Comp shut down, never woke up

Wrathchild · 12-24-2008, 05:23 PM

Hey guys,

So I had been having issues about 3 days prior to the death of my computer in the form of random reboots/random shut downs. This would happen while gaming, downloading, or browsing the web.

In the event of the computer randomly shutting down, the power light on the front of the case would remain on. Only after holding down the button for a few seconds, would the light turn off (same thing as shutting it down via the power button under normal circumstances). I then could hit the power button and it would boot like nothing had ever happened.

Then, one day after it randomly shut down, it never turned back on.

I've tried re-seating the processor, to no avail, and am at odds with what to do next. The computer is several years old, and I've upgraded it a few times/installed new parts when others have failed. I'm not too keen on spending a few hundred on parts to get it up and running again. It may be time for a whole new rig instead of nursing this one along. My choice is going to depend on what failed and the cost to replace it.

I'm no professional but I'm assuming either the MOBO, PSU, or CPU has failed. I'm hoping the CPU hasn't overheated and fried itself, tho I think that may help explain the random shutdown/reboots.

Any thoughts?

Cheers,

Steve

P.S. I hope this is the right Forum...I havent pinned down the problem to be specific enough for the others...

Tumbleweed36 · 12-24-2008, 05:37 PM

Do you have a friend that could loan you a power supply to try in there?

Wrathchild · 12-24-2008, 05:57 PM

I do have a PSU available actually, I'm running an older computer here right next to it that seems like a willing donor...Ill give it a shot, thx!

Tumbleweed36 · 12-24-2008, 05:59 PM

That would sure eliminate that area real quick. If you get nothing out of that, then take the power supply and try it in the other computer and see if it powers that.

Wrathchild · 12-24-2008, 09:18 PM

Tumbleweed36 you are the man!

Swapped the PSU over from that other comp and bam she's back up and running...a Christmas miracle!

It's not an adequate PSU (nor was the last I suppose: a no-name whatever @ 480W)...It's only 250W, some stock Gateway brand so I'll definitely be ordering a new one online asap.

I'm running (nothing overclocked):
- Pentium D @ 2.66
- 6800GT 256MB AGP
- Audigy 2ZS Soundcard
- 1 GB RAM...tho I'll be picking up an extra gig with PSU
- 1 SATA HDD
- 2 DVD/CD Drives
- 3 x Case Fans, 1 CPU Fan

Any suggestions on something quality that will keep my components in the good juice while gaming or running 3dsmax? This is the second PSU that has gone on me...is this because it hasn't been up to the tasks I'm throwing at it?

Thanks again!

Steve

Tumbleweed36 · 12-25-2008, 05:17 AM

Any of these should do the job assuming it is a full sized ATX PSU:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817703016

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139004

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817151027

Or, if you want to look around, then here is a list of quality supplies:

Seasonic – Any Model
Corsair – Any Model
PC Power & Cooling – Any Model
Thermaltake – “Toughpower” Series Only
Coolermaster – “Real Power Pro” Series Only

Warning Note: Will an older proprietary computer, be sure that it is a regular size ATX power supply and not something that is not a standard size. Always check that before ordering.

Wrathchild · 12-26-2008, 05:15 PM

Thanks again Tumbleweed36, it is a full sized ATX PSU.

I'll have to poke around on TigerDirect (NewEgg won't deliver to my igloo up here in Canada) but those names/wattage range will give me a great starting point.

Tumbleweed36 · 12-26-2008, 06:11 PM

One comment, NewEgg just opened a Canadian branch, are you certain they don't deliver up there? This is a new feature for NewEgg that just happened about a month ago. Might be worth a check since they normally are the most reasonable.

12-24-2008, 05:23 PM	#1 (permalink)
Wrathchild Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 8 OS: XP	Comp shut down, never woke up Hey guys, So I had been having issues about 3 days prior to the death of my computer in the form of random reboots/random shut downs. This would happen while gaming, downloading, or browsing the web. In the event of the computer randomly shutting down, the power light on the front of the case would remain on. Only after holding down the button for a few seconds, would the light turn off (same thing as shutting it down via the power button under normal circumstances). I then could hit the power button and it would boot like nothing had ever happened. Then, one day after it randomly shut down, it never turned back on. I've tried re-seating the processor, to no avail, and am at odds with what to do next. The computer is several years old, and I've upgraded it a few times/installed new parts when others have failed. I'm not too keen on spending a few hundred on parts to get it up and running again. It may be time for a whole new rig instead of nursing this one along. My choice is going to depend on what failed and the cost to replace it. I'm no professional but I'm assuming either the MOBO, PSU, or CPU has failed. I'm hoping the CPU hasn't overheated and fried itself, tho I think that may help explain the random shutdown/reboots. Any thoughts? Cheers, Steve P.S. I hope this is the right Forum...I havent pinned down the problem to be specific enough for the others...

