PC problem

[Lynus]

Hey Guys,I was wondering if you could help me..

My PC keeps switching off quite regularly(every 5 or so minutes) and I am wondering what could be the problem..

and help would be appreciated

[stoke]

I'd bet your power supply is on the fritz after all of the load spiking and load shedding Eskom has been subjecting us to.

Otherwise, it may be your hard drive doing some weird lockdown thingy (I got a pc that does that, and have no idea how to fix it)

Or ... perhaps even the network card is on the fritz.

Or ... have you installed any new drivers lately? Drivers can be completely dangerous.

And, last but not least ... it could even be a virus or adware type stuff.

So ....

1 - Try to predictably cause the pc to reboot. This is important to see if you've solved the problem, but it's not always possible.
2 - Get AdAware from http://www.lavasoftusa.com/products/ad_aware_free.php to check for adware (If it stays up long enough).
3 - Start the PC in safe mode, and leave it in safe mode for like 10 minutes, try to use it and try to get it to crash in that yucky safe mode. If it does not crash, start them machin in Safe Mode with networking support, again, try to force it to crash in like 10 minutes. If it does not crash, then we can pretty much assume that the problem is not hardware, but something in the software.
4 - Boot windoze normally, get the Process Explorer and Autoruns from Sysinternals.com, use Process explorer to examine what is currently executing, kill anything that is unrecognised. Then use Autoruns and deselect anything that you don't recognise and stop it from starting when windoze does. TIP - If it does not say microsoft, and it's not your soundcard, then disable it (Unckeck the checkbox). Write it down, you can just enable it later.
5 - Remove the cards from the PC one at a time, not the video card.
6 - Disable the onboard network card and audio.
7 - Look for a new version of BIOS for your motherboard.
8 - Me gives up.

[Vortex]

Sounds like overheating to me.. Some CPUs have a built in temperature cutoff level at which point it switches off to preserve the CPU.

Try opening the box and putting a BIG fan on it and see if it lasts longer..

[rainy]

I'd try the power supply first as well. It is very hard to drive the CPu to overheat, unless the CPU fan isn't working...

[Vortex]

I'd try the power supply first as well. It is very hard to drive the CPu to overheat, unless the CPU fan isn't working...

I've had a similar problem before with a GFX card overheating - THAT is surprisingly easy to do :)

I've had a PC here at work that switches off after a few minutes.. it lasted longer when it was doing less though. Turned out that the CPU fan was spinning as energetically as a lazy sloth..

[Flangenimblick]

I agree with vortex - Iv had the exact same problem lycan mentioned. Im sure its overheating of the graphics card.

Lycan you should look at getting some fans installed to create a cool air flow system through your case. My case has one large fan infront and two on the back, so cool air gets sucked in infront and hot air out the back.

If you cant afford that then do what I used to do - open your side panel and put a standard desk fan there to blow some cool air in. Thats the lowtech way! :sharp:

[Stool]

firstly just open up the case and check to see if the fans in there currently (including the internally encased powersupply fan) is both working and not clogged up with dust.

secondly do what the guys mentioned here before me

[Lynus]

Thanx chaps,PC is working again

Love you'se long time

[stoke]

Nooitus ... what was the problem ... hu hu h uh uh u hu h uh u hu?
You cannot just leave us in the dark like that!

[senorblinky]

Try hitting it with a hammer.
That's how they fix things in mother russia...

[Albereth]

It is your PSU. Root of lots of problems and isn't that obvious because your machine appears to work. If it didn't start up, well, that'd be obvious

[TG]

Beat it with a stick.

[Lynus]

It was the whole fan business

[Sabre]

Try running the CPU, graphic card, ram, etc at the default clock speeds ... works wonders :-)

[stoke]

Kewl Lynus. Franks.

[Lynus]

no,thank you!