windows shuts down

[MR]

Ok, I think its time i post my problem now. This has started to happen daily
now for the past 10 days or so. WHen I get to my work pc (fam business), I
start my 4 yr old Dell (windows xp home edition sp2 OEM IE6)..... Then, it
shuts off. just like that. No warning or words or error message. it just
shuts off. I restart it and after about the 3-4 time, it finally stays on.
SOmetimes it gets to my desktop and others not even to the log gin screen.
It seems, coincidence maybe, that then I start typing and using my mouse
continuously after atart up, that it continues to stay 'on'. But if I start
my pc then walk away to let it "wake' up, that it shuts off due to lack of
usage. I think its just a coincidense but I dont know if it has any barring
on my situation.
Has anyone had this happen? SO far, 10 days and counting, i need to restart
the pc at least 3 times before it actually stays on. Afterwards, it will
last 'on' til i leave for the rest of the day.
NOTE: the only thing it does sometimes is show the black screen with white
letters of how I want to start windows. I have chosen 'normally' and 'last
known config'. but the pc still may shut down.....again. So thats all i have
to go by.
thanks for any tips u can give me.

 

[loz]

Have you ever cleaned out the power supply fan.Overheating can cause those

 

[Malke]

Ok, I think its time i post my problem now. This has started to happen daily
now for the past 10 days or so. WHen I get to my work pc (fam business), I
start my 4 yr old Dell (windows xp home edition sp2 OEM IE6)..... Then, it
shuts off. just like that. No warning or words or error message. it just
shuts off. I restart it and after about the 3-4 time, it finally stays on.
SOmetimes it gets to my desktop and others not even to the log gin screen.
It seems, coincidence maybe, that then I start typing and using my mouse
continuously after atart up, that it continues to stay 'on'. But if I start
my pc then walk away to let it "wake' up, that it shuts off due to lack of
usage. I think its just a coincidense but I dont know if it has any barring
on my situation.
Has anyone had this happen? SO far, 10 days and counting, i need to restart
the pc at least 3 times before it actually stays on. Afterwards, it will
last 'on' til i leave for the rest of the day.
NOTE: the only thing it does sometimes is show the black screen with white
letters of how I want to start windows. I have chosen 'normally' and 'last
known config'. but the pc still may shut down.....again. So thats all i have
to go by.
thanks for any tips u can give me.

This is definitely hardware failure. Your description of the problem
sounds like the classic symptoms of a failing power supply. Time to do
hardware troubleshooting:

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Hardware_Tshoot

Standard disclaimer: I can't see and test your computer myself, so these
are just suggestions based on many years of being a professional
computer tech; suggestions based on what you've written. You should not
take my suggestions as a definitive diagnosis. Testing hardware failures
often involves swapping out suspected parts with known-good parts. If
you can't do the testing yourself and/or are uncomfortable opening your
computer, take the machine to a professional computer repair shop (not
your local equivalent of BigComputerStore/GeekSquad). If possible, have
all your data backed up before you take the machine into a shop.


Malke