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Computer randomly loses power!!!

S

Spoted21

Junior Member


My problem is that my computer randomly loses power .
This seems to usually happen when I am actually present at the computer. I will have a couple of
internet explorer windows open and then it justs loses power, like someone pulled the plug.
I would greatly appreaciate any ideas or possible solutions anyone has to offer. Thanks for your time.


System Specs
Asus A7N266-E
512mb PC 2700
AMD XP -2200
win xp pro
creative 8x DVD
adaptec scsi card 29160N
2 - scsi harddrives
Onboard audio and video



My first thought was that I had a bad power supply. I bought a brand new antec 480 watt and still have the same problem. So I have eliminated the power supply from questionable hardware.

I think the first steo to solving this, is to determine if it is a software or hardware problem.

Why I think it might be software.

1.
While I was watching a dvd it switched over to a microsoft word document and asked if I wanted to save the file. This is the same thing that happens when you try to exit without saving changes. Before I could answer the computer lost power. This makes me think that some software program issused a shutdown command.

Why i think it might be hardware.

1.
I thought that I had determined that it was a software problem. I decided to just wipe my harddrive and reinstall win xp. I booted from a cd and while win xp was loading poof power gone, again!
This may not eliminate it from be software but I figured it was a windows program causing this, which it appears is not the case.

2.
The asus motherboard I have uses something called C.O.P. Which stands for cpu overheat protection. Basically it turns power off it the cpu gets to hot. Asus has their own probe software which I have installed. The lowest possible setting for alert on cpu temp is 67 C. The highest mine ever gets is 60 C without my case fans on. So I am assuming that the C.O.P is not doing this, I could be wrong.

I also run my power through a APC UPS. I had considered this and plugged my rig directly into the wall and the problem persists.


If you need more info please post and let me know.
I have current virus def and have scanned all drives and everything is clean.
I also run ad-aware with updated files and clean scumware daily.
Hope that there is enought information to give someone a clue to the problem, thanks again.
 
Well.... try using different RAM, or if you have two sticks in there now (not sure you just have the amount of RAM listed not how many DIMMS), try removing one DIMM and using the computer for a while and see if you still have the power-off problem. If you still have it, remove that DIMM and place the other back in there and check and see if it powers off again.

The only other thing that I can think of if it is not the memory would be the motherboard or CPU....


I am sorry to hear that it wasn't your PSU as when I was origionally reading your problem, the PSU was the first thing that came to my mind as well (I have had 3 PSU's go bad on me and it does exactly what you were describing).
 
this may sound really stupid ... but try another power cable (if you haven't already tried it)

I had a similar problem where my power cable (cheap ond one from like 15 years ago) was sorta worn, and it would plug in OK, but it was a bit loose, and the PC would shut down on its own, and i'd have to fuss with the cable to get it back on)
 
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