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127612
April 4th, 2012 11:00
Computer Shuts itself off
When I turn on my computer (Dimension 8400) everything boots up normally but after a while (and the time it stays on has been random thus far) it will shut itself off and the light on the power button at the front will blink an amber color. I have to hold the button down until the light turns off before I can restart indicating a hardware problem from what I've been told.
I am not experienced with computers at all so most advanced things are out of the question for me unless you guys can help walk me through it. Thanks in advanced for any assistance you can offer.
-ToriJ
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ToriJ
12 Posts
0
April 4th, 2012 12:00
The computer shut down in Safe Mode.
Computer Specs: Windows XP Home Edition Version 2002
Service Package 3
Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.00GHz
2.99GHz, 512 MB of Ram.
-ToriJ
DELL-Anish V
85 Posts
0
April 4th, 2012 12:00
This Mostly could be an Hardware issue but to isolate if it is an Hardware of software. Try this....
Turn off the computer and when the system turns on Keep tapping F8 and you will see few options, Select safe mode and hit Enter.
It will boot in to the computer and you will see the icons will be large that is because the video drivers will not be loaded and most of the applications will not work. Check over here is the system shuts down.
IF it does shut down in Safe mode then it is a Hardware problem, If it dosn't then most probably it will be the Operating system which causes the problem or the applications which is installed.
Also, Please reply back with the specs on the comp.
Thanks
DELL-Anish V
85 Posts
0
April 4th, 2012 13:00
Could you please use one memory at a time and check in the Slots to see if that is making a Difference. To Remove the memory follow the link
<ADMIN NOTE: Broken link has been removed from this post by Dell>
Also Please get on to F12 by tapping after restarting and run the Diags and see if there is any error code
preditor22000
5 Posts
1
April 4th, 2012 14:00
your pc is pretty old its probably a hardware error...
ToriJ
12 Posts
0
April 4th, 2012 15:00
RAM 1 only, system shutdown on booting
RAM 2 only, system started and still seems to be running fine.
On the Hardware Diagnostic I only found issues on Drive 4 and 5
Drive 4: JLMS DVD-ROM XJ-HD166
Drive 5: _NEC DVD+/ - RW ND-3450A
Both had 'Diagnostics Not Supported' at the end of them.
ToriJ
12 Posts
0
April 4th, 2012 17:00
Sorry for the double post (didn't see an edit button) but I'm posting to report that my computer has just shut itself off with only Ram 2 inside.
ToriJ
12 Posts
0
April 5th, 2012 10:00
Update: The shutdown yesterday could have been caused due to trying to use more memory than a single ram could take. It booted up and worked just fine afterwards. After that I put Ram 1 into slot 2 with the good ram, Ram 2, still in slot 1 and the computer worked from then on out until I shut it down myself to go to sleep. When I woke up this morning and booted the PC up again it shut down on me again the same way it has been doing since the start of the problem with Ram 2 still in slot 1 and Ram 1 still in slot 2. When I restarted I was told the following file was missing or corrupted,
\system32\ntoskrn.exe
ToriJ
12 Posts
0
April 5th, 2012 12:00
All right.
In addition when I went back to using a single ram only (Ram 2 in slot 1) it booted up without the error message but shut itself down again when I reached my desktop. Does that mean anything?
shesagordie
12 Elder
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46K Posts
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April 5th, 2012 12:00
ToriJ
See if the solution in the first post HERE can help.
You could also, carry out a Repair Reinstall of XP
.Bev.
ToriJ
12 Posts
0
April 5th, 2012 13:00
New problem: my computer won't read the floppy disc so I can't try any of the solutions shesagordie linked me to. After a couple of restarts to see if it would work it got to a point where my PC wouldn't even start up, it just showed the amber light on the power button. I had to unplug and replug the power cord in the back just to start it up again so I could at least take the disc out.
DELL-Anish V
85 Posts
0
April 5th, 2012 14:00
Hey Torij,
I guess the MOB Slot has gone bad. Could you please Remove all the Memory sticks and start the computer. It you hear beep codes which means the MOB is fine. IF it does not give any beep code then the MOB has gone bad
ToriJ
12 Posts
0
April 5th, 2012 14:00
The MOB slot appears to be fine. I removed both memory sticks as you suggested and turned it on to hear a loud beeping noise coming from the computer.
DELL-Anish V
85 Posts
0
April 5th, 2012 16:00
Try this. Use the first Ram is slot 1 turn it on, then in slot 2 turn it on.... Then Use RAm 2 in slot 1 turn it on and then in slot 2 and check which one works
ToriJ
12 Posts
0
April 5th, 2012 20:00
On the subject of the disc, nvm. I messed up before. It's not a floppy and it works just fine. It's just when I get to the recovery console it doesn't recognize the 'copy' command.
ToriJ
12 Posts
0
April 6th, 2012 09:00
Anish, I did as you suggested with the rams but the computer continues to shuts itself off regardless. Ram 1 only in slot 2 lasted longer than Ram 2 only in slot 2 but all had the same overall conclusion and the shutdowns tend to always happen at different times so there's no guarantee one is more reliable than the other. Does that mean the problem isn't with the rams but something else?