Computer power failure

Hello all -

I'm posting this in 2 groups because I'm not sure where it should go. I
apologize in advance.

I'm having a power failure problem with my computer. It can be on for up to
30 min and then it'll power off by itself. I'll let it sit for about 5
minutes and when I go to turn it back on, nothing happens. I have to unplug
the power cord from the power supply and power it back on that way. I've
run a couple of system utilities program and they didn't detect any
problems. I've also checked the device manager and there are no yellow
question or exclamation marks and no red Xs. This has been happening for a
while now.

My computer specs a Compaq Presario 6320 w/WinXP Home, AMD Athlon XP
2000+ processor (1.67ghz), 768mb ram, 60gb hard drive, cdrw and DVD rom
drives.

Does anyone know what could be causing this to happen and how do I fix it?
Could it be a faulty power supply? Please help. All replies and
suggestions will be appreciated.

Hi

What size power supply have you got?

--

Will Denny
MS-MVP - Windows Shell/User
Please reply to the News Groups


"newtechie" wrote in message
...
Hello all -

I'm posting this in 2 groups because I'm not sure where it should go. I
apologize in advance.

I'm having a power failure problem with my computer. It can be on for up
to
30 min and then it'll power off by itself. I'll let it sit for about 5
minutes and when I go to turn it back on, nothing happens. I have to
unplug
the power cord from the power supply and power it back on that way. I've
run a couple of system utilities program and they didn't detect any
problems. I've also checked the device manager and there are no yellow
question or exclamation marks and no red Xs. This has been happening for
a
while now.

My computer specs a Compaq Presario 6320 w/WinXP Home, AMD Athlon XP
2000+ processor (1.67ghz), 768mb ram, 60gb hard drive, cdrw and DVD rom
drives.

Does anyone know what could be causing this to happen and how do I fix it?
Could it be a faulty power supply? Please help. All replies and
suggestions will be appreciated.

It's a 200W

"Will Denny" wrote in message
...
Hi

What size power supply have you got?

--

Will Denny
MS-MVP - Windows Shell/User
Please reply to the News Groups


"newtechie" wrote in message
...
Hello all -

I'm posting this in 2 groups because I'm not sure where it should go. I
apologize in advance.

I'm having a power failure problem with my computer. It can be on for
up
to
30 min and then it'll power off by itself. I'll let it sit for about 5
minutes and when I go to turn it back on, nothing happens. I have to
unplug
the power cord from the power supply and power it back on that way.
I've
run a couple of system utilities program and they didn't detect any
problems. I've also checked the device manager and there are no yellow
question or exclamation marks and no red Xs. This has been happening
for
a
while now.

My computer specs a Compaq Presario 6320 w/WinXP Home, AMD Athlon XP
2000+ processor (1.67ghz), 768mb ram, 60gb hard drive, cdrw and DVD rom
drives.

Does anyone know what could be causing this to happen and how do I fix
it?
Could it be a faulty power supply? Please help. All replies and
suggestions will be appreciated.

Hi

You really need a bigger power supply than that. Something in region of
400+ would be better.

--

Will Denny
MS-MVP - Windows Shell/User
Please reply to the News Groups


"newtechie" wrote in message
...
It's a 200W

"Will Denny" wrote in message
...
Hi

What size power supply have you got?

--

Will Denny
MS-MVP - Windows Shell/User
Please reply to the News Groups


"newtechie" wrote in message
...
Hello all -

I'm posting this in 2 groups because I'm not sure where it should go.
I
apologize in advance.

I'm having a power failure problem with my computer. It can be on for
up
to
30 min and then it'll power off by itself. I'll let it sit for about 5
minutes and when I go to turn it back on, nothing happens. I have to
unplug
the power cord from the power supply and power it back on that way.
I've
run a couple of system utilities program and they didn't detect any
problems. I've also checked the device manager and there are no yellow
question or exclamation marks and no red Xs. This has been happening
for
a
while now.

My computer specs a Compaq Presario 6320 w/WinXP Home, AMD Athlon
XP
2000+ processor (1.67ghz), 768mb ram, 60gb hard drive, cdrw and DVD rom
drives.

Does anyone know what could be causing this to happen and how do I fix
it?
Could it be a faulty power supply? Please help. All replies and
suggestions will be appreciated.

Thanks Will for your reply! I think that's what I'll do - upgrade the power
supply.

"Will Denny" wrote in message
...
Hi

You really need a bigger power supply than that. Something in region of
400+ would be better.

--

Will Denny
MS-MVP - Windows Shell/User
Please reply to the News Groups


"newtechie" wrote in message
...
It's a 200W

"Will Denny" wrote in message
...
Hi

What size power supply have you got?

