Computer Shutdown

[Mia]

Tonight my desktop computer shut itself off. (I'm using
the laptop now). I started it again a few minutes later
but it shut down again after only a few minutes. I assume
it's overheating, but I verified that the fan is running.
I realize this may be tricky to diagnose, sight unseen,
but does anyone have any idea about what may be happening,
and is this something I might be able to fix myself?

Thanks in advance.

[Mart]

Mia, as you say ' sight unseen' but maybe this might help:-

You may need to determine whether its a heat/hardware issue rather than a
WinMe issue. If heat related, then the inside of the box may need a good
clearout. (A lot of dust gets sucked into box due to the fan(s) and can
reduce the cooling efficiency)

Boot using your Windows Startup (floppy) Disk and select the DOS Help page
option. Leave it running for several hours, scrolling up and down the pages
every so often and see if it still shuts down/reboots.

If so, then it's a problem with your PC and not with WinMe.

If not, then boot into Safe Mode (F8 or Ctrl keys at boot-up) and leave it
running in that mode for a few hours and see if it shuts down/reboots. If
so, you may
need to disconnect external items of hardware to see if you can isolate it.

Mart


"Mia" > wrote in message
...
> Tonight my desktop computer shut itself off. (I'm using
> the laptop now). I started it again a few minutes later
> but it shut down again after only a few minutes. I assume
> it's overheating, but I verified that the fan is running.
> I realize this may be tricky to diagnose, sight unseen,
> but does anyone have any idea about what may be happening,
> and is this something I might be able to fix myself?
>
> Thanks in advance.
>

[Mia]

Mart,
Thanks for the suggestions. The culprit may well be the
dust. I noticed when I replaced a slave drive a month or
so ago that it was pretty dusty in there. I cleaned it
some, but not thoroughly. I'll go back in and do a good
cleaning and see what happens after trying your other
suggestions. When it shuts down, it doesn't reboot--just
quits. Later I can start it again, so it does sound like
an overheating issue. Guess I'll treat it like I do the
dust on furniture--dust twice a year, whether it needs it
or not.

Thanks again.

Mia

>-----Original Message-----
>Mia, as you say ' sight unseen' but maybe this might
help:-
>
>You may need to determine whether its a heat/hardware
issue rather than a
>WinMe issue. If heat related, then the inside of the box
may need a good
>clearout. (A lot of dust gets sucked into box due to the
fan(s) and can
>reduce the cooling efficiency)
>
>Boot using your Windows Startup (floppy) Disk and select
the DOS Help page
>option. Leave it running for several hours, scrolling up
and down the pages
>every so often and see if it still shuts down/reboots.
>
>If so, then it's a problem with your PC and not with
WinMe.
>
>If not, then boot into Safe Mode (F8 or Ctrl keys at boot-
up) and leave it
>running in that mode for a few hours and see if it shuts
down/reboots. If
>so, you may
>need to disconnect external items of hardware to see if
you can isolate it.
>
>Mart
>
>
>"Mia" > wrote in
message
...
>> Tonight my desktop computer shut itself off. (I'm using
>> the laptop now). I started it again a few minutes later
>> but it shut down again after only a few minutes. I
assume
>> it's overheating, but I verified that the fan is
running.
>> I realize this may be tricky to diagnose, sight unseen,
>> but does anyone have any idea about what may be
happening,
>> and is this something I might be able to fix myself?
>>
>> Thanks in advance.
>>
>
>
>.
>

[Mart]

Mia wrote:-

> ....when I replaced a slave drive a month or so ago --- Coincidence??

Whilst you're in there with the vacuum cleaner & brush, check to see if you
may have dislodged any cabling whilst you were changing the drive. Check all
cables are fully seated - at both ends!! Also check that the fan on the CPU
(if fitted) is clear and running OK.

Good luck

Mart


"Mia" > wrote in message
...
> Mart,
> Thanks for the suggestions. The culprit may well be the
> dust. I noticed when I replaced a slave drive a month or
> so ago that it was pretty dusty in there. I cleaned it
> some, but not thoroughly. I'll go back in and do a good
> cleaning and see what happens after trying your other
> suggestions. When it shuts down, it doesn't reboot--just
> quits. Later I can start it again, so it does sound like
> an overheating issue. Guess I'll treat it like I do the
> dust on furniture--dust twice a year, whether it needs it
> or not.
>
> Thanks again.
>
> Mia
>
> >-----Original Message-----
> >Mia, as you say ' sight unseen' but maybe this might
> help:-
> >
> >You may need to determine whether its a heat/hardware
> issue rather than a
> >WinMe issue. If heat related, then the inside of the box
> may need a good
> >clearout. (A lot of dust gets sucked into box due to the
> fan(s) and can
> >reduce the cooling efficiency)
> >
> >Boot using your Windows Startup (floppy) Disk and select
> the DOS Help page
> >option. Leave it running for several hours, scrolling up
> and down the pages
> >every so often and see if it still shuts down/reboots.
> >
> >If so, then it's a problem with your PC and not with
> WinMe.
> >
> >If not, then boot into Safe Mode (F8 or Ctrl keys at boot-
> up) and leave it
> >running in that mode for a few hours and see if it shuts
> down/reboots. If
> >so, you may
> >need to disconnect external items of hardware to see if
> you can isolate it.
> >
> >Mart
> >
> >
> >"Mia" > wrote in
> message
> ...
> >> Tonight my desktop computer shut itself off. (I'm using
> >> the laptop now). I started it again a few minutes later
> >> but it shut down again after only a few minutes. I
> assume
> >> it's overheating, but I verified that the fan is
> running.
> >> I realize this may be tricky to diagnose, sight unseen,
> >> but does anyone have any idea about what may be
> happening,
> >> and is this something I might be able to fix myself?
> >>
> >> Thanks in advance.
> >>
> >
> >
> >.
> >

