computer problem - pc turning off constantly

[wan2no]

The problem I am having with my pc is that whenever i boot it, it goes fine until it switches to the hard drive and then the power automatically switches off. I was saying i could be the processor getting too hot after a while and decides to shut down but it cann't be that because i don't even get to see the windows logo. It could be the power supply, maybe its not giving the correct voltage to the hard drive, that seems like shit i'm talking.

Can someone help me out. Please

thanks

[redwudz]

Can you get the BIOS screen? Or better, boot into safe mode? If BIOS is OK and safe mode works, then it may be a software problem. BIOS OK, but not safe mode, could be software or hardware.

If none of these will work, then unplug all the drives except the boot. Unplug all cards except for the video card and try again.

Trade out the RAM with known good ones, or if you have more than one module, pull one and try the other. Switch them.

Trade out the video card. It could also be the boot drive.

Next thing is the power supply. Last is the motherboard or the CPU.

And it could still be CPU overheat. Check that in BIOS. If the heatsink is loose, it can shutdown in 5 seconds or less.

You have to eliminate what isn't causing the problem, then what's left over is likely the cause. You just have to be systematic about it.

[wan2no]

i checked it out. i thought it was the hard drive so i replaced the hard drive with a few others and it isn't the hard drive at all.

The common problem when i switched the hard drive was that i had to restart the pc about 3 times before the pc actually boots up, that is the monitor would not come on at all.

With each of the hard drives when its ready to load the operating system it just shuts down.

[Jeremiah58]

And it could still be CPU overheat. Check that in BIOS. If the heatsink is loose, it can shutdown in 5 seconds or less.

Yes, I second that.

[MOVIEGEEK]

I'm leaning towards the PSU,RAM or videocard.
I would first try another 4 pin connector from the PSU and try another IDE/SATA cable.
Also make sure the RAM and videocard is seated properly.

[dcsos]

I Vote PSU is shutting down..Try to boot with less load on it of some kind (without cdrom) for one boot and see

[normcar]

Try taking everything out, including the ram. Just the video card. Then add one thing at a time until you find the bad device/part. Also try different HD cable. Usually this procedure works for me. I find the bad device or a problem with a device or cable. If you find a problem with a device, try a new/different one, or one from a friend.

I would also look at the shut down & run temp in the Bios, the temp could be running high, or you could have accidently set the temp too low. However don't set it over about 150F. You can also try to boot from a bootable CD to see it it is your boot HD.

[JeeDub]

I was having the same problem on an older PC, a complete shutdown at random, intermitant intervals. It turns out that my motherboard had one of those bad capacitors that were around a few years ago. I bought a new motherboard for $80 and problem solved. Lately my other, newer PC was doing the same thing but it was not the motherboard, it seems to be the video system corrupting something in the software. Maybe a DLL or driver.
When the box shutdown, it would not power up again. It would not even get to the POST. But if you unplugged the main power from the wall socket and let it sit for 20 or 30 minutes it would power up immediately and run fine. Weird.
Just my $0.02 worth.
Keep looking, good luck.

[Nelson37]

Switches to the Hard Drive? Ready to load the OS? Explain EXACTLY what you see on the screen immediately before it shuts down.

STOP adding things to the PC. The problem is in the box as it exists NOW. Remove or disconnect items one by one until the problem is located. Unless you wish to potentially destroy additional drives.

ISOLATE and IDENTIFY.

Unplug ALL cables to the HD, remove ribbon cable from the Mainboard. TEST. This would mean to turn it on and carefully observe what happens, and when.

Enter BIOS setup and let it sit for a few minutes. Check temperatures in BIOS if available.

Also try boot to a CD.

Not enough definite information to even make a wild guess at this point. Video card, memory, HD, Mobo, PS, CPU, overheating, all could cause this. Since nobody has mentioned it, a floppy drive with a dead short could also cause this, ditto the CDROM and/or the data cables for either. Shorted mouse or keyboard cable, defective memory stick, exhaust fan, almost anything. A more precise description of the symptoms can eliminate most of these.

You know the side of the case that you remove to access the internals? Almost 100% that is NOT the problem. (Although it IS possible.)

You can keep trying various things at random until you hit upon the solution by pure dumb luck, or you can take a systematic, step-by-step approach which is guaranteed to find the solution.

And BTW, a temperature-related CPU sutdown can occur in about 5 seconds after applying power. It gets hot enough in that time to put a blister on your finger. Yes, I can personally testify to that. Ouch!