Hi My sister recently gave me a 1998 Packard bell computer. While trying to restore windows the computer just shut down when she was halfway through the restore. at this point we cannot even access the desktop or reload windows all together. After leaving the computer off for 30 minutes we decided to try again, the same thing happened. After reading several articles on this website, i am assuming that it could be either the power supply fan ( which does not even come on when i reboot the computer) or the cmos battery needs to be changed. I just wanted to know if my assumption could be correct.. The only other problem i could find was that after several attempts to restore the system when we turn the computer back on the monitor says ovveride on it. i know i have not given much info about the computer as of right now i am not really sure.. so if anyone could offer any advice( other than to throw it out...lol) i would greatly appreciate.. thanks in advance...goot

If the PSU's fan isn't coming on, that's got to be the problem. MCSE, MCSA Messaging, baby!

ok take the case off of the PC and turn it on. do you see any fans or LED's come on and does the fan in the power supply come on? just check this once again and verify this and we can all help ya. if the fan in the power supply does not come on, then the power supply is bad as heropsycho sed.

i have two fans inside the computer. the smaller fan is working fine, but the larger fan that is connected to the power outlet does not come on at all.when you try to turn the fan manually it is very hard. i have another system that the fan turns very easily on it... ( another computer that went wacko on me) ok my next question is can i just replace the fan itself, or do i have to buy the power supply unit? Thanks again..

well, if you have smaller/other fans that do come on when u turn the PC on as well as LED's, and if your Power supply unit (PSU) fan is not coming on, then u need a new PSU. dont open it up and try to replace the fan, you could get killed. get a new PSU, there cheap.

I would change all the fans and the PSU. I always change fans in PSUs, i havent died yet. In fact i just put 2 80mm Blue LED fans in my 400watt cheiftec PSU. BUtta My Fries

Well, is the power supply worth saving is the question. If it's not a good one, replace it. Thermaltake 420W power supplies are $38 shipped at newegg.com right now, and that's obviously not a lot of money. May not even be worth the hassle to replace the fan in the power supply when new power supplies are that inexpensive. MCSE, MCSA Messaging, baby!