12-24-2008, 05:37 PM	#2 (permalink)
Tumbleweed36 Asst Manager Hardware Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA Posts: 19,632 OS: XP Professional	Re: Comp shut down, never woke up Do you have a friend that could loan you a power supply to try in there? __________________ ---------- I don't receive email notifications of replies to subscribed threads. (Internet provider policy) Therefore, if I don't respond to your post within 24 hours, please send me a reminder PM and include the link to your thread.

12-24-2008, 05:57 PM	#3 (permalink)
Wrathchild Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 8 OS: XP	Re: Comp shut down, never woke up I do have a PSU available actually, I'm running an older computer here right next to it that seems like a willing donor...Ill give it a shot, thx!

12-24-2008, 05:59 PM	#4 (permalink)
Tumbleweed36 Asst Manager Hardware Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA Posts: 19,632 OS: XP Professional	Re: Comp shut down, never woke up That would sure eliminate that area real quick. If you get nothing out of that, then take the power supply and try it in the other computer and see if it powers that. __________________ ---------- I don't receive email notifications of replies to subscribed threads. (Internet provider policy) Therefore, if I don't respond to your post within 24 hours, please send me a reminder PM and include the link to your thread.

12-24-2008, 09:18 PM	#5 (permalink)
Wrathchild Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 8 OS: XP	Re: Comp shut down, never woke up Tumbleweed36 you are the man! Swapped the PSU over from that other comp and bam she's back up and running...a Christmas miracle! It's not an adequate PSU (nor was the last I suppose: a no-name whatever @ 480W)...It's only 250W, some stock Gateway brand so I'll definitely be ordering a new one online asap. I'm running (nothing overclocked): - Pentium D @ 2.66 - 6800GT 256MB AGP - Audigy 2ZS Soundcard - 1 GB RAM...tho I'll be picking up an extra gig with PSU - 1 SATA HDD - 2 DVD/CD Drives - 3 x Case Fans, 1 CPU Fan Any suggestions on something quality that will keep my components in the good juice while gaming or running 3dsmax? This is the second PSU that has gone on me...is this because it hasn't been up to the tasks I'm throwing at it? Thanks again! Steve

12-25-2008, 05:17 AM	#6 (permalink)
Tumbleweed36 Asst Manager Hardware Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA Posts: 19,632 OS: XP Professional	Re: Comp shut down, never woke up Any of these should do the job assuming it is a full sized ATX PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817703016 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139004 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817151027 Or, if you want to look around, then here is a list of quality supplies: Seasonic – Any Model Corsair – Any Model PC Power & Cooling – Any Model Thermaltake – “Toughpower” Series Only Coolermaster – “Real Power Pro” Series Only Warning Note: Will an older proprietary computer, be sure that it is a regular size ATX power supply and not something that is not a standard size. Always check that before ordering. __________________ ---------- I don't receive email notifications of replies to subscribed threads. (Internet provider policy) Therefore, if I don't respond to your post within 24 hours, please send me a reminder PM and include the link to your thread. Last edited by Tumbleweed36; 12-25-2008 at 05:22 AM.

12-26-2008, 05:15 PM	#7 (permalink)
Wrathchild Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 8 OS: XP	Re: Comp shut down, never woke up Thanks again Tumbleweed36, it is a full sized ATX PSU. I'll have to poke around on TigerDirect (NewEgg won't deliver to my igloo up here in Canada) but those names/wattage range will give me a great starting point.

12-26-2008, 06:11 PM	#8 (permalink)
Tumbleweed36 Asst Manager Hardware Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA Posts: 19,632 OS: XP Professional	Re: Comp shut down, never woke up One comment, NewEgg just opened a Canadian branch, are you certain they don't deliver up there? This is a new feature for NewEgg that just happened about a month ago. Might be worth a check since they normally are the most reasonable. __________________ ---------- I don't receive email notifications of replies to subscribed threads. (Internet provider policy) Therefore, if I don't respond to your post within 24 hours, please send me a reminder PM and include the link to your thread.