PC SHUTS DOWN

**baddadnv** · 12-12-2003, 10:38 PM

Hi All,

PC was running slow.....was getting worse gradually.

Now PC shuts down Tower and wont even restart.....about 15 seconds , then power down again ?

Ran all Norton Anti-Virus, Norton Win-Doctor Defrag'ed Etc. before crash, but couldn't avoid !

Any help would be appreciated,

Randy Burton

Pent III
700 MHZ
20 gig HD
Win 98 SE

**wsieffert** · 12-13-2003, 07:59 AM

Since you are using Win98SE, try starting the computer using a boot floppy (Hopefully, you made one before this). If the computer starts and remains running when started from the boot floppy, then you may have corrupted Windows files. If the computer crashes when started from the boot floppy, you have a hardware problem.

Troubleshooting a hardware problem can be easy or difficult. I would unplug everything but the basic (minimum) items, graphics card, floppy drive, hardrive (may need to unplug later). Check all your fans, make sure they are turning and cleaned of lint, dust, etc. If you can keep the computer alive long enough, try entering BIOS and see if it has a health page to monitor the voltages and fan speeds.

If the computer works with the minimum items, start plugging them in one by one to see which causes the system to halt (The compute must be shut off to plug in each peripheral, don't plug them in when the computer is running).

If you have multiple sticks of RAM, remove all but one stick, and try the computer. If it fails, remove that stick and try each stick separate from the others. If you find one or more sticks that work by themselves, then try with two sticks, three sticks, etc. If a stick continues to cause crashes, then it may be faulty.

W. Sieffert

**Bigshot** · 12-13-2003, 09:08 AM

Unplug the printer and joystick, etc. I had a computer do exactly the same thing. Running real slow until it wouldn't boot. I assumed it was a harddrive going bad. Was wrong. Turned out to be a bad printer cable. With the printer unplugged, it ran just fine. Go figure.

**baddadnv** · 12-13-2003, 01:51 PM

Bigshot / W. Sieffert(wise one)

Couldn't,t have got 2 better people, both knowledge and friends, to get answers from.........:)

Will trouble-shoot now (when able), and let you know back........

One Q. first though.......Bad PC is my oldest Daughters........I have a boot floppy I made for my PC......... Exact same Specs........Can I use my boot floppy on her machine?

Thanks,

Randy

**Bigshot** · 12-13-2003, 05:59 PM

Try it without a floppy at first. If by chance, it's a bad cable (and that's a long shot); that would prevent windows from booting and removing the cable would allow the machine to boot normally. As said above, a bad stick of ram would be my second guess.

**baddadnv** · 12-13-2003, 10:20 PM

GREAT!,

Got it Guys.......Bad Video Card......

Got it booted with my floppy after unplugging all Accessories, then used start menu to delete Vid. drivers......It then stayed running......DL'ed latest drivers from ATI, Reboot.....CRASH!

So I Put in my old Video card I had, installed drivers, now all is well!

Thanks for your help,

Randy