Power up problem

[JazzBassJukin]

I'm trying to resolve a problem with an older Gateway (P55c-200). It has started powering off after it tests the memory. About every 10th time it will power on up. This is the model with the "hold for 5 seconds" switch to turn it off. Sound like power supply? Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

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If I'd known I was going to live this long, I'd have partied twice as hard.

[YODA74]

Sounds like the power supply is going south,if you have access to a known working one I would try it to make sure, but as cheap of a price that you can get one for I would purchase a new one.

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Death has come to our windows.

-- Jeremiah 9:21
(undoubtedly a Biblical reference to a Microsoft product!)

[JazzBassJukin]

Hey thank you much! No one has one around here so I ordered one from Gateway. You're right, they're pretty cheap. $48.15 with shipping. Thanks again.

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If I'd known I was going to live this long, I'd have partied twice as hard.

[JazzBassJukin]

Arrggghhh. I replaced the power supply. Seemed to run fine. I started/restarted, let it run off and on for a day and then took it back to my buddy. He just called and said it's doing the same thing now.
I'm thinking it could be the ram since it powers off after testing it. I do have some extra ram I'm going to stick in it and try.
Any other thoughts or suggestions? Mine was, "buy a new PC", but he can't afford that right now.
Thanks much for your help!

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If I'd known I was going to live this long, I'd have partied twice as hard.

[JazzBassJukin]

I just got this PC back. Here's a little more info:

This problem powering up is random, doesn't matter if the PC is cold or been running a while.
When it crashes, it's after the ram is checked, displays primary drive info, secondary drive info, then shuts down completely.
Not sure if it has the most recent bios, but I'm going to download and install it. Going to replace the ram, and the the ide flat cables as well.
Any other suggestions?
Thanks!

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If I'd known I was going to live this long, I'd have partied twice as hard.

[diurnal]

Sounds like your working to hard jazz
It could be the motherboard,cpu,video card, ram,(process of elimination) its hard to tell when you dont have all the equipment, If there is a local shop around that would be your best bet.


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Murph's Law: 1.Everything takes longer than you think
2.If anything can go wrong it will
3.Nothing is as easy as it looks

[JazzBassJukin]

Yup, that's me- always working too hard.
I considered the possibility of motherboard/cpu early on as well. I'll replace/upgrade those as a last resort.
Power supply seemed most likely at the time and was a fairly inexpensive fix. Seemed to do the trick for a few days at least. I've got extra ram, video cards, and a few other things lying around as well and will work through whatever I have on hand.
As far as taking it to a local shop, hmmmm...not sure what to say. There is really not a local shop worth a damn. ~Insert major retail PC chain store's name here~ is the closest thing to a local shop and they're 40 miles away. Their service department is slow, fairly expensive, and generally not budget concious. I have a little experience (though no formal training) upgrading and repairing pcs. Friends, relatives, and neighbors (and their friends, relatives, and neighbors) bring pcs to me fairly often to revive. It's a hobby, I meet some fun people, I get free beer. LOL!!
I've been told I should open a shop, but I'm not that experienced. Soooo...when I run into a real puzzler, I come here for a little nudge in the right direction. I'm actually studying A+, and Net+ on my own now, and hopefully can use it and my little bit of experience to generate some sort of income or job prospects.
So there you have it! Thanks much for the input!
Perhaps I should change my user name to Shadetree!!
http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/cool.gif

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If I'd known I was going to live this long, I'd have partied twice as hard.

[This message has been edited by JazzBassJukin (edited 02-27-2002).]

[Randy_tx]

When the system suddenly powers off the most frequent causes are:
1. Bad power supply- you replaced that
2. Overheated CPU - is the cpu fan turning at a high rpm?
3. Short on mainboard....possibly the result of DUST. Check the dust situation by pulling out all of the PCI/ISA cards, blowing out the connective areas and re-seat. That might do it.....then, it could be a defective mainboard or cpu causing it.
I doubt if it's the ram......it wouldn't usually act this way with bad ram.

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XP didn't save Me !

[JazzBassJukin]

Thank you much Randy. I pulled everything out of the case and did find a couple of healthy dust bunnies under the motherboard and around the cards. Snapped it all back together and so far so good. Holding my breath on this one.
Take care
JBJ

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If I'd known I was going to live this long, I'd have partied twice as hard.