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I have to agree. I'm beginning to think it's a heat problem rather than a power supply, but as has been said, it is very difficult to be sure from here.
I've just come back to surf this wonderful site after a week plus away from it and have run into this thread.
I'm sooooooooo very sorry for your computer problems and I hope somehow someone can solve it so we can be the beneficiaries of your great posts my friend.
Now, you say you have a Dell computer - first things first, I need to know what model it is.
On a lot of Dell computers you cannot just go and purchase any power supply as many Dells have proprietary power supply's in which the main motherboard plug (the 20 pin one) wiring is different than a normal one. This is "if" you're going to replace the power supply.
Some Dell models also have their "normal" motherboard problems which can also be the case here and I wonder if any of the capacitors on that board are leaking or bulging (which happens a lot) as that would explain much if that's the case. In fact I've run into MANY, MANY Dell motherboards with bad capacitors and found such a Dell computer on the curb recently with such. I don't know if you have this problem with your computer as none of us can see it.
Is there any possible way you can open the computer case up and try to take a photo of the motherboard and post it here?
But it would help if you can furnish the model number and or the Service Tag number which is normally on the rear of the case on a white tag and or a small black or white tag on the upper side of the case.
Hope all is well otherwise.
njguy
Last edited by njguy; 07-22-2008 at 01:26 PM..
Reason: typo
and everyone else that has been KIND enough to stop by!
You all are GREAT!
Take care!
Countrylv22
Quote:
Originally Posted by njguy
I've just come back to surf this wonderful site after a week plus away from it and have run into this thread.
I'm sooooooooo very sorry for your computer problems and I hope somehow someone can solve it so we can be the beneficiaries of your great posts my friend.
Now, you say you have a Dell computer - first things first, I need to know what model it is.
On a lot of Dell computers you cannot just go and purchase any power supply as many Dells have proprietary power supply's in which the main motherboard plug (the 20 pin one) wiring is different than a normal one. This is "if" you're going to replace the power supply.
Some Dell models also have their "normal" motherboard problems which can also be the case here and I wonder if any of the capacitors on that board are leaking or bulging (which happens a lot) as that would explain much if that's the case. In fact I've run into MANY, MANY Dell motherboards with bad capacitors and found such a Dell computer on the curb recently with such. I don't know if you have this problem with your computer as none of us can see it.
Is there any possible way you can open the computer case up and try to take a photo of the motherboard and post it here?
But it would help if you can furnish the model number and or the Service Tag number which is normally on the rear of the case on a white tag and or a small black or white tag on the upper side of the case.
Hope all is well otherwise.
njguy
Last edited by countrylv22; 07-22-2008 at 06:10 PM..
Reason: PAY IT FORWARD!:0) SMILE & WE WILL SMILE WITH YOU!:0) THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR KINDNESS!:0) YOU GUYS ROCK!:0)Take good care!
With the Service Tag number, Dell's web site will supply the exact model, the original system configuration, manuals, specs, original ship date, warranty expiration dates, etc. That is the most important piece of information for finding about any particular single computer Dell has made.
This happened to us before. The fan went bad and there is a provision there that the PC won't boot up if the fan is dead as a safety to overheating. Fan had to be replaced, and everything's fine. Country, let us know what it was eventually.
With the Service Tag number, Dell's web site will supply the exact model, the original system configuration, manuals, specs, original ship date, warranty expiration dates, etc. That is the most important piece of information for finding about any particular single computer Dell has made.
Exactly why I asked for this info. First wanna see the configuration, second to find out how proprietary the power supply is for that computer, third to find out what common problems that particular model of computer has out there - or maybe my direct experience since I have a few Dell computers right now and had others before.
But overall it will give me an idea of where to start without looking at her computer visually - at least I'll try my best from here though it will be a challenge not having that computer in my hands. I just hope it's not a bad motherboard as I've seen too many of Dell's computers with this. The best motherboards Dell put out was the ones with that Intel made for them that housed the Pentium III 370 socket - I had 3 of such and threw them out about 3 months ago.
Last edited by njguy; 07-23-2008 at 07:39 AM..
Reason: added to sentence
This happened to us before. The fan went bad and there is a provision there that the PC won't boot up if the fan is dead as a safety to overheating. Fan had to be replaced, and everything's fine. Country, let us know what it was eventually.
On a lot (well most) of the Dell computers there was no direct mounted CPU Fan to a CPU heat sink but just a rear case fan and then a shrowd from that fan covering the CPU heat sink to draw heat away from the heat sink - so I don't know in that type configuration if the computer would shut down due to a non-working case fan.
But yes, with various (not all) computers that have a mounted CPU fan directly on top of the CPU heat sink would have that safety feature that if the fan stopped working that within 5 seconds or so the computer would automatically shut down.
If it's an overheating problem, the old trick is to take the computer and put it on a desk or table, with the computer still connected to the monitor, keyboard, mouse, internet, etc. Take the side panel off the computer so the inside of the case is exposed. Get an electric fan, either a desktop type or one that sits on the floor, and place it so that it is close to the computer (within a foot or so) and blows directly into the computer through the open side of the case. Use the computer for a few hours.
If the computer works fine (doesn't shut down or auto-reboot) with the side open and a fan blowing in, then it's an overheating problem. Look for dust build-up on the components (get some canned air and blow out the dust), blocked air vents (canned air or manual clearing), or dead case fans. Might even be a power supply that's reaching the end of it's life.
If the computer does still shut down or auto-reboot with the exterior fan blowing directly into the case, then it's not an overheating problem.
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Hello NJGUY!! :0) Thank you so much!! :0)
and I was using the DELL 
