pc keeps switching self off

[steve 'o']

Hi

I was wandering if any computer wizards can help me out. My PC seems to just switch itself off randomly. It does not appear to over heat and the fan is still working. Sometimes it will boot up and I will leave it come back in an Hour and its off. Other times it will switch off while booting up. Just tried to switch back on after it switched off while booting up and I had to hold the on button in for like 10secs and I can only describe it as it was struggling (Like trying to turn a car over!!) Then when it did turn on went into repair mode and switched off during scan.

Any ideas? I was thinking PSU but was wandering if any way of checking before wasting money buying part.

Any help would be great.

Steve

 

[Darren S]

It could be a power supply issue - that would be my first suspicion. However, how's the inside of the case in terms of dust build-up in general and more importantly, on the processor and graphics card fans?

Stock coolers on processors need little in the way to get clogged before they tip over that edge and shutdown due to overheating. I know from some tests with my new mobo and processor, a slight tweak in speed caused it shutdown within 15secs - with hardly any increase in heat that you could notice.

I'm quite lucky here at work as we have several air compressor lines. I bring my PC into work a couple of times a year and blast out any of the dust and crap build-up. Been doing that for years.

D.

 

[conneh]

What spec PC do you have? Tried simple things like removing the battery for 10 seconds and trying, removing 1 stick of RAM then trying and then again with the other stick.

Could be a range of things, have you looked through the error logs to see what could be causing it?

 

[steve 'o']

Hi thanks for responses.

I have given it the old dust clean as this was my first thought!! No joy

Its a packered bell (Imedia I believe will check when home!). its quad core and has 2 gig of ram (again can get further details when home, sorry!).

How do I see error logs?

Thanks
Steve

 

[Lal B3N]

You could have a look in event viewer, might give you an error code but usually its not that helpful.

 

[steve 'o']

I will take a look when I get home. How do you get event viewer up? I got to hope it stays on long enough!!!

 

[conneh]

Just type event viewer into the search bar and it will pop up.

 

[steve 'o']

Sorry so long to reply I have been away. Right the thing wont turn on anymore I took the side off and removed the power supply unit and gave the thing a good air dust off inside. It got rid of alot of dust that the hoover didn't. I have then tried to turn back on but nothing is happening, on checking only the cooler fan is turning inside the PC when trying to turn on, nothing else like the PSU fan is working. I have removed each stick of RAM but that makes no difference (Not that I was expecting it to!).

Any ideas?

Thanks
Steve

 

[conneh]

Got another PC to try the PSU in?

 

[steve 'o']

Afraid not are they inter changeable?

 

[Munson]

If the PSU fan isn't working, then either the fuse in the wall plug is blown (not likely if it's able to spin up the HSF fan), or the PSU is toast. The symptoms pointed to that anyway IMO.

 

[steve 'o']

i guess that means psu is fubarred then as i habeas switched power lead and when i try and switch on can get cooler fan to spin so must have some power! anyone no best place to buy after market replacement?

thanks

 

[Toypop]

When my PSU failed the entire system was as dead as a dodo.

 

[steve 'o']

see mine it still trying to start as the cooler fan is spinning. that's whats confusing me!!

 

[Dink]

i had this problem with a pc before

turned out to be the motherboard wasn't holding the psu on, so you get a little glimmer of life as you press the button and then nothing

 

[MWRS182]

You usually get a blue screen of death when a component fails. I would try a different PSU first.

 

[steve 'o']

thanks for replys gents. i have managed to find some one i know with an old tower. will any psu fit any pc? i don't really want to pay for parts until i know exact.problem.

also sounds.exactly my problem with the whole glimmer of hope when switching on!