posted
I have my old desktop that I'd like to hook up in my daughter's room. Here's the glitch...it will be running fine - zipping along lightning fast, everything GREAT and then BOOM, the power shuts down. It just goes black and it's really hard to get back on. I have to unplug it, plug it back in and even then it takes a while. I've tried new power cords, jiggled everything I could jiggle (no smartass remarks hree you guys) and I can't figure it out!!!!! Once it's back to having power, it works FINE.
I'm thinking something needs to be replaced and I have no problem doing that if I just knew what!
Help please...any ideas???????
-------------------- Kimberly Zanetti Purcell www.amethystProductivity.com Folsom, CA email: Kimberly@AmethystProductivity.com
“Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up.” AA Milne Posts: 3722 | From: Folsom, CA | Registered: Dec 2001
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When it's running do you hear the fan? Have you cleaned the fan? Wondering if perhaps it's overheating and shutting itself down. Hopefully it's something that simple.
-------------------- Chris Welker Wildfire Signs Indiana, Pa Posts: 4254 | From: Indiana, PA | Registered: Mar 2001
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Check connectors running from power supply to motherboard.. Keep jiggling
The fan may be gone in the power supply causing it to overheat and trip a thermal switch which is there to protect the power supply. Sometimes blowing out the power supply with compressed air will rectify this simply by improving air flow through it. I've seen power supplies work fine for years with a broken fan. Be aware that there is more dust in there than than you will believe possible, take it outside to do this if you can. You don't have to remove the power supply from the case, just take the covers off the computer to do this.
The power supply could be gone in which case it'll have to be replaced.
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Oh I know about Dust! We live in the dust and sand capital of the world! It's amazing...you dust something and an hour later it looks like hell again.
I took apart my fancy-dancy supr-duper desktop that R. Bustamante built for me last year and made the huge mistake of blowing the dust out right on my desk. It was like a freaking snow storm in here.
Thanks for the advice guys...The cover is already off so I'll start check around inside.
-------------------- Kimberly Zanetti Purcell www.amethystProductivity.com Folsom, CA email: Kimberly@AmethystProductivity.com
“Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up.” AA Milne Posts: 3722 | From: Folsom, CA | Registered: Dec 2001
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Kimberly, if you decide to poke around inside the power supply, be VERY careful. Those things keep power stored even when not in use. It is often recommended that people NOT open up the power supply. That can be dangerous and cause serious injury. Having said that, and after vacuuming the dust, you might find a small fuse mounted inside. This can be carefully taken out (sorta like the game Operation) and checked. Just be extremely careful what you touch.
On the other hand, an old computer like this might be beyond fixing. You could probably find a newer one with better features at a decent price.
-------------------- Bill Cosharek Bill Cosharek Signs N.Huntingdon,Pa
bcosharek@juno.com Posts: 703 | From: N.Huntingdon, Pa, USA | Registered: Dec 1999
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Bill, Thanks for the very important info. The computer is in great shape otherwise. IT's about 6 years old but was the top of the line. It's only for my 7 year old so it doesn't need to do anything exicting. I'd still be using it but I treated myself to a new one.
-------------------- Kimberly Zanetti Purcell www.amethystProductivity.com Folsom, CA email: Kimberly@AmethystProductivity.com
“Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up.” AA Milne Posts: 3722 | From: Folsom, CA | Registered: Dec 2001
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-------------------- Kimberly Zanetti Purcell www.amethystProductivity.com Folsom, CA email: Kimberly@AmethystProductivity.com
“Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up.” AA Milne Posts: 3722 | From: Folsom, CA | Registered: Dec 2001
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If a machine runs fine then does all you describe that its usually HEAT problems.
The CPU fan is very important. Intel CPU's will display that bhavior as a self protection if the fan is not running right. It may be spinning but at a reduced speed.
-------------------- Leaper of Tall buildings.. If you find my posts divisive or otherwise snarky please ignore them. If you do not know how then PM me about it and I will demonstrate. Posts: 5274 | From: Im a nowhere man | Registered: Jul 2001
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Kimberly check and see if you have the sleep function enabled or disabled,..alot of times if it is enabled the machine will appear to just shut down ,but all the while it may be in sleep mode. To access these controls go to start,...settings,....control panel,...power management,....
-------------------- fly low...timi/NC is, Tim Barrow Barrow Art Signs Winston-Salem,NC Posts: 2224 | From: Winston-Salem,NC,USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Another educated guess... power supply. I actually swapped one out with an older similar model, years ago, and was able to save the good computer. Although the fan would be an easier solution!
-------------------- Gene Golden Gettysburg Signs Gettysburg PA 17325 717-334-0200 genegolden@gettysburgsigns.com
"Art is knowing when to stop." Posts: 1578 | From: Gettysburg, PA | Registered: Jun 2003
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Suggest swapping out the power supply and seeing if that is the problem. If it isn't you can return the power supply at least. Less work than trying to replace the fan if it is soldered. Maybe a good idea to err on the side of caution. If the power supply surges because of age it may take out your motherboard. Power supplies are running about $20-$30 nowadays, fans, for a decent ball bearing version about $5-$10. Or order a power supply tester from PC Cooling for $8.
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Is it difficult or dangerours to swap out the power supply? I don't mind putting the money into it I just don't want to get hurt.
-------------------- Kimberly Zanetti Purcell www.amethystProductivity.com Folsom, CA email: Kimberly@AmethystProductivity.com
“Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up.” AA Milne Posts: 3722 | From: Folsom, CA | Registered: Dec 2001
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Makes sense to me...I'm not the electrical type anyway.
Thanks for all the advice everyone...you guys are the best.
-------------------- Kimberly Zanetti Purcell www.amethystProductivity.com Folsom, CA email: Kimberly@AmethystProductivity.com
“Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up.” AA Milne Posts: 3722 | From: Folsom, CA | Registered: Dec 2001
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posted
Power supply swap is fairly easy. Four phillips screws on the back of the case. One big connector to the motherboard (this connector has a catch in the middle of the connector holding it to the M/B) if it is an ATX case, has pencil thickness plugs for mouse and keyboard. All other connectors are to the drives. Larger connectors to the hard drive and cd drives, smaller connector to the floppy. All the connectors are designed so that you can only plug them in a particular way.
Edit: Only problem you may run into is if the power switch on the front comes off the power supply. Otherwise if the front switch is connected to the motherboard you should be OK. If there is a switch on the back of the case on the power supply it is probably switched through the motherboard.
Alf
[ October 31, 2004, 02:48 PM: Message edited by: Alfred Toy ]
-------------------- Alf Toy Adlib Graphics Saskatoon, SK Canada
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Also, it might help if the connector/plug things are sprayed with some cleaner, used for that purpose. Got a can from Radio Shack, long time ago, so I assume they still carry it. Spray it on the contacts and it will clean and evaporate quickly. That might be all it needs.
-------------------- Bill Cosharek Bill Cosharek Signs N.Huntingdon,Pa
bcosharek@juno.com Posts: 703 | From: N.Huntingdon, Pa, USA | Registered: Dec 1999
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