Question:
My pc keeps shutting down after approx 12 mins and then restarts. This happens while on the Internet and in other programmes. I'm running XP and have loaded no other programmes (except a Microsoft mouse driver a week prior to this problem).
Please help.
Cheers.
Answers:
I had a problem with overheating which gave ths same symptoms. Try running it with the side off and see if that makes any difference?
Answers:
I'd also check for scumware & viruses
Answers:
My pc keeps shutting down after approx 12 mins and then restarts. This happens while on the Internet and in other programmes. I'm running XP and have loaded no other programmes (except a Microsoft mouse driver a week prior to this problem).
Please help.
Cheers.
Could be Blaster worm. Run a virus scan - though if you have up to date anti-virus it should have spotted it.
Just in case, try an online virus scan and then here for removal instructions
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Just to add it before you go hunting for scumware & the like, start your PC up in Safe mode and ensure that System Restore is turned off. If you don't you might get rid of the problem only for it to return the next time you reboot.
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I think you are best to do the scan BEFORE turning off System Restore. Turning it off removes ALL previous restore points, one of which you may want to go back to !!
Check for the Blaster Worm first, THEN delete all your old restore points if you have to, but don't throw 'em away needlessly !
From memory though, Blaster didn't allow the PC to run for as long as 15 minutes, so it may not be as simple as that. :-/
Answers:
Almost invariably the big three
HEAT - POWER - MEMORY
Check your CPU temp reading in the bios and post back, including your system specs). If you don't know what I'm talking about please ask.
Post the +3.3V, +5V and +12V rating of your PSU. You'll have to open the case and it will be printed on the side.
You may have faulty RAM. Download Memtest . Extract and run the install batch file to transfer to a formatted floppy. Boot from the floppy to check for errors.
It may not be any of these (but I would be surprised), but at least it will help with the diagnostics if you can post your findings.
8)
TOG
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Unfortunately my daughter's laptop does the same thing, but it runs off Windows 98. In addition it is really slow. There's plenty of room on the hard-drive. Does anyone have a fix?
Answers:
Tog,
Checked CPU temp and it is 29 degrees Cent. System spec is. 1000mhz, 256 ram, 40gb (are these the specs you mean?). Haven't taken cover off yet to check other bits yet.
Have noticed though, that the pc does not switch off when standig idle or when using Autocad. Also the time before switching off is slightly longer tonight, approx 20 mins. Unfortunately not enough time to run my Norton anti virus. Tried the 'boot' thingy, but proved beyond me.
What next?
Cheers,
Bill. Thanks for all replies so far!!!
Answers:
@BillK,
Temp is Ok.
The fact it runs at idle but not under load is symptomatic of either too weak or failing psu or faulty memory.
Which bit of the Memtest did you get stuck with? It's pretty straightforward. I can talk you through it.
Download it. Unzip it. Put a formatted floppy in. Open install.bat and select a: You now have a Memtest boot diskette. Powe off your PC and restart and select boot from floppy in the boot menu. The test will then run automatically without you doing anything and indicate either PASS or FAIL.
8)
TOG
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If you're worried it my be a virus you could always try booting from your Norton Emergency diskette (or whatever it's called) and try run NAV in DOS.
8)
TOG
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Search for a prog on the net called stinger , Its a small antivirus program.Download and run it , if all is well then check that auto restart is not set if using xp (system settings advanced) , and that your sp2 is installed too if using xp.
If your pc is out of warranty open up the left panel and run it.If the fan on the motherboard , any one , isnt runnin gthen theres your overheating problem.Same with the psu , if its not putting out heat(running) with a draught then its not working.
Further check that your drivers are up to date , and no conflicts exist between software and hardware.
Bios , boot into bios and ensure everything isnt running at mental settings , ie overclock , and set memmory timings down to safe or optimal.Theres always someone that reads about overclocking , and or , thinks they know what they are doing thats a fiddler and changes a couple of settings.
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Thanks for the advice, will try this evening.
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Mike,
Took cover off last night and blasted with my fan heater set to cold. PC ran perfectly, managed to run antivirus and about 2.5 hrs of Memtest (had to abort in the end as I didn't want to leave the fan running all night). From this I conclude it is a heat problem. All fans are working, although I did replace the graphics card fan a few weeks ago, maybe it is not up to the job? When I did the temp check in the Bios setting, was that the temp of the motherboard chip or just the temp within the case? Maybe a fan fitted to the side of the case is the answer?
Just one more point, should fans blow onto or away from the chip on the Graphics card?
Thanks again for any help.
Cheers.
Answers:
@BillK Congratulations on your detective work. In general a graphics card fan would blow air onto the heatsink rather than try to suck air through it.
You might try utilities to monitor what iis getting hot. MBM5, Speedfan are two free examples that spring to mind. There may be similar utilities supplied by your motherboard manufacturer. With these you can monitor what gets hot when the system is under load.
A good source of cool air is required as an intake. Move cables out of the way of air flow. Motherboard chips such as the North and South bridges may also need extra cooling on certain motherboards for long term stability.
J_B.
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Ah, disaster, turned my pc on yesterday and it freezes on the first load up page. The one that says - Pentium 111 1000mhz etc, had the fan heater out again with no luck. The line that says 'memory test' runs for about 2 seconds and then stops.
Please help.
Cheers,
BillK.
Answers:
So we've ruled out:
1. Memory (Memtest initially ran 2.5 hours)
2. Heat (CPU temp only 29 C in bios monitoring)
3. Virus (NAV scanned clean)
Next most likely candidate is your power supply. Do you have psu you could borrow to try?
Post the Wattage of your psu and the +3.3V, +5V and +12V Ampage (all will be shown on a label on the side of the psu).
Also try to calculate what size psu you need for your system.
Answers:
Tog,
Sorry, I mean't you when I said 'Mike' in my post above.
What about my current problem I now have? Only first page of start up and no more.
Cheers,
BillK
Answers:
Bill,
Look on the bright side :-/ At least it narrows down the possibilites. The fact it freezes straight after POST and won't even boot to floppy (memtest) eliminates the possibility of it being a Windoze/software or hard disk problem.
Three possibilities are cpu, motherboard or psu problem. Of the three the psu is the most likely component to deteriorate gradually (your symptoms). The others are much more likely to fail catastrophically without warning. However it could still be any one of the three.
To check the psu you really need a multi-meter or try to borrow another psu. One thing you can try is to set up a min power config and see if it will boot.
To do this disconnect all external devices that draw power e.g. USB peripherals. Then inside the case disconnect the power leads off all CD/DVD drives, the floppy drive and any hard drives other than your primary.
Next remove all pci cards, sound, modem etc just leaving your graphics card. Remove all but one stick of RAM (providing the one remaining is at least 128 meg).
So that should leave you just powering mobo/cpu, vga, RAM and one hard drive. Try boot from that. If it works restore components one by one (in your own order of importance) until you reach a config where it fails again.
Let us know how that goes.
8)
TOG
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If you are going to unplug power leads to drives then unplug the interface cable aswell from the drive. The drive may try to draw power through the IDE cable and prevent the system booting.
J_B.