XP Pro spontaneous powerdown

[newbie_geek]

This is my first post on this forum, and I am hoping that someone is willing to take me by the hand on this one.

I am looking at a friends PC for her. It seems that the machine is spontaneously powering down. No warning, just *blink* - as if someone has hit the reset button (even though there isn't one on this machine).

My first guess was that it was a software issue, especially knowing how ham-fisted the user is with it. So re-foramted, re-partitioned, and re-installed XP Pro, and installed SP1.

This unfourtunately did not do it. It is still dropping power for no reason, much less frequently, but still dropping. Also, now on boot up it seems to occasionally reset itself just as the windows XP icon comes on.

Here is what I have looked at.

The PS is fine, and the tower is totally clean - no dust inside.

The CPU is running nice and cool.

IS there anyone out there with any suggestions as to what could be the matter?

Thanks

[Steve]

Hi newbie_geek,

I have two questions...

How do you know that the PSU is fine?

How do you know the CPU is nice and cool?

OK, maybe three questions. What temp. is the CPU running at?

;)

[Paleo Pete]

Fourth question: Is it in a fairly open area where it can get good airflow, and not inside one of those stupid desks with a closed cabinet on one side that has little or no airflow?

Heat and power supply are the most likely causes. I would think the first thing to try is take the side cover off and run it with a small desk fan blowing inside. If the problem goes away, you have a heat problem. If not, we keep looking.

[newbie_geek]

PS is fine based on the fact that it runs cool, as far as I knew, there is a problem if it runs hot, if not, then the PS is not a likely suspect.

The CPU was tested using the ancient art of touching. Right after shuting it down, i touched the heat sink (after grounding myself ofcourse) and it was cool to the touch. Like Not even warm, so i am not too worried there. Unfourtunately using this otherwise flawless technique, i was not able to gauge an exact operational temprature.

The machine itself is sitting nicely in the open, with plenty of room on all sides.

Actually, the more that I have thought about it, the more I am suspecting something software based. Mostly because I am right now sitting here watching the little bastard (the computer in question) desperately trying to boot itself up.

Seems to only be able to get to the windows logo screen right after posting, and then it reboots. Loads just fine in safemode though.

Also, i neglected to mention in the original posting that oone of the triggers for powerdown was trying to close MSN messenger, as soon as I clicked the "close window" box, *blink* the machine dropped power.

Mysterious no?

Thanks
- Newbie_geek

[pave_spectre]

PS is fine based on the fact that it runs cool, as far as I knew, there is a problem if it runs hot, if not, then the PS is not a likely suspect.

Just because the PS is cool doesn't mean it's putting out stable voltage levels.

The CPU was tested using the ancient art of touching. Right after shuting it down, i touched the heat sink (after grounding myself ofcourse) and it was cool to the touch.

Which could just mean that the heatsink is not properly mounted and not transferring heat away from the CPU core.


Both these things should be checked by going into the BIOS to get a gauge of how they are performing.

If it boots fine in safe mode you could be right that some software or even malware is to blame.

[newbie_geek]

I am afraid that this particular machine, being an IBM "netvista", does not have a CPU temp gauge in the bios. And I could not find CPU temp software online, any suggestions for that?

Also, just now the machine refused to boot in safe-mode, just hung at the end of all the .dll loading. Then after resarting, it loaded fine in "normal" mode.

As far as software is concerned, what exactly seems suspect here?

ANd what is malware?

THanks guys,
newbie

[Steve]

If the computer had this rebooting problem and then you partitioned and formatted the HDD and reinstalled the operating system, the chance of this being a software problem seems slim.

You can download Motherboard Monitor (http://mbm.livewiredev.com/download.html) to see what your temps are. You can also ckeck the PSUs output with it. I think Pete's idea of opening up the case and aiming a fan at the inside is a good idea.

[newbie_geek]

steve, thanks for the link.

trouble is though, motherboard monitor does not support IBM boards. And I cant use the particular bios to check on temps because for some reason it does not support it. According to "Everest" - a general driver/system diagnosis tool - there is no udgrade for the bios. So what the heck can I do here.

It might be interesting to note, that there were a few times that when I went to close MSN messenger on that machine, it dropped the power as well.

Any other suggestions would be super appreciated.

Thanks again,
- Newbie