There is no replacement for first getting facts. For
example, one asked a first question - what does event (system)
log report? If you don't know what that is, then click on
START>HELP to get the Microsoft help menu for that event log
(viewer).
What does Device Manager report? Again, if you don't know
what it is, then use Windows HELP to learn.
Is power supply telling the computer to shutdown? IOW you
need the 3.5 digit voltmeter to read power supply DC
voltages. Another suggested a larger supply. Maybe - but I
seriously doubt it. To answer that question, again, first you
collect facts using the multimeter and this procedure that
takes but minutes and that involved no component removal:
"Computer doesnt start at all" in alt.comp.hardware on 10
Jan 2004 at
http://tinyurl.com/2t69q or
"I think my power supply is dead" in alt.comp.hardware on
5 Feb 2004 at
http://www.tinyurl.com/2musa
Of course you have examines the obvious - fans are
spinning. You already ran comprehensive system diagnostics
that every responsible computer manufacturer provides - for
free. Diagnostics that don't even require Windows to execute.
If it is an inferior manufacturer, then you must download
third party diagnostics and component manufacturer diagnostics
for each system component. IOW break the problem down into
component parts. Is it Windows (software) or is it hardware?
Is it motherboard, memory, disk drive, keyboard, video card,
etc?
Ignore nonsense ideas such as blowing dust out of system or
using a plug-in UPS. Dirty little secret. A computer plugged
into that UPS is connected directly to AC mains when that UPS
is not in battery backup mode. Others will claim that UPS
does something miraculous - and know this without even reading
manufacturer's numerical specs. Classic urban myth
solutions. If power problems exist, then a multimeter will
often expose same and many other possible problems.
First get facts before fixing things. If you don't
understand what those facts are saying, then bring them here
so that all can prosper from your experience.
Yes, another asked for unique BIOS settings such as shutdown
)