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General discussion

Help! My PC automatically offs itself!

Feb 12, 2004 12:45PM PST

About 3 weeks ago, my PC started to turn itself off totally, whether or not I'm using it. There was no error message or any kind of warning. Rarely it would restart by itself, but usually it wouldn't. And the strange thing was, I couldn't restart it at the CPU casing unless I turn off the main switch at the 3-pin power outlet socket at the wall of my room, wait for a while, switch it on again and then restart my PC.

I sent it to the computer shop for diagnostic, and the technician there said the hard disc was dead and I had to get a new one. I did, and my PC worked perfectly fine for around two weeks. Now it started to turn itself off again, exactly like before, randomly and frequently.

I sent it to the computer shop again, but it wouldn't turn off itself there!! The technician switched it on for one whole day and nothing happened. As soon as I brought it back to my room (university hostel), the problem occurs, whether my Windows XP Pro had been loaded or not. I scanned for viruses and errors using Norton Systemworks, but there was none and my Firewall is up and running. The temperature never exceed 45 Celsius. I've also disabled every auto-off or auto-restart functions of the PC, but it still turn itself off ( >10 times a day ). I even got some technician to check the power outlet in my room. Nothing's wrong with it. Please help.

My Hardwares:

Intel P4 1.8AGHz / 512KB Cache + Fan

Biostar SIS 650, DDR, Sound + VGA + LAN Mother Board

Micron PC-266MHz 256MB DDRAM

Samsung 1.44MB FDD

Maxtor 40GB, 7200RPM, ATA133 IDE HDD (previously)

Maxtor 80GB 7200RPM HDD (now)

A-Open 40X12X48X INT.CDRW Drive

ATX ZEUS LX W/350W DUAL FAN PSU

Discussion is locked

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Re:Help! My PC automatically offs itself!
Feb 12, 2004 3:02PM PST
I even got some technician to check the power outlet in my room. Nothing's wrong with it..

Even so, try connecting your computer via a voltage stablilzer.
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Re:Help! My PC automatically offs itself!
Feb 12, 2004 8:40PM PST

Remove the case cover to let all parts run cooler. Your 45C is just measuring ONE PART of the total system.

In closing, that 350 Watt power supply is under a lot of stress. Since passing the 1GHz mark and more people fitting 2 CD/DVD drives and 2 hard disks too often, the extra 5 bucks for a 450 Watt PSU keeps machines out of the repair shops. This may or may not be your issue, but for now I'd unplug one hard disk and remove the case cover.

Bob

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Re:Help! My PC automatically offs itself!
Feb 12, 2004 11:16PM PST

This is definetely a power supply problem. Change it to a 450W.

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Re:Help! My PC automatically offs itself!
Feb 16, 2004 12:58AM PST

Have you got a modem attached? I've seen this behaviour in the past where a PC would shut down sometimes when the telephone rings.
You might want to check to make sure you haven't got your "wake on lan" option turned on/custom or whatever. This would be in your bios.