I have a Older IBM PC 333MHz running win98 s/e, System runs fine except when I install a PCI modem and try to configure dial-up network at that time, whenever i click on a link the system shuts down just like I pulled the power plug. If i run the computer without a PCI device installed the system never shuts down.

Thanks
triplej

Thats pretty strange...My first thought is that it's a hardware problem...I don't suppose you happen to have another Modem kicking about?

Or maybe the PCI card is just enough to send the Computer over the edge power wise?
Or possibly an IRQ conflict? Maybe try another PCI slot?

Others will be along with more thoughts.

Thanks jab, tried 2 other cards does same thing, also have tried different slots. It also shuts down if i use a pci sound card. Works ok if i use the ISA bus and keeping the PCI bus free of cards.

I have noticed that normal power on for this computer after being completly turned off, that is turning on the surge strip the front panel LEDs will flash, fan activates just for a second and sys will shut back down. I push the power button and sys boots up normal and all is well.

If I add a PCI card, from a cold boot, after system is shut completly off whenever I turn on the surge strip the sys boots up LEDs lights come on and computer boots from this stage without the power off as before. Whenever this happens the system will shut down within a short matter of time.

thanks
triplej

Make sure that only Default settings are used for any PCI option in BIOS.
If that's ok, there are no problems in Device Manager, and the PCI cards that you tried work ok on a different system, then there may be a problem with the PCI bus.

I'm a little confused with your typical "Power on/Power off" procedure.

Do you normally shut everything down by shutting down the Power Strip completely? (Or was this just in the interest of testing?).

ie, do you generally leave the power strip on, use the computers Power Button to power up, and shutdown with Windows (software) power off?

Not really sure what I'm getting at here.....Maybe just thinking out loud. :p
It just for some reason occurs to me that this could somehow be power related too.

Although, unfortunately.....Ski may be onto something there where the PCI bus itself may have problems.

Did you check the Device Manager(under system devices)to see if there are no yellow exclamation or question marks?

I think what triplej is saying is that if power is completely disconnected from the system, when the power is reconnected, the system turns on for a second and turns off. I have a Crapaq that does the same thing.

The "how that is related" is the fact that if a PCI card is installed, the system, when plugged in, it turns on as normal, but doesn't turn back off after a moment like it should. It continues to boot just to shut itself off at a random time.

Is that correct?

Yes Beta Geek you are right that is just what is going on.
I think the problem has been solved. I replaced the PSU (appears jab was on the right track) and reinstalled the PCI modem and all is working well. (No ramdom shut downs).

thanks for all the reply's
triplej