computer runs 3 seconds then shuts down

nealric

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Joined

Sep 9, 2002

Location

under the floorboards

• Jun 8, 2005

• #1

My mother's computer has taken to turning on for about 3 seconds and than shutting down.

Once its shut down, it wants you to unplug before it will let you power it up again.

It was running fine for a few weeks after getting rebuilt. Every once and a while it gets past the three second mark and then runs fine.

System:
socket 754 ecs sis chipset board
a64 3000+
ttgi 430w psu
zalman cnps 7000 alcu

Im going back home this evening- and Im wondering where I should start.

PSU? Seems strange since it runs fine once it gets going.
Fan is running too low for the board?

?

 

David

Forums Super Moderator

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Joined

Feb 20, 2001

• Jun 8, 2005

• #2

Check the PSU voltages using something like speedfan from www.almico.com/speedfan.php and also make sure the CPU fan is plugged in properly. I have had boards that refuse to run unless the CPU fan is present.

 

jcw122

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Joined

Jun 25, 2004

• Jun 8, 2005

• #3

check the CPU HS for dust, or just look inside the case and see if anything looks wrong...could as well be some sort of heat problem.

 

1cem4n

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Joined

Feb 6, 2005

Location

FusoFuso

• Jun 8, 2005

• #4

Make sure the Heatsink is properly secured and that there aren't any cables stuck between the fins and the fan.

-1cem4n

 

Oklahoma Wolf

Senior Warranty Validity Sealed Stick Remover

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Joined

Mar 18, 2003

• Jun 8, 2005

• #5

Could very well be the PSU - if you have access to a multimeter, first check the rails with it, especially the 12v and 5v. If they're fine, start looking around for a short, or some other component that is causing the protection circuitry in the PSU to shut it down. Unplug all but the essentials, and then start plugging things back in until you find the problem device.

My parents' system was doing this once in a while. The culprit turned out to be the sliding door from a 3.5" floppy that was stuck inside the drive and shorting it out.

 

Mr.Guvernment

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Joined

Feb 26, 2003

• Jun 8, 2005

• #6

i have had this problem several time times - it is the PSU either dying or being overloaded.

 

winterhavok

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Joined

Nov 22, 2004

Location

Missouri, USA

• Jun 9, 2005

• #7

It should not be overloaded being a 430w, unless she is using firewire peripherals. It might be dying, how old is the psu anyway?

 

A

anon1

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Joined

Jun 8, 2005

• Jun 12, 2005

• #8

Everybody gave their two cents, so I will give my opinion. When I first read it, I figured that the hard drive was exposed to heat damage(or any damage for that matter), and there is some sort of failsafe setting in the BIOS, which makes it turn off.

 

threeme2189

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Joined

Oct 5, 2004

Location

Drowning my sorrow and misery in apple juice

• Jun 12, 2005

• #9

well my 2 cents are that the hdd spinning up is giving the psu a hard time. even though its a fairly powerful psu. just give it a good wach before you turn on the pc and tell us if it starts some drives just get stuck.

 

winterhavok

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Joined

Nov 22, 2004

Location

Missouri, USA

• Jun 12, 2005

• #10

The watts is powerful on the power supply, but if it is dying for some reason, then it could be a 800w and still do this. I think we will need more information to accurately determine the problem and remedy.

 

OP

nealric

Member

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Joined

Sep 9, 2002

Location

under the floorboards

• Jun 12, 2005

• Thread Starter
• #11

It was the psu.

Replaced it with a 450watt antec from a friend and worked fine. I may have to stop reccomending ttgi so much

 

Mr.Guvernment

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Joined

Feb 26, 2003

• Jun 13, 2005

• #12

:d i told you all SO , heheh, jokes


it could be a 4,000W PSU - doesnt mean it has good rails on it

 

Zulu-1

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Joined

Jan 31, 2005

Location

Brampton, Ontario

• Jun 13, 2005

• #13

thats what happens to me when i have a short somewhere