Computer keeps shutting down

PibbXtra

Member
Ok so my computer started shutting down about a couple hours ago and when I turn it on it will stay on maybe about 2 3 minutes the most then it will just shut off for no reAson I scanned my computer earlier before all this started and nothing was found so and everytime I turn my pc on to scan again to make sure I can never get the scan done because it shuts off. Anybody else been through this situtation or any thoughts on what might be going on. System is vista sp2 32 bit compaq presario. And I'm typing this through my phone btw. Oh yeah and forgot today my charger plug the part that goes into the computer has been messing up it is sensitive I guess because when I touch or something hits it a little bit it flickers the power to my comptuer and when I take my charger out my computer it won't turn it will only turn on when it's plugged in.
 
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My Computer

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 420
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300 2.50GHz
    Motherboard
    Stock Dell 0TP406
    Memory
    4 gb (DDR2 800) 400MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD 3870 (512 MBytes)
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1 x Dell 2007FP and 1 x (old) Sonic flat screen
    Screen Resolution
    1600 x 1200 and 1280 x 1204
    Hard Drives
    1 x 640Gb (SATA 300)
    Western Digital: WDC WD6400AAKS-75A7B0

    1 x 1Tb (SATA 600)
    Western Digital: Caviar Black, SATA 6GB/S, 64Mb cache, 8ms
    Western Digital: WDC WD1002FAEX-00Z3A0 ATA Device
    PSU
    Stock PSU - 375W
    Case
    Dell XPS 420
    Cooling
    Stock Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell Bluetooth
    Mouse
    Advent Optical ADE-WG01 (colour change light up)
    Internet Speed
    120 kb/s
    Other Info
    ASUS USB 3.0 5Gbps/SATA 6Gbps - PCI-Express Combo Controller Card (U3S6)
Wait for one of the experts to come along, and offer advice based on that :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 420
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300 2.50GHz
    Motherboard
    Stock Dell 0TP406
    Memory
    4 gb (DDR2 800) 400MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD 3870 (512 MBytes)
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1 x Dell 2007FP and 1 x (old) Sonic flat screen
    Screen Resolution
    1600 x 1200 and 1280 x 1204
    Hard Drives
    1 x 640Gb (SATA 300)
    Western Digital: WDC WD6400AAKS-75A7B0

    1 x 1Tb (SATA 600)
    Western Digital: Caviar Black, SATA 6GB/S, 64Mb cache, 8ms
    Western Digital: WDC WD1002FAEX-00Z3A0 ATA Device
    PSU
    Stock PSU - 375W
    Case
    Dell XPS 420
    Cooling
    Stock Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell Bluetooth
    Mouse
    Advent Optical ADE-WG01 (colour change light up)
    Internet Speed
    120 kb/s
    Other Info
    ASUS USB 3.0 5Gbps/SATA 6Gbps - PCI-Express Combo Controller Card (U3S6)
Welcome
You are not giving us too much, as you already know it can be hardware or software.
Try booting in safe mode. Does the problem still occur in the same fashion? If yes, I would lean toward a hardware problem
When you boot do you hear beeps, if so how many? Describe the beeps one, two long, two long and 2 short etc.
You know your habits, go to those exciting sites that can cause more harm than good?
The problem exactly the same if running on electric power as well as battery?
Computer feel hot? Did you ever clean out the insides.
Talk to me, answer the questions and tell me anything else along these lines that you can
Just a guess would be a hardware problem.

Had a thought, boot the computer, work quickly and try to type event viewer in search. Once in go to administrative and look for errors. Note as much information as possbile description, code numbers etc and report back.
 
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My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
Assuming you don't have a genuine Vista Installation Disk and that the system has the same problem in Safe Mode with Networking, use a different computer (from a friend or neighbor or a place where they allow people to use/rent computers by the hour or whatever - it doesn't even need to be your version of Vista and may work on an XP or W7 computer but it will need to be Windows) to make a bootable Recovery Disk using http://neosmart.net/blog/2008/windows-vista-recovery-disc-download/ along with burning software like: http://www.snapfiles.com/get/active-isoburner.html and, of course, a blank CD. Return with the disk to your problem computer and boot to the CD or DVD.

