Computer randomly shuts off

[GaryGnu]

Just today my computer started shuting off randomly. I'm wondering if it is one of 3 things:

1) a virus (doubtful - but I am running a virus scan now, hopefully, it will make it through)
2) a power supply problem
3) a Windows problem

Any thing else?

PIII 266 / Windows 98 SE.

Thanks.

Gary

 

[Mem]

I had this happen to me last year,so it`s a very good bet it`s your PSU going faulty so try replacing it(solved my random shut down problems).

 

[DKNYSprt95]

I guess it'll be easier to buy a PSU and return it if it doesn't solve the problem... and if it doesn't i can probably safely say that it's the MB. Thanks for the great tip.

Peter

 

[GaryGnu]

I'm assuming PSU == Power Supply Unit ???

 

[Mem]

I'm assuming PSU == Power Supply Unit ???

Yes .

🙂

 

[BenRosey]

Definitely a power supply. With an older computer like this you can just harvest an old power supply from an older machine to test or permanently. Should be an inexpensive fix.

 

[GaryGnu]

Update on this...

I went to the store, bought a new power supply, and now the problem is worse than before. With the new power supply, the computer turns on for about 6-8 seconds, and then shuts off. It does not even beep to indicate there is a video card. It shuts down before that.

With the old power supply, I get nothing now. The computer will not even turn on. I'm in a much worse state than I was before I started messing with this. At least before, the computer would boot up sometimes. Now, I cannot do anything.

I have a rather old computer with a Pentium 266 and a Abit LX6 Motherboard. Could this new power supply be incompatible with this old system? The new power supply is an Antec Smart Power 300 Watt ATX 12V.

What could I be doing wrong? I have the ATX plug going into the motherboard, and all the CD ROM and hard drives are plugged in. There's nothing else to do.