Help with computer

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EBorraga

EBorraga

Passed Away July 17, 2022
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Ok I know there a quite a few computer people on here. I'm very mechanical but not computer savvy. My problem is this. I have a 4 year old Dell for a desktop in my house. Yesterday it started just shutting off for no reason. I figured I had a virus of some sort. So I could get it on long enough to run my antivirus stuff. No viruses. I also started it in safe mode with the internet disconnected and did some stuff a friend told me. He determined no viruses as well.

Next I thought it may be an overheating problem. So I took the cover off, cleaned everything with compressed air and aimed a floor fan at the motherboard. Still shuts off after about 4 minutes.

So I figure I've got a bad power supply or bad motherboard. Any suggestions before I get a power supply of EBAY??

For now I'll just be using my laptop.
 
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Sounds like a heat issue to me. See if you can check your CPU temps in your system bios. If their more then say 60c your probably running too hot.

I know you cleaned inside your case but check between your CPU fan and the heatsink to make sure theres no layer of lint. If there isn't and your CPU temp is still to high you will need to reapply your thermal compound between the CPU and heatsink.

If CPU temps are low i.e 25-35c I would look at maybe the power supply
 
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computer problem

I have seen the computer do the exact thing you are talking about.. the results of which had 2 different outcomes. 1 the hard drive would heat up and computer die. 2 memory had become unseated and when cold made contact got warm and died. I work for the state and we have thousands of computers to work with and those were the 2 most common solutions. We have even put the hard drive into the freezer in an airtight container for a few minutes and plugged it back into the computer , turned the computer on and it would sometimes work. There may be other reasons for this failure but these worked for us. I hope you are able to get it to work.
 
Andrew_K99 said:
EBorraga said:
Andrew_K99 said:
Does it just shut off (goes black) or does it say "Windows shutting down"?

If the first, probably power supply.
If the second could be the switch.

AK
Click to expand...


Andrew, it just shuts off. Just goes black.
Click to expand...
So it's probably the power supply unless it is over heating, which could mean a dead fan.

AK
Click to expand...

the fan is working. Also as you keep trying to turn it on, it shuts off quicker and quicker. Time to try and find a cheap power supply or just get an IPAD.
 
EBorraga said:
Andrew_K99 said:
EBorraga said:
Andrew_K99 said:
Does it just shut off (goes black) or does it say "Windows shutting down"?

If the first, probably power supply.
If the second could be the switch.

AK
Click to expand...


Andrew, it just shuts off. Just goes black.
Click to expand...
So it's probably the power supply unless it is over heating, which could mean a dead fan.

AK
Click to expand...

the fan is working. Also as you keep trying to turn it on, it shuts off quicker and quicker. Time to try and find a cheap power supply or just get an IPAD.
Click to expand...

Your fan may be working intermittently too... I have a 4 or 5 year old Dell that has sounded like a Cessna about to take off ever since I got it... I called Dell and got Michael in Mumbai....first fix he wanted was to reformat the hard drive...I figured it was mechanical not software... finally talked to an old time computer repairman locally and he said that Dell used components that they buy from around the world to build their computers... I may have gotten one that had an old fan that the bearings had dried out... he gave me a bottle of oil and suggested I drop a drop of oil in the fan bearings... stopped the noise immediately... it's time to do it again as the noise level is rising again...

I don't have any answers for your problem.. sounds like Andrew may be on to something though...
 
Before you spend the money on a power supply (the most likely culprit and they are pretty cheap $20-$35), dusconntect and the reconnect all power leads inside the case. Sometimes, especially when machines get moved or tugged about, the molex plug to the mainboard wiggles lose.

Next, if the cables are connected well, turn on the computer and feel for air flow coming out of the fan in the rear of the power supply.

If that is ok, check to make sure the "silver quarter looking battery is firmly under the battery tab.

If all that is ok, you can actually test the Power supply by disconnecting the power plug that attaches to the mainboard, turning on the power switch and connect the black voltmeter lead to the black chassis wire, check voltage on the red and yellow leads in the plug. One lead should be 5 volts, the other 12 volts.

If the fan runs and the voltages are correct, it ain't the power supply.

Then look for burned capacitors on the video card (the circuit board that the monitor attaches to)

Those are the usual suspects in the symptom, this is rarely fatal.
 
Typically there is more than one fan. There is one on the power supply and one on the CPU. You have to open the case to see if the CPU fan is running. If I had to guess, that would be it. Dead CPU fan.
 
Capacitors

Take a look on the motherboard for mushroomed capacitors, they are usually a cylinder and standing straight up. Some times the capacitors ooz but usually they mushroom the tops.
 
Before I would start throwing parts you could get a power supply tester. I dont know what stores are around you but you can get them for 10 to 20 bucks. If you boot into cmos and look at the temps does it still shut down. The fan may be spinning but not at full speed you could stop it with your finger and then let it go see how fast it starts up again http://www.google.com/search?client...gc.r_pw.&fp=5e329e188693deb6&biw=1680&bih=844
 
EBorraga said:
Next I thought it may be an overheating problem. So I took the cover off, cleaned everything with compressed air and aimed a floor fan at the motherboard. Still shuts off after about 4 minutes.
Click to expand...

Let me know what you find...

Tom
 
EBorraga said:
Ok I know there a quite a few computer people on here. I'm very mechanical but not computer savvy. My problem is this. I have a 4 year old Dell for a desktop in my house. Yesterday it started just shutting off for no reason. I figured I had a virus of some sort. So I could get it on long enough to run my antivirus stuff. No viruses. I also started it in safe mode with the internet disconnected and did some stuff a friend told me. He determined no viruses as well.

Next I thought it may be an overheating problem. So I took the cover off, cleaned everything with compressed air and aimed a floor fan at the motherboard. Still shuts off after about 4 minutes.

So I figure I've got a bad power supply or bad motherboard. Any suggestions before I get a power supply of EBAY??

For now I'll just be using my laptop.
Click to expand...

I was at Staple's a couple days ago and they were bugging me to let them do a free diagnostic.
Curt
 
Ok, on my way to work, but will be home about 5:00. I'll the stuff that was suggested and let you know what happens.
 
Ernie:
Let's quit guessing and do this like professionals.

Go to http://support.Dell.com. from your laptop. Download system diagnostics for your specific model onto a cd.

If you have time to complete virus check, you have time to install and run system diagnostics onto your home computer.

Keep running diagnostics until the machine fails. After it fails, wait 30 minutes, reboot and read the log that the diagnostic program wrote on failure. It will tell you which modular failed and why.
 
Thanks a bunch fella's. I did alot of stuff you guys suggested, except I couldn't get the diagnosis cd loaded quick enough before power went out. So I'm gonna change the power supply and see what happens. $20.00 from a computer store around the corner. It's used but he said it's like brand new. So I'll tackle that tomorrow as i have a few pens i gotta finish once the sun goes down. Will be nice and cool in the shop.
 
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