geno3333

My son in-law brought over his 4 mo old Compaq which for no appearant reason, began shutting down every time you try to start up computer. It runs long enough (10 to 30 seconds) to show "windows is loading files," then a relay click sound is heard when it shuts off. I've pulled out the power supply and the hard drive to try to isolate the "click." It sounds like it is coming from the hard drive. prior to shut down, the case fan and cpu fan slow down significantly and a few seconds later is when it shuts off. FYI, this is my 1st posting ever, my apologies if needed.
gene w.

belfasteddie

Try booting into safe mode, this will at least establish if the hard drive is the prob. i.e. if it keeps running or not!
If not that go into the Bios and select the Load default settings.

lazareth1

check that it isnt over heating. I would double check the CPU heatsink and fan is attached firmly and that there is thermal paste in between the heatsink and CPU.

After checking, re apply some new thermal paste. You can got this stuff from your local shop for cheap.

geno3333

computer wont run long enough to let me start in safe mode. sometimes runs long enough to F8, & select "safe mode," but i hit enter and it shuts down before start in safe mode.

Also, I unlocked (flipped the lever between cooling fan & heat sink) the cpu heat sink and it doesn't want to pull away from the cpu, so i'm assuming that the heat sink is well pasted to cpu

lazareth1

which CPU is it you got there? Some heatsinks have to levers. One on each side. Remember and leave the computer off until you get some new thermal paste applied back on.