Through my years of working with computers I have encountered many issues. Some related to hardware, but most seem to be associated with software. When I do encounter an error, I like to find the root of the problem, so I can add it to my knowledgebase.
Recently, I ran into a problem where my computer would just shut off by itself. At first it was rather annoying, but then it got to the point where I couldn’t turn my computer back on. After some time, I did manage to get my computer up and running again.
Shutdown
I don’t have a new computer by any strech of the imagination. It is roughly 7 years old (Pentium 4 – 1.7Ghz), but does allow me to surf, check my e-mail, and blog. I am also able to play some of my older games, but anything new I can forget it.
The computer has been serving me well, up until recently. While using various applications, or playing games, my computer would suddenly shut itself off. Thinking nothing about it the first few times, I continued to use it.
Then one time it shut itself off, but wouldn’t turn back on. Thinking it may have overheated, I left it alone for an hour. When I came back and pressed the power button, it came back to life. Problem solved, at least that’s what I thought.
Finally, it decided to shut itself off once again. Thinking it had overheated again, I left it alone for an hour. When I came back, and attempted to turn it on, nothing happened. My computer was dead.
Solving the Problem
Up until the point of the shutdown, my everything in my computer had been working normally. I had no processor issue, and no problems with any of the peripherals. This lead me to the power supply.
For those that don’t know, each desktop computer includes a metal box at the back of your case that is the power supply. It is easy to locate, by simply looking for the power button at the back. This button controls the power to the power supply, while the power button you usually use controls the actual computer.
From my experience, power supplies are one of the components in your computer that will fail before any other component in your computer. This is why I decided to look at the power supply as the issue of my shutdown.
After opening my case I checked the wattage of the power supply, which was written on the side. The power supply wattage was 300W (I told you it was an old computer). Most computers today include power supplies that are 500W to 1000W.
Now that I knew the size of my power supply, I ordered a new replacement (Ultra LS350 Lifetime Series 350W Power Supply). The power supply I ordered was 350W, so it provided a bit more power than the previous one. When ordering a power supply, ensure you get one that includes all the connections you need.
For me, I had to ensure that the power supply included the 20-pin connector for the motherboard. Power supplies sold today may include a 20/24-pin connector, which allows you to use either configuration. For the 20-pin connections, just ignore the remaining 4 connectors.
Once I received my power supply, I then removed the older one, connected the newer one, and then turned on my computer. Instantly, the computer came back to life, and since then I haven’t had any issues with it. The old power supply had just worn out.
Summary
Recently I ran into an issue with my computer where it would just suddenly shut itself off. After some thought I realized that it was the power supply, and it needed to be replaced.
After replacing the power supply, my computer immediately came back to life.
Power supplies are a lot like lightbulbs. The likelihood of having to change it depends on the age of it, how much you use it, how much power you are drawing from it, and its quality.
The older your computer gets and the more you use it, the more likely it will be that you will have to replace it, especially if you add peripherals that increase power consumption.
I usually recommend that people replace the power supply in a brand new computer with the best that they can get, and hold on to the one it came with as an emergency replacement part.
I am not looking forward to attempting to replace the one in my 11 year old NEC computer that runs 24/7. Stupid computer has nothing but proprietary parts in it that can be quite difficult to find replacements for. (very compact, low wattage, proprietary connector to motherboard)
I think if it goes, I will probably just give up and put the poor thing out to pasture. Would be a shame though, since it has been quite stable, reliable and has served me (and others) quite well for a very long time. It has outlived all of my other computers. It would be a great loss, even if I had the latest & greatest hardware sitting right next to it, ready to take over. Not to mention the sentimental value of it being my first computer…I cut my teeth on it, wrote my first program on it, designed my first website, etc. It’s like a member of my family to me.
I had a problem like this before.
turned on my computer, a while later a really loud bang happened, and a small amount of smoke started coming out of the PSU.
Turned out that an electricity box (out on the street) was hit by lightening !
It affected everybody using that electricity supplier (ESB).
Most people I knew had things like TV’s that were completely broken, and I was near certain that my entire PC was dead.
I decided to try out a new PSU, and suprisingly it worked,no damage to the PC at all !
My old PSU was power surge safe, but I didn’t know that included a bolt of lightening striking an electricity supply box thingy (there green boxes that are outside)
@Sudo Aptitude: Ouch! I have heard of a single home getting hit and frying some electronics, but multiple homes is painful. I wonder how much damage was done in the neighbourhood? It’s a good thing that only your PSU went. Some people lose their hard drive and all the data.
I have a dell inpiron 1525 and it keeps shutting down by itself. I was thinking that it was because it was ovrheated but it even does that when it ‘s not plugged. at first it was no biggie bt now its really annoying. I am not a tech person but I have tried different power suplies and it nt the charger. can anyone help please.