Dell PC Problem
Dell PC Problem My moms older P4 Dell with 768mb of mem and a 30 gb hard drive keeps on freezing after beeing in windows for like 2-10 mins. It will def not run longer than 10 mins. Also, sometimes during boot up it will automaticly restart on its own. So anyway, my first thoughts were its the hard drive. I ran a diagnostics using western digitals software in dos, and it said the drive is fine. Now Im starting to think its the power supply. Anyone have any suggestions or ideas?
Sounds like this could be software related or power supply. I would suggest trying to boot from a live cd "linux". If it boots up fine and runs properly after that then its ur windows os. If it seems to be your windows just pop in ur windows cd and do a "repair". If this is a power supply issue its a pretty easy fix with just replacing with a new one. Good Luck 
Sounds like this could be software related or power supply. I would suggest trying to boot from a live cd "linux". If it boots up fine and runs properly after that then its ur windows os. If it seems to be your windows just pop in ur windows cd and do a "repair". If this is a power supply issue its a pretty easy fix with just replacing with a new one. Good Luck
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Try running it with only 1 stick of ram at a time. You should have a 512 and a 256 chip right? Well try just running it with the 512 once and if it freezes then try the 256. Memtest is a free program that you can burn to a cd and run on startup. It will let you know if there is a problem with memory.
Try running it with only 1 stick of ram at a time. You should have a 512 and a 256 chip right? Well try just running it with the 512 once and if it freezes then try the 256. Memtest is a free program that you can burn to a cd and run on startup. It will let you know if there is a problem with memory.
lol, not a PSU problem. you're got an overheating issue. the computer sensing that the CPU is overheating and thus "saving" itself. you can take it to a tech and they could reapply some thermal paste. im a geek squad technician so im not speeking out of my ***. you usually wont see a PSU cause shutdown problems. you can rule out software or HDD problems because you freeze up in BIOS. if the thermal paste doesnt do anything for you, then its a MOBO. a PSU issue will cause the unit to not power on at all, or not allowing the unit to restart.
I've been in the IT Industry for over 13 years. While an over heating problem could be the issue, It could also be a power supply issue or several other things for that matter. To make the statement "lol, not a PSU Issue" shows just how competent most GeekSquad techs are.
Judging by the specs on the machine, It's probably time to replace it. Check the bios to see if it logs any error related to overheating. Most older machines do not keep logs in the bios but maybe you will get lucky. You can also physically feel the heatsink on the processor. Be careful though, I have been burned before. If a machine is over heating to the point it shuts down you can usually smell it. At that point thermal grease is not going to fix it for long if at all. You could go buy a power supply and try it. If it does not fix the issue just return the PSU and replace the machine.
JMHO
Matt
Judging by the specs on the machine, It's probably time to replace it. Check the bios to see if it logs any error related to overheating. Most older machines do not keep logs in the bios but maybe you will get lucky. You can also physically feel the heatsink on the processor. Be careful though, I have been burned before. If a machine is over heating to the point it shuts down you can usually smell it. At that point thermal grease is not going to fix it for long if at all. You could go buy a power supply and try it. If it does not fix the issue just return the PSU and replace the machine.
JMHO
Matt
Last edited by OhOneWS6; Feb 1, 2008 at 12:20 PM.
I've been in the IT Industry for over 13 years. While an over heating problem could be the issue, It could also be a power supply issue or several other things for that matter. To make the statement "lol, not a PSU Issue" shows just how competent most GeekSquad techs are.
Judging by the specs on the machine, It's probably time to replace it. Check the bios to see if it logs any error related to overheating. Most older machines do not keep logs in the bios but maybe you will get lucky. You can also physically feel the heatsink on the processor. Be careful though, I have been burned before. If a machine is over heating to the point it shuts down you can usually smell it. At that point thermal grease is not going to fix it for long if at all. You could go buy a power supply and try it. If it does not fix the issue just return the PSU and replace the machine.
JMHO
Matt
Judging by the specs on the machine, It's probably time to replace it. Check the bios to see if it logs any error related to overheating. Most older machines do not keep logs in the bios but maybe you will get lucky. You can also physically feel the heatsink on the processor. Be careful though, I have been burned before. If a machine is over heating to the point it shuts down you can usually smell it. At that point thermal grease is not going to fix it for long if at all. You could go buy a power supply and try it. If it does not fix the issue just return the PSU and replace the machine.
JMHO
Matt
I'm sticking with the memory or a heat issue. Hell the fan in the power supply could be stopped up too. I've got one that is doing that now. Just have to get off my lazy *** and do that.
