CPU turns itself off

[Guest]

I have Windows XP Home Edition - CPU is about 2 years old. I have it plugged into a Battery Back up, that is functioning just fine. My CPU turns itself off when I walk away from the computer. The CPU totally goes off and I have to turn the Battery Back up off and then back on to get the CPU to turn on again. I have unplugged the CPU from the battery back up and tried it in a regular surge protector strip - same thing happened, so I know it's not the battery back up unit. I opened the case and cleaned the dust out of the CPU with the compressed air and it really wasn't all that dirty in there to make a difference.
Why is the CPU turning itself off all the time? I have not changed any "sleep" settings...and it's not really going to "sleep" anyway - it's turning totally off. I always leave my CPU on because I'm on and off the computer all day long. This is truly annoying to have to restart it all the time. I keep current with the Microsoft Windows updates for Service Packs, critical updates and Norton Antivirus scans.
What could the problem be? What do I try next?
Windows XP Home Edition
HP Pavilion 04
Version 501.2600
512 MB Physical Memory
2.46 GB Virtual Memory
Thanks!

 

[SteveL]

Check your CPU FAN (processor this is the CPU Central
Processing Unit) make sure this is running and cooling the
CPU, a system will shutdown if it get's too hot. Go into
your BIOS and check the status.

-----Original Message-----
I have Windows XP Home Edition - CPU is about 2 years

old. I have it plugged into a Battery Back up, that is
functioning just fine. My CPU turns itself off when I
walk away from the computer. The CPU totally goes off and
I have to turn the Battery Back up off and then back on to
get the CPU to turn on again. I have unplugged the CPU
from the battery back up and tried it in a regular surge
protector strip - same thing happened, so I know it's not
the battery back up unit. I opened the case and cleaned
the dust out of the CPU with the compressed air and it
really wasn't all that dirty in there to make a
difference.

Why is the CPU turning itself off all the time? I have

not changed any "sleep" settings...and it's not really
going to "sleep" anyway - it's turning totally off. I
always leave my CPU on because I'm on and off the computer
all day long. This is truly annoying to have to restart
it all the time. I keep current with the Microsoft
Windows updates for Service Packs, critical updates and
Norton Antivirus scans.

 

[Guest]

I'm a little green on some computer things - where will I go to find the BIOS? I did a "find" and a LOT Of files with "BIOS" came up. I'm assuming it's in a Windows folder, but which one?

Thanks for the help.
--
Kate

Check your CPU FAN (processor this is the CPU Central
Processing Unit) make sure this is running and cooling the
CPU, a system will shutdown if it get's too hot. Go into
your BIOS and check the status.

-----Original Message-----
I have Windows XP Home Edition - CPU is about 2 years

old. I have it plugged into a Battery Back up, that is
functioning just fine. My CPU turns itself off when I
walk away from the computer. The CPU totally goes off and
I have to turn the Battery Back up off and then back on to
get the CPU to turn on again. I have unplugged the CPU
from the battery back up and tried it in a regular surge
protector strip - same thing happened, so I know it's not
the battery back up unit. I opened the case and cleaned
the dust out of the CPU with the compressed air and it
really wasn't all that dirty in there to make a
difference.

Why is the CPU turning itself off all the time? I have

not changed any "sleep" settings...and it's not really
going to "sleep" anyway - it's turning totally off. I
always leave my CPU on because I'm on and off the computer
all day long. This is truly annoying to have to restart
it all the time. I keep current with the Microsoft
Windows updates for Service Packs, critical updates and
Norton Antivirus scans.

 

[Guest]

Think I solved the mystery - the Fan at the top of the CPU isn't running. That will probably do it. Hoping it isn't too difficult for a blonde female to change it! Thanks for the info.............
--
Kate

Check your CPU FAN (processor this is the CPU Central
Processing Unit) make sure this is running and cooling the
CPU, a system will shutdown if it get's too hot. Go into
your BIOS and check the status.

-----Original Message-----
I have Windows XP Home Edition - CPU is about 2 years

old. I have it plugged into a Battery Back up, that is
functioning just fine. My CPU turns itself off when I
walk away from the computer. The CPU totally goes off and
I have to turn the Battery Back up off and then back on to
get the CPU to turn on again. I have unplugged the CPU
from the battery back up and tried it in a regular surge
protector strip - same thing happened, so I know it's not
the battery back up unit. I opened the case and cleaned
the dust out of the CPU with the compressed air and it
really wasn't all that dirty in there to make a
difference.

Why is the CPU turning itself off all the time? I have

not changed any "sleep" settings...and it's not really
going to "sleep" anyway - it's turning totally off. I
always leave my CPU on because I'm on and off the computer
all day long. This is truly annoying to have to restart
it all the time. I keep current with the Microsoft
Windows updates for Service Packs, critical updates and
Norton Antivirus scans.

 

[Guest]

Kate, your BIOS settings can be found by cold or warm booting; as the MS Welcome screen pops up you will see a message at the bottom of the screen. It will give you two options; one is for BIOS Setup, and it will instruct you to hit a hotkey Either F1 or F12. This will take you into your BIOS settings that Luke was mentioning. Sorry I can't be more specific. My Desk is down and I'm working from my lap with a 2000 platform. They're ever so slightly different and I don't have the greatest memory for detail. Anyway give it a go and see what happens.

I'm a little green on some computer things - where will I go to find the BIOS? I did a "find" and a LOT Of files with "BIOS" came up. I'm assuming it's in a Windows folder, but which one?

Thanks for the help.

 

[Guest]

Installing a new CPU fan is very easy and you should have
no problem. If you feel uncomfortable about doing it
yourself, a technician in your area would gladly help
you. (Though it may cost any range of money due to
location and PC shop.)

-----Original Message-----
Think I solved the mystery - the Fan at the top of the

CPU isn't running. That will probably do it. Hoping it
isn't too difficult for a blonde female to change it!
Thanks for the info.............

 

[RobertVA]

That fan is ussually part of the power supply. Few people bother to fix a
power supply with a dead fan or any other problem. Somebody will need to
unplug the various power leads from the motherboard and disk drives and
remove some screws to get the power supply out of the case. A replacement
supply should mount and hook up the same way. Compare the variuos power
supply wattage values, you need the same wattage or higher than indicated on
the original power supply. Drive power connectors are pretty foolproof.
Write down which way the main board power connector is oriented, older
systems have two connectors (record orientation and position of both). If
you have to disconnect the "Ribbon" cables that carry data to and from the
disk drives, record which ones go where and which side of the drive is
closest to the colored stripe on the cable.

If your nervous about getting things hooked up and mounted the same way they
originaly were, the job should only take a computer shop ten or fifteen
minutes of actual labor (the shop's minimum labor charges may be higher).

Think I solved the mystery - the Fan at the top of the CPU isn't running.

That will probably do it. Hoping it isn't too difficult for a blonde female
to change it! Thanks for the info.............