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Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: ScottieMV6 on 06 October 2009, 09:28:30

Title: Weird computer problem
Post by: ScottieMV6 on 06 October 2009, 09:28:30
Over the last few days I have started shutting my computer down at night to save electricity (our bill is rather huge).

Anyway when I come to boot up in the morning it takes about 5 attempts. When I press the button it gets so far and then shuts down again. Try again and it gets a little further and then shuts down again.

Done a full virus scan and even restored to a previous point when it wasn't doing it but no joy.

Any suggestions? :(
Title: Re: Weird computer problem
Post by: nick v6 on 06 October 2009, 09:44:30
sounds like the hard drive is on its way out :-[

i was getting that with a computer i built for ann and in the end i got a new hard drive and did a fresh install of win xp and its been fine ever since
Title: Re: Weird computer problem
Post by: Chris_H on 06 October 2009, 09:52:28
Quote
Over the last few days I have started shutting my computer down at night to save electricity (our bill is rather huge).

Anyway when I come to boot up in the morning it takes about 5 attempts. When I press the button it gets so far and then shuts down again. Try again and it gets a little further and then shuts down again.

Done a full virus scan and even restored to a previous point when it wasn't doing it but no joy.

Any suggestions? :(
One of mine does something similar but as I am not the main user I let it go.

I suspect that ACPI is spuriously resetting the power supply as it re-starts 2 or three times before it eventually gets there.  I was going to try a replacement PSU.
Title: Re: Weird computer problem
Post by: markfree on 06 October 2009, 10:20:13
I'd check out the obvious things first before getting a new hard drive - like checking wiring, plug, fuses etc. -  PSU could be faulty - or the battery on the motherboard could be dying.
Title: Re: Weird computer problem
Post by: Kevin Wood on 06 October 2009, 12:10:37
Sounds like a PSU problem to me if it just powers off. If it's rebooting and starting again but remaining powered-up I'd look a little further afield.

Kevin
Title: Re: Weird computer problem
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 06 October 2009, 13:26:01
as stated above , psu seems to be the #1 on the list..

try another known psu before purchase..

and if it still insists try the same psu with another mobo..
Title: Re: Weird computer problem
Post by: tmx on 06 October 2009, 13:44:49
if its the HDD have a look in the EventViewer for ATAPI Errors :y

could be a Windows Protection Error

Disable APM in the bios and take it from there

I leave all my computers & PS3 on 24/7 all been stable
Title: Re: Weird computer problem
Post by: KillerWatt on 06 October 2009, 16:41:40
At what point in the startup sequence does it decide to shut down (ie, how far does the OS get with loading)?

Does the PC start up successfully in safe mode?
Does the PC start successfully from a bootable DOS disk?

If the fault still persists when booting to DOS, then it's a hardware problem.
Title: Re: Weird computer problem
Post by: ScottieMV6 on 06 October 2009, 16:48:27
Thanks for the suggestions guys. To answer a few things:

Kev - It just powers off, it doesn't restart.

KW - It gets further and further through the boot each time I press the button until eventually it works. It has got as far as displaying my desktop at one point before switching off. Haven't tried in safe mode but am going to try that later. Haven't got a bootable DOS disk to try.
Title: Re: Weird computer problem
Post by: KillerWatt on 06 October 2009, 16:52:39
Quote
Haven't got a bootable DOS disk to try.
http://www.bootdisk.com

You'll more than likely get an error message relating to your hard disk not being found, which you can ignore.
The main thing is that if it starts (and stays on) successfully, then it's a software problem.
Title: Re: Weird computer problem
Post by: Stevie-blunder on 06 October 2009, 17:20:26
Mine used to do that untill I gave the heatsink on the cpu a good hoovering, worked a treat, was full of dust causing the fan and heatsink not to work as it should. This made the cpu overheat and shut down. Hoover it out now every few weeks and no probs since  :y :y
Title: Re: Weird computer problem
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 06 October 2009, 18:43:48
if it was the harddisk you will get the message no bootdisk,harddisk etc..but system will stay displaying the message and wont shut down..

and if the disk gives up during boot you will get blue dump screen..

and also if it was overheating so that it shu[ch305]ts down , no way you can do a virus search  :-/
Title: Re: Weird computer problem
Post by: TheBoy on 06 October 2009, 18:48:08
Gut reaction is PSU, but difficult to diagnose remotely.
Title: Re: Weird computer problem
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 06 October 2009, 18:51:52
on off switch also suspicious..
Title: Re: Weird computer problem
Post by: Kevin Wood on 06 October 2009, 19:35:01
Quote
Thanks for the suggestions guys. To answer a few things:

Kev - It just powers off, it doesn't restart.

KW - It gets further and further through the boot each time I press the button until eventually it works. It has got as far as displaying my desktop at one point before switching off. Haven't tried in safe mode but am going to try that later. Haven't got a bootable DOS disk to try.

I had a bad power supply that did exactly that once.

Not sure why. Try blasting all the dust out with an airline just in case, perhaps?

Kevin