INTERNAL_POWER_FAILURE

[Rob]

Wondering if anyone has ever seen this BSOD before?

My brother has a machine that he is now getting this
error once in a while. Most of the time, the computer
runs fine (300W power supply - only about 2 years old)
but he received a BSOD that
stated "INTERNAL_POWER_FAILURE" without anything else.

When he doesn't get that error, he can run the box fine
for a while (hours at a time!) without ANY problems, and
then all of a sudden BLAM - it goes black and reboots
completely. Nothing but an unexpected reboot (event
viewer yields nothing).

Am I correct to blame the power supply? Also, I could
not find ANY KB articles with the words
INTERNAL_POWER_FAILURE about XP...can someone help me
diagnore the obtuse message?

TIA,
Rob

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi Rob,

Sounds like the power supply unit is overheating.

I'd suggest he see about replacing it, or if he's comfortable with it,
taking it apart and cleaning it - it's probably full of dust bunnies.
WARNING: Taking apart the psu may void any warranty, it may also be
dangerous as there may be capacitors in there that will remain fully charged
even with the unit unplugged. This can cause a shock hazard. Do not proceed
if you do not know what you are doing.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other hobby!

Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone

 

[Crusty \(-: Old B@stard :-\)]

Rick!

The correct advice is to replace the power supply or take the computer to a
repair shop.

Not 2 in 1000 people will know what they are doing. 1 in 1000 will actually
know, the other will think he knows! If a person repairing a computer
doesn't know what he is doing, he may blow a semi-conductor by a static
discharge from his body. If the same person goes into the power supply, he
"may" damage his body!

Admittedly this is a slim chance, but entirely possible!

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

<heh>

That's precisely why my last line specifically states what amounts to the
same warning. But, it's hard to tell who you are talking to, so I gave them
the benefit of the doubt. My guess is that one of those two is a least
fairly knowledgable about the system in question, I leave the judgement of
fixing it themselves up to them.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers aka "Nutcase" MS-MVP - Win9x
Windows isn't rocket science! That's my other hobby!

Associate Expert - WinXP - Expert Zone