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Hi
i just recently built 2 pc from scratch, i have come to load windows 98se on both of them, but when i come to formatting the HDD, then going into setup, sometimes the PC will just shut itself down for no reason.
i have also had win98se up and running on the PCs and then it does it again, and u can load it all back on, and during setup it might knock off, during dos it might knock off, during start up it might knock itself off. i just cant for the life of me think what the heck is causing the problem??
it is with both PCs i had the problem, but i have one up and running ok as we speak, but the other one still aint having any of it and still keeps switching off.
it even has done it when ihave been in the BIOS looking.
Is there any settings anywhere or any jumpers on the Motherboard that will make it do this?? it is a ASUS motherboard, and a MAD Athlon CPU. i cant think of anything else to what might be causing the shut down all the time?
Thanks in advance
Graeme
Hello,
The computer shutting down all the time is one symptom of poor cooling and ventilation. Make sure your fans are running properly and that the ventilation holes aren't obstructed. Another possibility could be your PSU. It could be faulty or just not putting out enough wattage to run your system. Are these systems built with new or used parts? Post back.
Good Luck,
~winipcfg
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no all the parts are brand new bought from scan. the cpu come with the cooler, and there are another 3fans on the case, not including the cpu fan.
the PSU come with the case and was already fitted.
surely if it was a ventalation thing, then the PC would knock off after about a hour or something after it had had time to warm up, and relise it was too warm and knock off, surly not after 2mins of it being on, and sometimes not even that long, and sometimes it can last 10mins 15mins even a hour, but usually always knocks off! i just cant think of anything else to try like?!
Graeme
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Are you using a authentic copy of Win98 SE? Or is it a copied/burned version? Try reformating the computers and installing lets say win98 or XP and see if the same problem still develops. Let me know what happens.
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its the original, and i have also tried with a copied version, but the same thing stiff happens, i dont think it has anything to do with windows, it must be something to do with the computer itself. as it knocks itself off even in dos, even before windows is loaded onto the PC.
the other PC i built, did have the same problem, but that one is ok now, and boots up and shuts down fine, and works ok during the day. its just this one i have had the more problems with.
Graeme
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Hi
winipcfg has summed it up. I think the money is on the power supply unit. Some components within the psu are breaking down.
This can be due to too much load being place on the psu, poor maintence and the psu is full of dust or the components are faulty.
On a separate note - Heat.An important aspect of heat is the use of heatsink compound between the chip and heatsink. A nice thin film allows good contact.
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its only about 3days old tho, all of the parts, so there shouldnt really be any problem with the parts should there?!
i have a heatsink under the fan on the cpu, it just goes the CPU, heatsink, then fan on top of them!
everything seems to me to be working fine, nothing is hot intside the case, and nothing is too cold either, all the wires are in the rtih place that i can see anyways!
do u think it will prob be a PSU prob? even tho the other PC that had the problems no longer does it??
thanks for all the help!
Graeme
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Hi everyone,
Graeme, just because a part is new deosn't mean it is 100% working. I work in a computer repair shop and it is an all-too-common thing to get in defective parts. They're supposed to be tested at the manufacturer, but sometimes they may be damaged during shipping. Some other things to try are to reseat your processor and RAM. Make sure all your jumper settings on your hard drive and cd-rom are correct. I assume you know about master and slave settings if you built your own system.
My opinion, though is it's a hardware problem. It doesn't have anything to do with your OS cd. To test out your power supply, try putting it in your working system and see if it runs that. If it doesn't run the working system, then you know your power supply is bad. Try that and then post back.
Good Luck,
~winipcfg
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what is the rating of the PSU, in watts?
whats the "commonality" between both these pc's, eg: same psu ? mbo brand? etcetera..you could swap the psu from one to the other
to see if the problem moves to the "good Pc"post back what you find.....
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Graeme,
My 2¢!
If you want specific troubleshoot help to solve your computer freezeup while booting, you have to post a little more precise hardware details about your System than the mere mention of a company name for the motherboard and Company name and Product line for the Processor. There is no mention about the other major components like the type and wattage of the PSU, type and amount of RAM, Video Card, Sound Card, CD Device(s), Floppy Drive,Hard Drive etc; all of which are involved in the initialization by the BIOS. This information is readily available to you, the computerr builder, but the readers of your post who want to help you are deprived!
Most of the long posts in any Forums I read/post, are due to lack of either precise symptom description including the exact error messages, if any, and incomplete or lack of System Specifications resulting in troubleshooters 'filling the blanks' with what they are most familiar with!
From what you have posted, it is obvious that the process has been complicated by problems from the beginning and if you have unresolved problem from Format all the way to Windows Installation and Hardware recognition, the System will always remain Unstable.
A systematic analysis and problem solving are essential to make any headway and that requires precise data.
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Maybe this is a dumb question, but have you tried a different surge protector? Maybe that is faulty, or the outlet that computer is plugged into could be faulty.
Good luck.
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Hi
cleatondumas has pointed out another reason a psu could switch off.
{oh Graeme, Heatsink compound very nescessary - it goes between the cpu or chip and the heatsink. Just you didn't mention what type of heatsink compound you use or if you use the tape stuff.)
Before I go on - surge protectors are a very good. No electical device is any better after a power spike.
A good psu should be able to "handle" the "average" ripples and expected supply power issues.
A psu is monitoring a "power good signal" looped back from the MotherBoard. When the components within a psu are borderline (and thus incapable of meeting certin standards), the MoBo may consider the power quality is not good and thus the PSU switchs off and resets.
Some PSU are borderline (the quality of the power they feed out) from almost new. They do a fine job in ordinary situations. Placed in area where the buildings' powerfeed is at the end of a power transmition line, or were heavy industrial loads are intermitent, the PSU fails and resets the machine from time to time. (as the MoBo is not satisfied with the power it is receiving.)
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hi everyone, i just opened up the case and thought about what you all had said, about the heatsink and everything, so when i took the Fan off the CPU i noticed that it was on the wrong way round, dumb ass me has put it on the wrong way so it wasnt hittin the CPU right, in order to cool it down. now i have changed it around, it sits better ontop of the CPU, and also it has not restarted yet which has really made me happy :)
Thanks alot everyone for your help, really appreciated (i cant spell lol) it, thanks alot! if it hadnt been for you lot then i wud say i wud have had a window to pay for!!! lol
Thanks again
Graeme
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