To boot to the CD you may need to change the BIOS to make the CD-drive first in the boot sequence. To do that, wait for the screen that tells you the F key to push to access the boot menu or boot setup. Push it quickly. Make the changes, save your work, and exit. Put the CD in the drive and reboot. When prompted, push any key to boot from the CD.

See if you have the same problem when booting to a disk instead of to the hard drive. If not, we may be able to try some procedures using the disk. If so, the chances of a hardware problem are greatly increased. Let us know in either case - include the answer with the answers to the questions Richard asked above.

I hope this helps us at least gain some continuous access to the system and posssibly even lead to a resolution.

Good luck!
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell Inc. MP061 Inspiron E1705
    CPU
    2.00 gigahertz Intel Core 2 Duo 64 kilobyte primary memory
    Motherboard
    Board: Dell Inc. 0YD479 Bus Clock: 166 megahertz
    Memory
    2046 Megabytes Usable Installed Memory
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Mobility Radeon X1400 (Microsoft Corporation - WDDM) [Di
    Sound Card
    SigmaTel High Definition Audio CODEC
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Generic PnP Monitor (17.2"vis)
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1200 pixels
    Hard Drives
    Hitachi HTS541616J9SA00 [Hard drive] (160.04 GB) -- drive 0, s/n SB2411SJGLLRMB, rev SB4OC74P, SMART Status: Healthy
    Case
    Chassis Serial Number: 5YK95C1
    Keyboard
    Standard PS/2 Keyboard
    Mouse
    Logitech HID-compliant Cordless Mouse
    Internet Speed
    1958 Kbps download ; 754.8 Kbps upload
    Other Info
    Optiarc DVD+-RW AD-5540A ATA Device [CD-ROM drive]

    Dell AIO Printer A940

    Conexant HDA D110 MDC V.92 Modem

    6TO4 Adapter
    Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated Controller
    Broadcom 802.11n Network Adapter
    Microsoft ISATAP Adapter
    Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface

    Router Linksys / WRT54G -01
You have a definate hardware issue.

You need to see if its overheating, you can do that in the BIOS, hit delete or esc or something else right as it boots, and it'll tell you how hot its getting.

try this as well as above.
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    Dual L5639 // i7 950 @ 4.0Ghz
    Motherboard
    Evga SR-2 // Gigabyte x58a-ud3r
    Memory
    12Gig Corsair XMS3 // 6Gig OCZ Gold
    Graphics Card(s)
    gtx 560 ti // gtx 260-216
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dual 22" // Headless
    Hard Drives
    OCZ aGILITY 3, 120Gig + Seagate 500Gig x 2
    PSU
    Silverstone da700 // Corsair 520hx
    Case
    Rosewill BlackHawk Ultra // Antec 900v1
    Cooling
    Twin CM Hyper 212+ // Noctua NH-u12
    Other Info
    Acer 8930 laptop with x9100...
Welcome
You are not giving us too much, as you already know it can be hardware or software.
Try booting in safe mode. Does the problem still occur in the same fashion? If yes, I would lean toward a hardware problem
When you boot do you hear beeps, if so how many? Describe the beeps one, two long, two long and 2 short etc.
You know your habits, go to those exciting sites that can cause more harm than good?
The problem exactly the same if running on electric power as well as battery?
Computer feel hot? Did you ever clean out the insides.
Talk to me, answer the questions and tell me anything else along these lines that you can
Just a guess would be a hardware problem.

Had a thought, boot the computer, work quickly and try to type event viewer in search. Once in go to administrative and look for errors. Note as much information as possbile description, code numbers etc and report back.


i tried booting in safe mood but i can never finish because it shuts off on me,
and as far my computer being hot its always been hot and no i havent opened it and cleaned it before.
 

My Computer

As was stated, looks like hardware. There is no way to determine the precise cause without actaully checking out the computer
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
We both feel disappointed, our reward comes from ending a thread with a big smiley.
Sorry.
If you ever have problems that we can solve dont forget our great Forum
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS420
    Memory
    6 gig
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD3650 256 MB
    Sound Card
    Intergrated 7.1 Channel Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell SP2009W 20 inch Flat Panel w Webcam
    Hard Drives
    640 gb
    Cooling
    Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell USB
    Mouse
    Dell USB 4 button optical
    Other Info
    DSL provided by ATT
I just did the bios thing and when I pushed it it says. Path: windows\system32\winload or something like I can't see cause it shuts off >:|
 

My Computer

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