Computer is powering down!

[Trentham]

Can anyone come up with any possible causes as to why a computer I'm trying to sort out keeps shutting down?

It can be sitting there minding its own business and then suddenly it will shut down... just like the power's suddenly gone - except it hasn't!

It can be running a program and often if I'm trying to do a lot of CD reading it can happen but that might just be a red herring.

I've tried it with a different graphics card and with a different CD drive but the problem persists. I've upgraded from Win98 to WinME and still the problem is there.

I *think* in tghe past I tried a differnet power supply and different memory but I can't be too sure about that. I've still those tests to do again but what can cause this machine to suddenly switch itself off?

 

[exit12]

It could be due to overheating. Check your CPU temp.

 

[socaltech62]

If the computer keeps shutting down for no apparent reason, maybe the computer is not getting clean power. If you share the electrical outlet with a device such as a large printer or microwave oven or other large electrical device, those devices could be draining power from the computer when they turn on. If you happen to share an electrical circuit with an elevator or other large industrial equipment like an office copier, the same thing could happen. Large power demands cause power sags down the line, and the PC will go down if there is a power sag. Not to mention it is lessening the life of your PC. I have always used an Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS) with my home PC. The good thing about using a UPS is that the UPS will beep when you have a power sag. Some UPS also have software that tracks the flow of electricity as well so you can graphically see power sags and brownouts. The UPS will also provide a constant flow of power to your PC to keep it running. You should not plug any type of printer or copier into the same UPS that the PC uses though -- the large motors from a printer or copier will tax the UPS and cause the PC to go down since the UPS cannot handle the large power requests from that type of equipment.

 

[Trentham]

Power supply was one of my first thoughts but it showed the sdame problems in two different environments.

The problem has not actually shown itself for quite a while now - ever since I replaced the IDE cable to the CD drive. That could just be coincidence. Only time will tell.