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Hello, just today I was restarting my computer and when it started to boot up again it just shut off by itself. I kept on trying to turn it on and so far most of the time my PC shuts itself off before I can get to my windows log-in screen. The few times that I've logged into my PC the computer stayed on for <5 minutes before shutting itself off again. No errors, no warnings my computer just shuts itself off.
I tried google searching my problem and the only solutions for problems that were similar to mine were to change my power supply.
Another thing I noticed when I took the case off my computer was that the cable from my case's power switch to the motherboard was caught in the case so it's possible that the wires inside might be cut, but I can't look at the wires inside because the rubber on the outside is still intact.
Does this seem like the problem or could there be something else wrong with my computer?
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Sounds like a heat issue. You might want to try going into your bios and checking your cpu temperatures.
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It could be a problem with the internal fan, try checking to see if it's full of dust or just never turns on. I had the exact same issue with a laptop and it was because of the fan.
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I don't think it's a heat issue, I left my computer off for a few hours and tried again and it still happend. I can't check the bios or anything either because my computer does not stay on long enough for me to do anything.
I also used an air gun to blast all the dust out of the inside of my computer, and earlier I kept my PC open while turning it on to see that all my fans were spinning.
I've been looking all day for some solutions and I found 2 more possibilities, either my PSU is degrading or that my RAM is dying?
The PSU I could sort of see since this computer is about 3 years old, but I want to know if its possible for RAM to just shut off my computer without warning if there is not enough of it?
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Doubt it's a RAM issue, but you can leave 1 stick and pull out the rest ( unless you have just 1 ) and check like that. If it won't work, pull out the remaining one and put a different one to another slot and try again. I'd say it's either PSU or heat issue. CPU will get hot very fast if it's cooled properly, so it doesn't matter if you leave your PC off for a few hours. And if you worry that it may be because of the cable that got stuck in the case, you can try to disconnect it from the motherboard and power on PC by touching 2 pins on the MB with a screw driver. Like here: http://forums.pcpitstop.com/index.php?/topic/164761-turn-on-computer-with-no-case/
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This program (HWmonitor, 'hardware monitor') will show you the status of major internals, temperatures and voltages kind of thing. You'll be able to tell of the status of major internals in your system and see what looks awry.
What is HWMonitor?
HWMonitor is a hardware monitoring program that reads PC systems main health sensors : voltages, temperatures, fans speed. The program handles the most common sensor chips, like ITE® IT87 series, most Winbond® ICs, and others. In addition, it can read modern CPUs on-die core thermal sensors, as well has hard drives temperature via S.M.A.R.T, and video card GPU temperature"
http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/hwmonitor.html#whatishwmonitor
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^And just how is he going to use that when he can't even get into windows?
PSU or heat problem, CPUs heat up very quickly if the heatsink isn't mounted properly, but it doesn't sound like you've messed around with the internals so you can probably rule that out. Check that it's mounted correctly anyways just to make sure.
Otherwise try and borrow a spare PSU off a friend and see if it makes a difference.
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On December 15 2012 11:20 TJ31 wrote:Doubt it's a RAM issue, but you can leave 1 stick and pull out the rest ( unless you have just 1 ) and check like that. If it won't work, pull out the remaining one and put a different one to another slot and try again. I'd say it's either PSU or heat issue. CPU will get hot very fast if it's cooled properly, so it doesn't matter if you leave your PC off for a few hours. And if you worry that it may be because of the cable that got stuck in the case, you can try to disconnect it from the motherboard and power on PC by touching 2 pins on the MB with a screw driver. Like here: http://forums.pcpitstop.com/index.php?/topic/164761-turn-on-computer-with-no-case/
I took the fan off the CPU, and if i remember correctly when I built the PC a few years ago there was supposed to be something in between the fan and CPU for cooling correct? I did see some grey stuff on both the CPU and the fan so could it be possible that I need to replace whatever was helping cool the CPU because it might have melted or something?
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On December 16 2012 08:33 jbui wrote: I took the fan off the CPU, and if i remember correctly when I built the PC a few years ago there was supposed to be something in between the fan and CPU for cooling correct? I did see some grey stuff on both the CPU and the fan so could it be possible that I need to replace whatever was helping cool the CPU because it might have melted or something?
The grey goop is thermal paste, it helps heat transfer from the CPU to the fan. You typically don't have to replace it, unless you've taken it apart.
I'd still investigate the power supply, I had similar issues a while back, and PSU issues are pretty common for a 3 year-old PC. Like TM said, try borrowing a spare from someone so you can at least rule it out as the culprit.
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United Kingdom20157 Posts
I don't think it's a heat issue, I left my computer off for a few hours and tried again and it still happend.
Thats not how CPU's work in a desktop enviroment.
Its pretty common to see changes of etc 20 degrees celcius in the space of a second, you could go from room temperature to thermal shutdown in like 3-5 seconds if the heatsink fell off or something.
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On December 16 2012 09:18 Cyro wrote:Show nested quote + I don't think it's a heat issue, I left my computer off for a few hours and tried again and it still happend. Thats not how CPU's work in a desktop enviroment. Its pretty common to see changes of etc 20 degrees celcius in the space of a second, you could go from room temperature to thermal shutdown in like 3-5 seconds if the heatsink fell off or something.
That is correct. I once destroyed my cpu fan by accident. I still wanted to play, so I set up a ventilator, which cooled the inside of my computer. Once I turned it off, it would only take 5 seconds to cause my PC to overheat and shut down.
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On December 16 2012 10:24 Xiron wrote:Show nested quote +On December 16 2012 09:18 Cyro wrote: I don't think it's a heat issue, I left my computer off for a few hours and tried again and it still happend. Thats not how CPU's work in a desktop enviroment. Its pretty common to see changes of etc 20 degrees celcius in the space of a second, you could go from room temperature to thermal shutdown in like 3-5 seconds if the heatsink fell off or something. That is correct. I once destroyed my cpu fan by accident. I still wanted to play, so I set up a ventilator, which cooled the inside of my computer. Once I turned it off, it would only take 5 seconds to cause my PC to overheat and shut down.
Interesting, I did notice that my CPU fan was not attached at the bottom 2 sockets so could it be possible that since the fan wasn't properly attached the CPU overheated? The fan still spun. However for this to have been the case the fan had to have been recently detached somehow because the only reason I ever opened up my PC was to blow the dust out with my air compressor (I never messed around with any of the insides after I finished building my PC)
Maybe I'll try buying a new CPU fan to see what happens
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If your CPU fan is plugged in at one point, that will be enough. If the fan, paste and good contact is there, it shouldnt be overheating.
Diagnosing this problem could be a case of trial and error.... have you tried a differnet PSU yet?
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Seems like the problem is solved. I bought new RAM :O
I didn't have a PSU to borrow and buying new RAM was the cheapest option for me so I decided to try that first.
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Thanks for coming back and telling us.
Can't believe how often you will see people solve their problem and then someone comes in asking what the solution was and we have to go through it all over again.
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Damn, so it was broken RAM at the end of the day? Cool. Glad it was a cheap fix.
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