whilst you were changing

the drive. Check all
cables are fully seated - at both ends!! Also check that

the fan on the CPU
(if fitted) is clear and running OK.

Good luck

Mart


"Mia" wrote in

message
...
Mart,
Thanks for the suggestions. The culprit may well be the
dust. I noticed when I replaced a slave drive a month

or
so ago that it was pretty dusty in there. I cleaned it
some, but not thoroughly. I'll go back in and do a good
cleaning and see what happens after trying your other
suggestions. When it shuts down, it doesn't reboot--

just
quits. Later I can start it again, so it does sound

like
an overheating issue. Guess I'll treat it like I do the
dust on furniture--dust twice a year, whether it needs

it
or not.

Thanks again.

Mia

-----Original Message-----
Mia, as you say ' sight unseen' but maybe this might
help:-

You may need to determine whether its a heat/hardware
issue rather than a
WinMe issue. If heat related, then the inside of the

box
may need a good
clearout. (A lot of dust gets sucked into box due to

the
fan(s) and can
reduce the cooling efficiency)

Boot using your Windows Startup (floppy) Disk and

select
the DOS Help page
option. Leave it running for several hours, scrolling

up
and down the pages
every so often and see if it still shuts down/reboots.

If so, then it's a problem with your PC and not with
WinMe.

If not, then boot into Safe Mode (F8 or Ctrl keys at

boot-
up) and leave it
running in that mode for a few hours and see if it

shuts
down/reboots. If
so, you may
need to disconnect external items of hardware to see if
you can isolate it.

Mart


"Mia" wrote in
message
...
Tonight my desktop computer shut itself off. (I'm

using
the laptop now). I started it again a few minutes

later
but it shut down again after only a few minutes. I
assume
it's overheating, but I verified that the fan is
running.
I realize this may be tricky to diagnose, sight

unseen,
but does anyone have any idea about what may be
happening,
and is this something I might be able to fix myself?

Thanks in advance.



.



.



  #7  
Old June 23rd 04, 07:31 PM
Mia
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Computer Shutdown

Mart,
Problem solves. They ended up replacing the entire power
supply and the computer has been running an hour with no
shutdown. The stated reason for replacing the whole thing
was that the wiring for the fan did'nt plug in to a power
source, but was soldered in and they didn't have the
technology (or knowledge apparently) to disconnect the old
fan and install a new one. Sounds like the problem I had
with a lightning strike to a computer board on the
intercom at the gate entrance to my property. They just
don't repair anything any more--just replace. Oh well, at
least the cost was only $40, and not $700 for a new
intercom board, so I'm happy.

Thanks again for all your advice.
-----Original Message-----
Mia, it looks like you've found it. Good luck with your

computer shop.

  #8  
Old June 23rd 04, 08:26 PM
Mart
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Computer Shutdown

Mia wrote:-

They just don't repair anything any more--just replace.


More often than not, it just isn't worth it - for $40 you've got a new psu,
for $50 you could have had a repaired one - assuming they could have
actually sourced a replacement fan g

But good news though, and well done for spotting the offending fan
yourself - pat on the back!

Mart


"Mia" wrote in message
...
Mart,
Problem solves. They ended up replacing the entire power
supply and the computer has been running an hour with no
shutdown. The stated reason for replacing the whole thing
was that the wiring for the fan did'nt plug in to a power
source, but was soldered in and they didn't have the
technology (or knowledge apparently) to disconnect the old
fan and install a new one. Sounds like the problem I had
with a lightning strike to a computer board on the
intercom at the gate entrance to my property. They just
don't repair anything any more--just replace. Oh well, at
least the cost was only $40, and not $700 for a new
intercom board, so I'm happy.

Thanks again for all your advice.
-----Original Message-----
Mia, it looks like you've found it. Good luck with your

computer shop.



 




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