[Mia]

I think I see the problem. One of the 3 fans is not
working. It's the one that vents out the back, very near
the power plug/switch. Both the CPU fan and the other fan
are operating properly.

It would probably be a good idea to let a computer repair
person replace the fan rather than an amateur like me, so
I plan to take it to the shop tomorrow. All the cables
seem to be firmly seated, so I reckon the culprit is the
fan.

I did boot up using my rescue disk as you suggested and
after 15 minutes the computer shut down. An hour or so
later I disconnected the power, took off the cover, and
then reconnected the power and booted up to take a look at
the fans and that's when I discovered the problem.

Given a choice, I'd rather have that problem than a
Windows or other handware problem.

Thanks again for all your advice.

Mia



>-----Original Message-----
>Mia wrote:-
>
>> ....when I replaced a slave drive a month or so ago -
-- Coincidence??
>
>Whilst you're in there with the vacuum cleaner & brush,
check to see if you
>may have dislodged any cabling whilst you were changing
the drive. Check all
>cables are fully seated - at both ends!! Also check that
the fan on the CPU
>(if fitted) is clear and running OK.
>
>Good luck
>
>Mart
>
>
>"Mia" > wrote in
message
...
>> Mart,
>> Thanks for the suggestions. The culprit may well be the
>> dust. I noticed when I replaced a slave drive a month
or
>> so ago that it was pretty dusty in there. I cleaned it
>> some, but not thoroughly. I'll go back in and do a good
>> cleaning and see what happens after trying your other
>> suggestions. When it shuts down, it doesn't reboot--
just
>> quits. Later I can start it again, so it does sound
like
>> an overheating issue. Guess I'll treat it like I do the
>> dust on furniture--dust twice a year, whether it needs
it
>> or not.
>>
>> Thanks again.
>>
>> Mia
>>
>> >-----Original Message-----
>> >Mia, as you say ' sight unseen' but maybe this might
>> help:-
>> >
>> >You may need to determine whether its a heat/hardware
>> issue rather than a
>> >WinMe issue. If heat related, then the inside of the
box
>> may need a good
>> >clearout. (A lot of dust gets sucked into box due to
the
>> fan(s) and can
>> >reduce the cooling efficiency)
>> >
>> >Boot using your Windows Startup (floppy) Disk and
select
>> the DOS Help page
>> >option. Leave it running for several hours, scrolling
up
>> and down the pages
>> >every so often and see if it still shuts down/reboots.
>> >
>> >If so, then it's a problem with your PC and not with
>> WinMe.
>> >
>> >If not, then boot into Safe Mode (F8 or Ctrl keys at
boot-
>> up) and leave it
>> >running in that mode for a few hours and see if it
shuts
>> down/reboots. If
>> >so, you may
>> >need to disconnect external items of hardware to see if
>> you can isolate it.
>> >
>> >Mart
>> >
>> >
>> >"Mia" > wrote in
>> message
>> ...
>> >> Tonight my desktop computer shut itself off. (I'm
using
>> >> the laptop now). I started it again a few minutes
later
>> >> but it shut down again after only a few minutes. I
>> assume
>> >> it's overheating, but I verified that the fan is
>> running.
>> >> I realize this may be tricky to diagnose, sight
unseen,
>> >> but does anyone have any idea about what may be
>> happening,
>> >> and is this something I might be able to fix myself?
>> >>
>> >> Thanks in advance.
>> >>
>> >
>> >
>> >.
>> >
>
>
>.
>

[Mart]

Mia, it looks like you've found it. Good luck with your computer shop.