--

Will Denny
MS-MVP - Windows Shell/User
Please reply to the News Groups


"newtechie" wrote in message
...
Hello all -

I'm posting this in 2 groups because I'm not sure where it should go.
I
apologize in advance.

I'm having a power failure problem with my computer. It can be on
for
up
to
30 min and then it'll power off by itself. I'll let it sit for about
5
minutes and when I go to turn it back on, nothing happens. I have to
unplug
the power cord from the power supply and power it back on that way.
I've
run a couple of system utilities program and they didn't detect any
problems. I've also checked the device manager and there are no
yellow
question or exclamation marks and no red Xs. This has been happening
for
a
while now.

My computer specs a Compaq Presario 6320 w/WinXP Home, AMD Athlon
XP
2000+ processor (1.67ghz), 768mb ram, 60gb hard drive, cdrw and DVD
rom
drives.

Does anyone know what could be causing this to happen and how do I
fix
it?
Could it be a faulty power supply? Please help. All replies and
suggestions will be appreciated.

Your PSU is far too low for the system.... I'd suggest at least 350w,
however your problem seems to be caused by overheating rather than a faulty
PSU.... although it could be the fan in the PSU.

When it next comes on, check ALL fans in the PC, especially the one on the
CPU and the one in the PSU.
--
Cari (MS-MVP) Windows Client - Printing/Imaging and Hardware
www.coribright.com

"newtechie" wrote in message
...
It's a 200W

"Will Denny" wrote in message
...
Hi

What size power supply have you got?

--

Will Denny
MS-MVP - Windows Shell/User
Please reply to the News Groups


"newtechie" wrote in message
...
Hello all -

I'm posting this in 2 groups because I'm not sure where it should go.
I
apologize in advance.

I'm having a power failure problem with my computer. It can be on for
up
to
30 min and then it'll power off by itself. I'll let it sit for about 5
minutes and when I go to turn it back on, nothing happens. I have to
unplug
the power cord from the power supply and power it back on that way.
I've
run a couple of system utilities program and they didn't detect any
problems. I've also checked the device manager and there are no yellow
question or exclamation marks and no red Xs. This has been happening
for
a
while now.

My computer specs a Compaq Presario 6320 w/WinXP Home, AMD Athlon
XP
2000+ processor (1.67ghz), 768mb ram, 60gb hard drive, cdrw and DVD rom
drives.

Does anyone know what could be causing this to happen and how do I fix
it?
Could it be a faulty power supply? Please help. All replies and
suggestions will be appreciated.

Cari (MS-MVP) wrote:
Your PSU is far too low for the system.... I'd suggest at least 350w,
however your problem seems to be caused by overheating rather than a faulty
PSU.... although it could be the fan in the PSU.

When it next comes on, check ALL fans in the PC, especially the one on the
CPU and the one in the PSU.

Roger that...and don't skimp, get a GOOD one like a good Antech. PSUs DO
make a BIG difference. And put in as many case fans as your case can
accomodate.

--
Servo
"Long live the New Flesh!"
tservo100 at
ameritech dot net
Slow, fiery death to all spammers!!!

Hi Cari,

Thanks so much for your reply. I'm unsure why the fan is not coming on if
overheating is the cause.
The fan on the CPU sounds and looks normal. I might just have to buy
another power supply.

Newtechie


"Cari (MS-MVP)" wrote in message
...
Your PSU is far too low for the system.... I'd suggest at least 350w,
however your problem seems to be caused by overheating rather than a
faulty
PSU.... although it could be the fan in the PSU.

When it next comes on, check ALL fans in the PC, especially the one on the
CPU and the one in the PSU.
--
Cari (MS-MVP) Windows Client - Printing/Imaging and Hardware
www.coribright.com

"newtechie" wrote in message
...
It's a 200W

"Will Denny" wrote in message
...
Hi

What size power supply have you got?

--

Will Denny
MS-MVP - Windows Shell/User
Please reply to the News Groups


"newtechie" wrote in message
...
Hello all -

I'm posting this in 2 groups because I'm not sure where it should go.
I
apologize in advance.

I'm having a power failure problem with my computer. It can be on
for
up
to
30 min and then it'll power off by itself. I'll let it sit for about
5
minutes and when I go to turn it back on, nothing happens. I have to
unplug
the power cord from the power supply and power it back on that way.
I've
run a couple of system utilities program and they didn't detect any
problems. I've also checked the device manager and there are no
yellow
question or exclamation marks and no red Xs. This has been happening
for
a
while now.

My computer specs a Compaq Presario 6320 w/WinXP Home, AMD Athlon
XP
2000+ processor (1.67ghz), 768mb ram, 60gb hard drive, cdrw and DVD
rom
drives.

