Computer help needed!! Keeps shutting itself off..
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,443
Likes: 5
From: Willamette Valley, Oregon
Computer help needed!! Keeps shutting itself off..
I have a 4 year old Dell PC that has been a great machine. Today I try to boot it up and it begins loading and then before it completes it turns itself off.. I tried many times and it turns itself off at different times, sometimes it gets evertyhing loaded and then, turns off, sometimes it begins to load stuff and ..off, so cant use it at all.
ANY help, ideas? Power supply?
Appreciate any help...
ANY help, ideas? Power supply?
Appreciate any help...
Logistics Pro
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 4,447
Likes: 0
From: Georgia
Could be a power supply going out. It could be a power supply or cpu overheating. How long has it been since you opened your case and blew all the dust out? Might check to make sure all your fans are operating.
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 913
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Not trying to be funny here, but have you checked the plug to outlet? Also, you might try shutting it off with the power switch on the back of the case while it is booting up...beat it to the punch, so to speak. Get it's attention.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,443
Likes: 5
From: Willamette Valley, Oregon
Ill check the memory..
Here is what I found when I opened it up:
The main processor (chip) has an allumnium finned heatsink held on top of it (with a fan) The plastic brackets that hold the clips that hold the heatsink , one had broken and the heatsink was not held against it at the botton, only the top, so it likely was not touching the chip much at all, and who knows how long it has been like this?
Question.. Is it shutting off because the chip is getting too hot, and if I replace the bracket that holds the heatsink on it will be A-OK?
OR.... Is it a fried chip from being too hot hot who knows how long? (motherboard...)
What the heck to do?
How much is a motherboard vs a new basic pc?
Here is what I found when I opened it up:
The main processor (chip) has an allumnium finned heatsink held on top of it (with a fan) The plastic brackets that hold the clips that hold the heatsink , one had broken and the heatsink was not held against it at the botton, only the top, so it likely was not touching the chip much at all, and who knows how long it has been like this?
Question.. Is it shutting off because the chip is getting too hot, and if I replace the bracket that holds the heatsink on it will be A-OK?
OR.... Is it a fried chip from being too hot hot who knows how long? (motherboard...)
What the heck to do?
How much is a motherboard vs a new basic pc?
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Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,392
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From: Greenvile, SC
One of my older HPs did that and it was some sort of horribly corrupted file/prog. at the start-up time. I found it and was able to "fix-it" using the Emergency boot/recovery CD.
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Thread Starter
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,443
Likes: 5
From: Willamette Valley, Oregon
I deff. thought that too, however it shuts off at different times, sometimes its on for like 5 seconds of the boot, sometimes I get it all booted, try to get to programs, like Windoctor, then, with no corralation to key stroke, it shuts off...
Originally Posted by 99Trigger3_0
One of my older HPs did that and it was some sort of horribly corrupted file/prog. at the start-up time. I found it and was able to "fix-it" using the Emergency boot/recovery CD.
New User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 0
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The only thing you can do now IMO is to remove the processor clean off both surfaces.. re-coat the Chip with the proper amount of material and remount the processor and try it.
Otherwise , Technology has probably moved way past what you have and you will need a new toy
Otherwise , Technology has probably moved way past what you have and you will need a new toy
Moderator
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 164,377
Likes: 82
From: MA
Originally Posted by packrat56
Ill check the memory..
Here is what I found when I opened it up:
The main processor (chip) has an allumnium finned heatsink held on top of it (with a fan) The plastic brackets that hold the clips that hold the heatsink , one had broken and the heatsink was not held against it at the botton, only the top, so it likely was not touching the chip much at all, and who knows how long it has been like this?
Question.. Is it shutting off because the chip is getting too hot, and if I replace the bracket that holds the heatsink on it will be A-OK?
OR.... Is it a fried chip from being too hot hot who knows how long? (motherboard...)
What the heck to do?
How much is a motherboard vs a new basic pc?
Here is what I found when I opened it up:
The main processor (chip) has an allumnium finned heatsink held on top of it (with a fan) The plastic brackets that hold the clips that hold the heatsink , one had broken and the heatsink was not held against it at the botton, only the top, so it likely was not touching the chip much at all, and who knows how long it has been like this?
Question.. Is it shutting off because the chip is getting too hot, and if I replace the bracket that holds the heatsink on it will be A-OK?
OR.... Is it a fried chip from being too hot hot who knows how long? (motherboard...)
What the heck to do?
How much is a motherboard vs a new basic pc?
I had a customer with the same problem..
As Mi1lion said it is best to remove the cpu and recoat the CPU/Heat sink to get maximum heat transfer.. YOu don't really need to remove the CPU itself. Just remove the heat sink. Clean the top of the CPU and the bottom of the heat sink then reapply with the proper stuff.
A quick fix would be to just press the Heat sink back onto the CPU and secure it with elastic bands.. I did this for my customer because the plastic tabs that held the clips on where broken.. They used it until I was able to locate a new one.. They are easy to replace and do not required removing the CPU..
I would avoid removing the CPU, because you are more likely to damage it and that would make a $15.00 fix into a couple hundred dollar repair..
Also in my opinion it is cheaper to just by a new pc rather than replace a motherboard.. You can easily spend $200 - $300 on a new CPU Motherboard and Dell is selling PC's starting at $499.00....
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 4,155
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From: Southern Louisiana
My old computer did that cause of a bad stick of RAM. A year later it did it again but finally did boot up without shutting off, the next morning the power supply fried and took the HD, motherboard and RAM with it. What a morning, thats what woke me up, sounded like fireworks going off.........but thats another story for another time.