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Computer help: Computer Turns Off Automatically
Computer Turns Off Automatically
by Ruzzells - 4/16/08 11:28 PMHi. I have a problem with my computer. It turns off automatically and when i press the Power button, after Windows boots up, it turns dead again. So i press the Power button again, the same thing happens.
My computer specs :
Processor : Intel(R)Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.00 GHz (2 CPUs)
RAM : DDR2 512MB
VGA Card : NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 (128 MB)
Motherboard : ASUS
Hard Disk Drive : 80 GB (Free space : 4GB)
DVD ROM : LG Super Multi RW
and a UPS
My friends said that the problem could be caused by my Motherboard or Power Supply.
The problem starts (usually) when i'm playing games or listening to music by using WinAmp, and playing DVD Films in my computer. Well, the question is what causes this?
First guess would be
by Dango517 - 4/17/08 1:29 AM In reply to: Computer Turns Off Automatically by Ruzzellshttp://www.techimo.com/forum/showthread.php?t=150630
When was the last time it was cleaned? Get a can of compressed air and clean out the dust in the CPU cooler. Still no go, replace the thermal past then move on to other possibilities.
How to clean a PC:
http://www.expertvillage.com/video-series/704_computer-clean.htm
Thermal paste:
http://www.expertvillage.com/video/7468_building-pc-applying-thermal-compound.htm
How far into the OS do you get before it crashes? Do you get a blue screen? See event viewer if you have the time to check it.
Have you done your anti-virus and malware scans ...
by Edward ODaniel - 4/17/08 2:26 PM In reply to: Computer Turns Off Automatically by Ruzzellsand if so what products have you used?
Malware can cause what you describe and some of the "anti-malware" products people use actually introduce malware onto the system.
You mention music so I will also mention that peer-to-peer file sharing apps are also often responsible for similar problems on a PC.
No virus
by Ruzzells - 4/17/08 11:59 PM In reply to: Have you done your anti-virus and malware scans ... by Edward ODanielI have scanned my computer like about 5 times. But, there's no threat detected. I used AVG, avast!, ClamWin. And once, after i reboot the computer (after it's dead) when BIOS boots, there's some kind of message that says : CPU Over Temperture Error. I checked the BIOS and see an option of CPU Loss Power and i set to Power On.
And Windows only boots up until (sometimes) the welcome screen. But often, it turns off when Windows boots up. (The Windows logo and progress bar under it). As long as i remember, when i checked the BIOS, the CPU temperture was like about 60 C. And the last time i cleaned my CPU was when i was checking my CPU. Dust everywhere. So cleaned all of it. But the fans weren't cleaned 100%. hard to sweep the dust.
See post 2
by Dango517 - 4/18/08 6:05 AM In reply to: No virus by Ruzzells"CPU Over Temperature error"
It has be be really hot to do this. Might be more then dust bunnies replace the thermal paste. You haven't taken off the CPU cooler off and put it on without paste have you? We had a guy do that once, the automatic over rides in his machines didn't work and he literally melted his Laptop. 
You can check it's temperature by using this software.
http://www.almico.com/sfdownload.php
Most, systems should run below 62C. (This does vary from CPU to CPU.) To really put it through it's paces check the temperature while doing an anti-virus scan or while playing a video game. Post the results here. We will also need the brand name and model number of your CPU.
Melted?
by Ruzzells - 4/18/08 6:31 AM In reply to: See post 2 by Dango517Wow. Actually, i haven't. And i'll post the results.