Does anyone know what could be causing this to happen and how do I
fix
it?
Could it be a faulty power supply? Please help. All replies and
suggestions will be appreciated.

Fans fail in time. Sometimes it's the bearings, sometimes the motors.
Sometimes who knows!

I run a 550w PSU (3 hard drives and a DVD burner).......I think the
'smallest' PSU in all my desktop PCs is a 425w in my husband's PC. Mine
also has 3 case fans but I'm running a Prescott. Hubby's PC has 2 case
fans - he's an AthlonXP 2200+. My Server has the same specs as hubby's but
a 500w PSU.
--
Cari (MS-MVP Windows Client - Printing, Imaging & Hardware)
www.coribright.com

"newtechie" wrote in message
...
Hi Cari,

Thanks so much for your reply. I'm unsure why the fan is not coming on if
overheating is the cause.
The fan on the CPU sounds and looks normal. I might just have to buy
another power supply.

Newtechie

Many brand name systems work just fine with a 250 watt
supply. 400 watts is well beyond what most everyone needs.
But then too many buy 'dumped' import supplies - making a
decision based only on price. The supply that is labeled 400
watts may only be 300 watts or less. So many computer
assemblers simply buy larger supplies rather than learn why
failures happen.

Discovering a power supply problem is quick and easy. Takes
but minutes and does not remove or change anything. No reason
to replace a supply unless it first is obviously a problem.
Procedure will probably take longer to read than it takes to
determine if power supply is really undersized:
"Computer doesnt start at all" in alt.comp.hardware on 10
Jan 2004 at
http://tinyurl.com/2t69q or
"I think my power supply is dead" in alt.comp.hardware on 5
Feb 2004 at http://www.tinyurl.com/2musa

In the meantime, what did system (event) logs report?

You symptoms can be created by a power supply controller
that is located on motherboard. Replacing the power supply
would not solve this problem. However heat is an excellent
diagnostic tool. Selectively heat motherboard sections and
other computer components with a hairdryer on high. That is a
normal operating temperature for all computer parts. A
properly working computer must work just fine in a room at
over 100 degree F. But intermittent components tend to fail
when heated. Heat is another diagnostic tool to locate a
defective part without wildly replacing anything.

Again, 400+ watt power supplies are well above what a
typical computer system requires. If power supply is too
small, that above procedure will identify the problem
immediately. And the event log says ...?

newtechie wrote:
Thanks so much for your reply. I'm unsure why the fan is not coming
on if overheating is the cause. The fan on the CPU sounds and looks
normal. I might just have to buy another power supply.

System utilities usually will not catch a hardware problem. Some, such as
Motherboard Monitor 5 (now discontinued) do. But, if you have a successful
boot, the problem is presently not presenting itself so the program will not
detect anything as being wrong.

You have an intermittent hardware problem - maybe power supply, cooling
fans, CPU etc. If you don't have replacement parts that you can swap in,
take the computer to a "reputable" repair person.

--

Regards:

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard :-)


"newtechie" wrote in message
...
Hello all -

I'm posting this in 2 groups because I'm not sure where it should go. I
apologize in advance.

I'm having a power failure problem with my computer. It can be on for up
to
30 min and then it'll power off by itself. I'll let it sit for about 5
minutes and when I go to turn it back on, nothing happens. I have to
unplug
the power cord from the power supply and power it back on that way. I've
run a couple of system utilities program and they didn't detect any
problems. I've also checked the device manager and there are no yellow
question or exclamation marks and no red Xs. This has been happening for
a
while now.

My computer specs a Compaq Presario 6320 w/WinXP Home, AMD Athlon XP
2000+ processor (1.67ghz), 768mb ram, 60gb hard drive, cdrw and DVD rom
drives.

Does anyone know what could be causing this to happen and how do I fix it?
Could it be a faulty power supply? Please help. All replies and
suggestions will be appreciated.

I'll voice with most of the other folks here -- get a new (and better)
power supply. About a year ago a family member with a PC from one of
the cheaper manufacturers had the exact same problem as you are
describing. We replaced the power supply with a beefier, named-brand
PSU, and the problem went away (and stayed away).

If you PC was a low-cost purchase, it is highly likely that it shipped
with a lame power supply. Not only is 200W small, it's also likely
that the PSU is cheap and flakey.

I'll voice with most of the other folks here -- get a new (and better)
power supply. About a year ago a family member with a PC from one of
the cheaper manufacturers had the exact same problem as you are
describing. We replaced the power supply with a beefier, named-brand
PSU, and the problem went away (and stayed away).

If you PC was a low-cost purchase, it is highly likely that it shipped
with a lame power supply. Not only is 200W small, it's also likely
that the PSU is cheap and flakey.