Bad Power Supply?

[JamesJ]

Been having problems with my system as chkdsk /p continues
to find errors in the in the volume from the recovery console.
For more info please refer to my posts in:
Chkdsk Continues to Find Errors'

Yesterday after opening the hood and checking the fans
everything seemed fine including the power supply fan.

But, after putting the cover back on and upon returning a half hour later,
xp had reverted to the blue screen telling me it needed to shut down
to prevent damage to my computer. Didn't bother writing down the details.
I needed to turn off the system off from the back, turn it back on and
restart.
The system booted to the bios asking for the cpu speed. (where Manual
was already selected. Exited the bios and got the blue screen again.
Did the same procedure but this time the bios prompted me for a password.
Again got the blue screen.

I needed to reinstall xp and at this time the system seems stable.
Question: Does this sound like a bad power supply?
If so, how can the power supple go bad after only 3 years??
Can a bad power supply cause errors in the volume as I described?
I've purchased and installed a new hd and ata cable.

 

[Malke]

Been having problems with my system as chkdsk /p continues
to find errors in the in the volume from the recovery console.
For more info please refer to my posts in:
Chkdsk Continues to Find Errors'

Yesterday after opening the hood and checking the fans
everything seemed fine including the power supply fan.

But, after putting the cover back on and upon returning a half hour
later, xp had reverted to the blue screen telling me it needed to shut
down to prevent damage to my computer. Didn't bother writing down the
details. I needed to turn off the system off from the back, turn it
back on and restart.
The system booted to the bios asking for the cpu speed. (where Manual
was already selected. Exited the bios and got the blue screen again.
Did the same procedure but this time the bios prompted me for a
password. Again got the blue screen.

I needed to reinstall xp and at this time the system seems stable.
Question: Does this sound like a bad power supply?
If so, how can the power supple go bad after only 3 years??
Can a bad power supply cause errors in the volume as I described?
I've purchased and installed a new hd and ata cable.

1. No, it doesn't sound like a bad psu to me. You can easily swap it out
though to test.

2. Any hardware can "go bad" after any amount of time. If the psu was a
cheap one to begin with, sure - it could die after only 3 years.

3. It is unlikely that the psu caused hard drive errors. It is far more
likely that the hard drive is bad if Chkdsk keeps finding errors.
Download a diagnostic utility from the drive mftr., create bootable
media with it, boot with it, and do a thorough test. If the hard drive
fails any physical tests, replace it.

Malke

 

[DL]

So why start a new thread?
Any hw can go bad at any time.
A faulty pwr supply can cause all manner of probs
Why do you have the manual setting for your cpu speed?

 

[JamesJ]

I've done all that on my old 40gb. When That didn't work I purchased
a new 160gb hd. I also changed the ata cable. Maybe I should just buy
another
system and discourage others from purchasing form the one I bought this
piece of crap from.

 

[JamesJ]

I'm startoing a new thread because there hasn't been a response in a few
days and
it's getting difficult to navigate.
I didn't say I set the cpu speed to manual it was already selected when the
sytem booted to
the bios.

 

[JamesJ]

Another reason I'm started a new thread since you asked.
In the old thread someone gave me 3 suggestions on wht to do on Nov. 6. I
asked about one of the suggestions but haven't hear form this person.
It concerns the UltraDma driver(s) and how I might obtain them.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

Been having problems with my system as chkdsk /p continues
to find errors in the in the volume from the recovery console.
For more info please refer to my posts in:
Chkdsk Continues to Find Errors'

A sign of a failing hard drive....

Yesterday after opening the hood and checking the fans
everything seemed fine including the power supply fan.

But, after putting the cover back on and upon returning a half hour later,
xp had reverted to the blue screen telling me it needed to shut down
to prevent damage to my computer. Didn't bother writing down the details.

How do you expect us to offer help, if you can't be bothered to provide
the error message? You do realize, don't you, that error messages
generally tell you where the problem lies?

I needed to turn off the system off from the back, turn it back on and
restart.
The system booted to the bios asking for the cpu speed. (where Manual
was already selected.

Overclocking, by any chance? If so, stop doing so to see how the
system behaves.

Exited the bios and got the blue screen again.
Did the same procedure but this time the bios prompted me for a password.
Again got the blue screen.

I needed to reinstall xp and at this time the system seems stable.
Question: Does this sound like a bad power supply?

Not in the least. Is the computer randomly turning itself off, without
warning?

If so, how can the power supple go bad after only 3 years??

Not that it has, but any hardware component can fail at any time, even
within minutes of being installed.

Can a bad power supply cause errors in the volume as I described?

You have described any specific errors, except to hint at some that
might be due to a failing hard drive.

I've purchased and installed a new hd and ata cable.

--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell

 

[JamesJ]

The hd was installed 30 days ago.

A sign of a failing hard drive....




How do you expect us to offer help, if you can't be bothered to provide
the error message? You do realize, don't you, that error messages
generally tell you where the problem lies?



Overclocking, by any chance? If so, stop doing so to see how the system
behaves.



Not in the least. Is the computer randomly turning itself off, without
warning?



Not that it has, but any hardware component can fail at any time, even
within minutes of being installed.



You have described any specific errors, except to hint at some that might
be due to a failing hard drive.