Yep, melted
by Dango517 - 4/18/08 10:06 AM In reply to: Melted? by RuzzellsThe CPU can get hotter then 150 degrees fahrenheit. It must have gradually began to slowly become deformed. Bob P. and I worked on that one for weeks with lots of head scratching before we figured out what the problem was. Wonder if that guy is having better luck. Let's hope. 
re your problem
by Edgson - 4/18/08 7:36 PM In reply to: Computer Turns Off Automatically by Ruzzellssince u have only 4 gig space on your hard drive that may be causing your problem bexause the operating system need s alot of that 4 gig space to operate properly..try to delete some unwanted file and see if that help...good luck....the computer is choking itself while working ..no breathing room
Don't know what to delete
by Ruzzells - 4/18/08 11:36 PM In reply to: re your problem by EdgsonWell, my Hard disk is full of games and softwares and backups. But, according to TuneUp Disk Cleaner, 568 MB of the hard disk (C) are used for Hibernate. At first i'm planning to clean Hibernation, but i don't know whether it's dangerous or not.
My computer's hard disk is separated to 2 partitions. C: and D:
I installed Windows on C:
And C: only has 1GB left.
D: has 2GB left.
Backups are stored on D:
And my CPU case is Simbadda.
Drive C is too full
by 4Denise - 4/19/08 1:17 AM In reply to: Don't know what to delete by RuzzellsYou shouldn't let the data on your drive exceed 75% of the total capacity. Transfer some of your data to CDs or DVDs. Make two of each disk and then remove the data from the drive. Try for at least 50% free space, if you can.
The problem with shutting down probably is overheating. Check your CPU fan-- it may be bad.
4denise
Hibernate is optional,
by Dango517 - 4/25/08 11:27 PM In reply to: Don't know what to delete by Ruzzellsyou don't have to use this feature. Disable hibernate then just turn it off.
The last I heard you needed to save 14% of your hard drive. This space is used during defragmentation so there is a space to move the files around. During the process of defragging files are moved to this reserved space, assembled then moved back to the OS.
You need to reserve a little under 1.5 GB of free space. When it gets too full it will let you know.
What kind of new drive will you be getting? Can you believe that some of the new ones are over 1 TB, amazing.
How about a couple of these?:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010150014+103530090+1035507776&name=7200+RPM
system shutdown
by ismaileone - 4/19/08 3:57 AM In reply to: Computer Turns Off Automatically by RuzzellsDon't worry it is not a major problem.just do the following step:
go to the properties of desktop then Screen Saver tab then power buton
And then advanced tab
in the When i press the power button on my computer: select do nothing
then press the apply button and press ok.
...
by Ruzzells - 4/19/08 4:34 AM In reply to: system shutdown by ismaileone@ 4Denise
Okay. Thanks for replying. I'm planning to buy a new hard disk. But i know Windows couldn't be like transferred to the new disk (It could be divided to 2 partitions), could it?
@ ismaileone
If i change the setting to Do Nothing, then could i still turn on my computer? Because i haven't tried to do such thing. My default setting is Power Off. Thanks for the suggestion.
Windows can't be divided, except...
by 4Denise - 4/21/08 12:55 PM In reply to: ... by Ruzzellsfor the swap files. It can speed up your system a little if you put your swap files on another physical drive. For details on how this is done, I recommend the following: go to this site:
http://backstage101.learningcenter.sony.us/index.jsp
and sign up for the class entitled "Microsoft Windows XP Advanced Customization" (it's free)
I am currently enrolled in this class, and I highly recommend it. Be aware, though, that it is an advanced class, and you will be learning things that can mess up your computer (you will get fair warning). It sounds to me, though, like you are adventurous enough to profit from the methods taught in that class.
I use two physical drives. I keep my Windows XP system on my C drive, and I have another, larger drive that I use for all my data and junk. I also have my swap files on it. Note that these are physical drives, not just partitions on one physical drive. I do not put more than one partition on the physical drive that contains my C drive on it. I prefer to leave a lot of room for Windows.
4denise
P.S.
by 4Denise - 4/21/08 12:59 PM In reply to: Windows can't be divided, except... by 4DeniseYou can put Windows on a new drive. It is just a little more complicated. I haven't performed this particular operation before, so I can't speak with authority here.
Anybody out there able to explain in simple terms how to change your C drive to another physical volume?
4denise
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