Mart


"Mia" > wrote in message
...
> I think I see the problem. One of the 3 fans is not
> working. It's the one that vents out the back, very near
> the power plug/switch. Both the CPU fan and the other fan
> are operating properly.
>
> It would probably be a good idea to let a computer repair
> person replace the fan rather than an amateur like me, so
> I plan to take it to the shop tomorrow. All the cables
> seem to be firmly seated, so I reckon the culprit is the
> fan.
>
> I did boot up using my rescue disk as you suggested and
> after 15 minutes the computer shut down. An hour or so
> later I disconnected the power, took off the cover, and
> then reconnected the power and booted up to take a look at
> the fans and that's when I discovered the problem.
>
> Given a choice, I'd rather have that problem than a
> Windows or other handware problem.
>
> Thanks again for all your advice.
>
> Mia
>
>
>
> >-----Original Message-----
> >Mia wrote:-
> >
> >> ....when I replaced a slave drive a month or so ago -
> -- Coincidence??
> >
> >Whilst you're in there with the vacuum cleaner & brush,
> check to see if you
> >may have dislodged any cabling whilst you were changing
> the drive. Check all
> >cables are fully seated - at both ends!! Also check that
> the fan on the CPU
> >(if fitted) is clear and running OK.
> >
> >Good luck
> >
> >Mart
> >
> >
> >"Mia" > wrote in
> message
> ...
> >> Mart,
> >> Thanks for the suggestions. The culprit may well be the
> >> dust. I noticed when I replaced a slave drive a month
> or
> >> so ago that it was pretty dusty in there. I cleaned it
> >> some, but not thoroughly. I'll go back in and do a good
> >> cleaning and see what happens after trying your other
> >> suggestions. When it shuts down, it doesn't reboot--
> just
> >> quits. Later I can start it again, so it does sound
> like
> >> an overheating issue. Guess I'll treat it like I do the
> >> dust on furniture--dust twice a year, whether it needs
> it
> >> or not.
> >>
> >> Thanks again.
> >>
> >> Mia
> >>
> >> >-----Original Message-----
> >> >Mia, as you say ' sight unseen' but maybe this might
> >> help:-
> >> >
> >> >You may need to determine whether its a heat/hardware
> >> issue rather than a
> >> >WinMe issue. If heat related, then the inside of the
> box
> >> may need a good
> >> >clearout. (A lot of dust gets sucked into box due to
> the
> >> fan(s) and can
> >> >reduce the cooling efficiency)
> >> >
> >> >Boot using your Windows Startup (floppy) Disk and
> select
> >> the DOS Help page
> >> >option. Leave it running for several hours, scrolling
> up
> >> and down the pages
> >> >every so often and see if it still shuts down/reboots.
> >> >
> >> >If so, then it's a problem with your PC and not with
> >> WinMe.
> >> >
> >> >If not, then boot into Safe Mode (F8 or Ctrl keys at
> boot-
> >> up) and leave it
> >> >running in that mode for a few hours and see if it
> shuts
> >> down/reboots. If
> >> >so, you may
> >> >need to disconnect external items of hardware to see if
> >> you can isolate it.
> >> >
> >> >Mart
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >"Mia" > wrote in
> >> message
> >> ...
> >> >> Tonight my desktop computer shut itself off. (I'm
> using
> >> >> the laptop now). I started it again a few minutes
> later
> >> >> but it shut down again after only a few minutes. I
> >> assume
> >> >> it's overheating, but I verified that the fan is
> >> running.
> >> >> I realize this may be tricky to diagnose, sight
> unseen,
> >> >> but does anyone have any idea about what may be
> >> happening,
> >> >> and is this something I might be able to fix myself?
> >> >>
> >> >> Thanks in advance.
> >> >>
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >.
> >> >
> >
> >
> >.
> >

[Mia]

Mart,
Problem solves. They ended up replacing the entire power
supply and the computer has been running an hour with no
shutdown. The stated reason for replacing the whole thing
was that the wiring for the fan did'nt plug in to a power
source, but was soldered in and they didn't have the
technology (or knowledge apparently) to disconnect the old
fan and install a new one. Sounds like the problem I had
with a lightning strike to a computer board on the
intercom at the gate entrance to my property. They just
don't repair anything any more--just replace. Oh well, at
least the cost was only $40, and not $700 for a new
intercom board, so I'm happy.

Thanks again for all your advice.
>-----Original Message-----
>Mia, it looks like you've found it. Good luck with your
computer shop.

[Mart]

Mia wrote:-

> They just don't repair anything any more--just replace.

More often than not, it just isn't worth it - for $40 you've got a new psu,
for $50 you could have had a repaired one - assuming they could have
actually sourced a replacement fan <g>

But good news though, and well done for spotting the offending fan
yourself - pat on the back!

Mart


"Mia" > wrote in message
...
> Mart,
> Problem solves. They ended up replacing the entire power
> supply and the computer has been running an hour with no
> shutdown. The stated reason for replacing the whole thing
> was that the wiring for the fan did'nt plug in to a power
> source, but was soldered in and they didn't have the
> technology (or knowledge apparently) to disconnect the old
> fan and install a new one. Sounds like the problem I had
> with a lightning strike to a computer board on the
> intercom at the gate entrance to my property. They just
> don't repair anything any more--just replace. Oh well, at
> least the cost was only $40, and not $700 for a new
> intercom board, so I'm happy.
>
> Thanks again for all your advice.
> >-----Original Message-----
> >Mia, it looks like you've found it. Good luck with your
> computer shop.
>