Computer shuts off

[easy]

Periodically my computer shuts off, but it winds up sounding like one of those infurating musical greeting cards. I must then unplug it from the wall and start it up again whereupon it runs fine until the next time. I am suspecting a power supply problem. What say you?

[anitaleeds]

Sounds like a hardware problem. Some computers are designed to make crazy stupid noises when something is faulty. I know ours at work do (Hewlett Packard). Apparently these noises actually mean something, although they sound more like an old modem to me.

[curlypaul]

Its pretty much impossible to tell where a hardware problem may lie without a mulitmeter and detailed knowledge of what currents go where. Bite the bullet and take it a repair shop. If its the power supply expect to pay no more than £50 for the unit itself.

[robbie2]

Unfortunately, it is one of those situations where if it was me looking into the problem I would need to hear the sound first to know whether it is a problem with the hard disk or if it is power supply problem.

When you are shutting down your PC, are you going to start=>Tirn off Computer=>turn off?

Do you have the sound when you power up as well as power off your PC?

Is it possible you have run out of space on your hard disk? Sometimes the type of sound that you might be hearing can be heard when a machine has run out of physical memory, so then goes to use any space available it can on the hard disk as virtual memeory to keep the machine running.

It is probably best to do as CurlyPaul has suggested and take it to a repait shop, but I would ask about first for a reputable repair shop that a friend or relative can recommend rather than pulling out the first name in the Yellow Pages.

[G Wizard]

It's possible the CPU is overheating.

Try opening up the case and checking to make sure there's no build-up of dust on the CPU cooling fins. If there is, get a vacuum with the crevice nozzle attached and very gently clean the fins. Chances are there's a cooling fan attached to the top which you'll need to unscrew first to get the best clean possible. Don't forget to reinstall it when you're done (don't overtighten the screws). Remember, just remove the fan, not the CPU.

While you're in there, check around for any other buildup of dust and carefully vacuum it out of there. If you need to get close to the board, use your fingers as a buffer, so you don't end up snapping off anything critical.

[easy]

This thing happens rather suddenly: The hard drive shuts down all by itself. Bam! And then this irritating noise starts. In order to quiet it I have to physically pull the plug from the wall. Nothing else stops it. I might have described the sound inaccurately. Rather it sounds like one of those european sirens. (Ascending and descending) The computer guts are clean as a whistle. Just had it open. I have tons of space left on my disk. Memory and space is not a problem. Plugging it back in the wall & restarting the machine clears up the problem completely...until it happens again This is definately not a cooling fan bearing or a hard drive bearing noise. I already know what those things sound like. I just don't know what is inside a computer that makes a noise like that. It is an electronic noise, for sure. Not mechanical. That I am 99.9% sure.

[cosmicB]

My first impression on the problem is same as G-Wizard's...


If your tower sits on the floor, and you have house critters, and lots of critter hairs on the floors, and you sweep near the tower, some of those hairs and dusties that get airborn, near the tower, will be pulled into the computer's fans while you sweep... Better to shut the PC off before you sweep...
Computers need a reasonably clean place.. is why corporations often spend a couple hundred thousand dollars to make their computer rooms sterile and dust free...

Also your tower could be resting on or near a hot air vent.. which means that the cooling fans would now be heating what they are supposed to be cooling...

What ever the cause, it sounds like a serious overheating problem...
Continued running it, with that problem still active, will likely result in a destroyed computer, not worth fixing...

You can't clean a plugged up old fan.. The dust is now a burned solid caked abrasive mess in the bearings.. Lubricate it, and free it up, and it will only eat up its bearings a few weeks later... It needs to be replaced.. New fans are super cheap at second hand computer parts suppliers and liquidators...

Do the fan now, or kill the computer soon, and have to replace the whole computer later... [Choose: "now.. soon.. or later"]

[Maximus Prime]

as above..CPU overheating. take the side off and fire it up to see if the CPU cooling fan is running, check that all the airways in are not clogged up with sh1te, and move the box away from any walls etc. While you are in there, check the model No of the motherboard, the MFR's website should tell you how many beeps corespond to what fault.

[tictac]

No software will cause any problem if there is no power, it has to be mechanical. You aren't using watercooling by any chance?

[cosmicB]

Uninstall shocwave, and everything macromedia... then do a regedit and find for macromedia and shockwave, and delete them all...
I bet your problems will vanish...

[Bubbles]

[krazi]

my computer has a mind of its own out of no where it completly shuts down and then reboots. this could happen in teh first 5 minutes or the 45 minute or even after a few hours. i done all the virus check couldnt find nothing. what could it be?

[monosodium]

does it do a proper shut down (ie shut down all your programs and prompt you to save), or just "beep" and it's black-screen and restarting?

[tictac]

[PussyKatdoll]

Our computer had to go back to the shop a while back as it kept switching itself off, and that was cos it was overheating all the time.