Sup fam! I need some help from u guys concerning my desktop pc...problem is it just turns off out of nowhere at any given time!!! also...i was running an update to my webcam last week and of course it turned off right in the middle of it so for some reason now i can't even use the webcam cause apparently there is no software for it on my computer anymore (im guessing this has something to do with the comp shutting down in the middle of the update)...whats kinda weird now is that everytime i try to re-install the software from the Installation CD that came with the webcam the computer turns off everytime when the installation reaches step 3 of 4!! WTF?!?!?!?! then i turn it back on again and it does a re-start by itself!! again WTF?!?!?!......anyways im getting FRUSTRATED with this problem and I might even have to give up my spot on our stickam page if i can't get this problem solved :( ......so please ANY help u guys can offer me will be WELCOME and APPRECIATED!

Just in case u need the specs:
-Comp is about 3-4 yrs old
-Pentium 4 with HT Technology
-768 MB memory
-120 GB hard drive
-Windows XP Home

THANKS IN ADVANCE!!!

It might be set to restart if it blue screens.

Right click My Computer, Properties, Advanced Tab, Settings button under Startup and Recovery, Automatically Restart checkbox under System Failure.

Uncheck it and see what happens when you do the do.

nope i tried that and it didnt work :( ...a friend of mine told me it might the power supply (inside the computer) that may be damaged...could it be?

If you can get the computer on, i'd try restoring to a previous date also.

If its hardware related, it could be anything. I'd start with the powr supply... if that doesnt work, you're looking at anything from the motherboard, graphics card, processor... etc. Friend of mine had the same issue

yea i can get the computer on with no problem...in fact it stays on for a while but then it just turns off (it could be ON for 10 mins or a whole afternoon - theres not like a specific amount of time for it to turn off...know what it mean)...but i can't re-store it to a previous date because this has been happening for a WHILE now..i can't even remember when it first started happening but i could be anywhere from 8months to a year....thing is i hadnt been using my desktop much until i started doing the stickam show so i never bothered to fix the issue :( ...but yea i think is gonna end up being related to what u said above (motherboard, graphics card, processor, power supply)......any idea how much it might cost me to fix this? i think i may be better off just buying a brand new one (keep in mind this computer is 3-4 yrs old)

try changing the battery on the motherboard....cheap attempt at a fix...

Checky your System and Application event logs too (when you have a crash). If you see something related to the crash, google the Event ID and the Source. www.eventid.net is a good place to start (besides Google).

If this didn't start until your webcam was installed, I would think it has something to do with that. And when you say you "tried that and it didn't work" what did it or didn't it do?

Does it just shut off completely? Or does it go through a system shut down?

If it goes through shutdown process, there was a virus looming around that caused this.

But i'm assuming it just turns off for no apparent reason, huh?

I would reccomend backing up your data ASAP. Fixing it is going to cost the same amount as buying a new one, with better specs

no this didnt start when i started using the webcam...the 'turn off at any time' thing has been going on for some time now...it just got worse after it turned off in the middle of updating the software for the webcam....what i meant by 'it didnt work' is that i did what u said on ur previous post:

[bold](Right click My Computer, Properties, Advanced Tab, Settings button under Startup and Recovery, Automatically Restart checkbox under System Failure.

Uncheck it and see what happens when you do the do)[/bold]

^^tried that and didnt help =(

Dj_AL, don't rule out that your desktop might have a strange rash / bump thing on in its butt crack, i heard there has been something going around....

you guys don't let up, do ya?

Seriously, this topic will get my vote for thread of the year, that was on some other shit.....literally and figurativly lol

it just shuts down completely (no system shut down process)

So, it still just "restarts" at random?

Unchecking this box will show you a blue screen error if the computer encounters this type of error. By default (now), the machine will just restart if there was a blue screen and this can be caused by a software error, hardware error, memory, registry, etc.

Well, if the machine just cuts off (like if you pulled the plug) it could either be the power source (I'd try a different outlet first) or the power supply. Usually when power supplies fail, they fail completely... but I wouldn't rule out an intermittent shut down.

hahahaha...no wonder why briguy has been so 'active' lately in trying to figure this out LMFAO!!

no for real though thanks a lot for the input BriGuy! and DeezNotes and latindj and i guess deejay barber for the humor! lol

i thought about this but i have it plugged in to a UPS and everything else on it works fine so i ruled those possibilities out

could still be the pc power supply intermittently failing...ups will do squat if the power supply fails.

Yeah. I'd check the connection from the power supply to the motherboard (reseat it). Change cords, check the voltage... anything that's free or at the lowest cost. Then I'd head over to Best Buy, Circuit City or your local computer store and pick up a power supply with comparable wattage. Keep the box just in case it still doesn't work so you can take it back if you need to buy a new machine.

+32 OJSimpson

+3countsofperjurytoBarryBonds

+32OJSimpsonHeismanTrophy

New Power supply,

pluggin into a ups will only help if the wall power goes out, not the power from the power supply.

If the power supply blips or surges real quick UPS or not its going down.

yea...im praying to god this is the problem as it wouldnt be that expensive to fix (i think?)

New power supply is like 60-80 bucks i think, havent bought one in a while.

depends how hi-tech you wanna go...but yeah, 60-80 is about right for an average supply.

im thinking of a power supply just good enough...besides im gonna take it to a tigerdirect.com store for the labor, which will probably ring up the cost to about $100 or so (i hope)...other than this problem the computer runs fine so im trying to put off buying a new one as much as i can...specially with christmas coming up

don't pay for labor! it's an easy swap...4 screws on the ps and a few connectors....just don't unplug the old one until you have the new one. then just swap one at a time from old to new...very easy.

Yeah a monkey could swap out a power supply. Dont waste 100 bucks it will take you literally 10 min.

^^oh ok...good to hear is that easy! now i just need to buy the 'right' power supply...how do i go about buying it? any specific specs i should be looking out for? (as far as compatibility goes)

Thanks in advance and thanks to all for ur contributions!!!

What brand and model computer do you got?

Brand: SOYO
Model: will have to get back to u on this when i get home tonite

Soyo? Never heard of it.


Check the manufacturers website and it will show you the power supply for the model you have, you can either order it from them, or search for the part number on google.

Or label everything, then disconnect old supply and take it with you to parts store and hopefully the hs dropout working there will be able to help you get a replacement part.

lmfao @ hs dropout working there....

anyways i hope the problem is indeed the power supply after i go through all this mess lol

Problems like you described are always either power supplies, or a short in the motherboard. Usually is the power supply though.

cool...ima try to get this fixed either tonite or tomorrow...i'll be back for more advise if this solution doesnt work out.

THANKS!

keep your receipt!