--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand
Russell

 

[w_tom]

Your problems are typically of many problems including a defective
and slowly getting worse power supply. Solution starts by confirm what
is good - eliminate the usual suspects.

For example, power supply as a suspect can be eliminated in but
minutes. Simply execute many programs (multitask) so that numerous
peripherals are operating simultaneously. Access network, disk drive,
floppy, CD-Rom, and video graphics while measuring voltages from that
power supply. Use of a 3.5 digit multimeter is essential. In your
case, voltage measurements of one of each purple, red, orange, and
yellow wire must provide voltages that exceed 3.23, 4.87, and 11.7.
Those numbers may provide other useful information if posted.

Once power supply is confirmed, then we can move onto other suspects.
Power supply is like a foundation of a house. Do you start planing
the doors? Or do you first check (and maybe fix) the foundation.
Above information can be obtained in but two minutes.

Other useful information may be found in the system (event) log. Use
Windows Help, if necessary, to find these details that may include
details about that BSOD. Of course, without confirming power supply,
then even event logs may not contain accurate history.

Also useful are comprehensive hardware diagnostics that are provided
free by responsible computer manufacturers. If your computer does not
provide those diagnostics, then get them from the component
manufacturers such as the disk drive web site.

One final diagnostic tool is heat. Each diagnostic and other tests
may identify hardware defects faster when that hardware is heated. For
example, heating selective parts with a hairdryer on high which testing
can made the intermittent defect easier to locate. All hardware must
operate perfectly normal even when heated so warm as to uncomfortable
to touch (but not burn skin). That higher temperature is 100% normal
for all computer components. Unfortunately many want to fix such
defective hardware by adding more fans or removing dust. Instead, use
that heat to find a 100% defective part faster in conjunction with the
3.5 digit multimeter, comprehensive hardware diagnostics, and system
(event) logs.

 

[DL]

In an earlier thread you stated you used the hd manu checking utility and
that it passed with inconsistancies.
Did you use the same utility to attempt a repair, if so what was the result?

 

[JamesJ]

I assumed Seagate's diagnostic tool was attempting to fix the errors
while it was running. I'll look into it again.

James

 

[Malke]

Your problems are typically of many problems including a defective
and slowly getting worse power supply. Solution starts by confirm
what is good - eliminate the usual suspects.

(snip long explanation about psu's)

All well and good except that the OP has already stated that he ran
Seagate's drive diagnostic which showed drive inconsistencies. The fact
that his drive is new is irrelevant - in fact, if hardware is going to
fail it will often do so right away. The bottom line is that he has a
bad hard drive and screwing around with other components - which may or
may not be bad, it doesn't matter - is a waste of time. The OP should
RMA the drive and move on.

Malke

 

[JamesJ]

Maybe I should just purchase a new system? It would
be far easier on my sanity and fuel from dropping off
and picking up the cpu.

James

 

[w_tom]

All well and good except that the OP has already stated that he ran
Seagate's drive diagnostic which showed drive inconsistencies. The fact
that his drive is new is irrelevant - in fact, if hardware is going to
fail it will often do so right away.

Of course. A defective power supply - as stated previously - will
create numerous symptoms including disk drive diagnostic errors. If a
'foundation' is not confirmed, then do we start planing the doors?
That is exactly what was recommended and done. Therefore nothing
useful is known. If a power supply is not veriified using numbers (a
simple two minute procedure), then nothing is known good or bad.

All computer problems get complex if power supply 'system' integrity
is not first established. Seagate's diagnostic errors tell us zero
useful information without first doing those 3.5 digit multimeter
measurements. This was standard on computers 30 years ago - when the
drives were drums and memory was iron core.

Reason that this problem was made useless complex: some just know,
for example, that PSU is not defective only from " it doesn't sound
like ..." reasoning. These are recommendations for confusion and
defeat.

At this point, the OP still should not be trying to fix anything.
Not provided are numbers from the 3.5 digit multimeter, information
from system (event) logs, AND (only after power supply is confirmed)
information from the hard drive diagnostic. Currently no useful
information is provided.

JamesJ - no useful information means no one could provide anything
but wild speculation. Start over. Do not try to fix anything yet.
First collect facts. And that starts with the 3.5 digit multimeter
because your symptoms are quite standard for a computer with a failing
power supply ... and other failures. Until we have confirmed power
supply integrity and posted those numbers, AND until information from
the system (event) log is provided, then every recommendation will only
be wild speculation.

JamesJ - spend $10 or $20 and two minutes to get the meter and the
numbers. Do not condemn or replace anything. Based upon what was
posted, there is not one paragraph that identifies anything, yet, as
either good or bad. Base upon what has been posted; you have every
reason to be confused and frustrated. Up to now, you have violated
even what is taught in CSI. You did not follow the evidence.
Speculation is why you are so confused and frustrated. Follow the
evidence. That means numbers from the meter and history from that
event (system) log.

 

[DL]

To add, I had a number of Samsung hd's that kept on failing, failure was
confirmed by samsung checking utility. Samsung rma'd the disks but failures
continued.
I had a True Pwr supply, still under warranty.
Changed the pwr supply, failures went away.
Then rma'd the True Pwr, to keep as a backup.