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... just f'in great...
18 years ago
General
... now my new computer (the one I built around 2 months ago...), is doing the same thing my old one did before it died...
It can be in windows, or in the middle of a program, and all of a sudden, the screen will go black, and I'll get one 3 second beep from the speaker, then another...
All signs say it's the PSU again... but that doesn't make sense... it's a new PSU, and I know it can power the computer (It's been doing so just fine for as long as I've had it).
It's been plugged into the same power strip that fed my old computer for 5 years... and that was fine til the month before it died... same problem...
I've tried to plug it into different outlets, and it still does it...
My gut says it's something with the power going to the house. It can't be the circuit, since my mom's room and my room are on the same one... and hers is about as old as my old one was...
[Edit #1]
The 12v ATX connection was loose. I plugged the connection back in all the way, and it seemed to be working.. but I tried running UT3, I got a BSOD, and it restarted, making the problem come back...
[Edit #2]
PSU can't be the problem. Reason: I had it running for 12 hours straight at a friends house. It didn't cut out at all...
It can be in windows, or in the middle of a program, and all of a sudden, the screen will go black, and I'll get one 3 second beep from the speaker, then another...
All signs say it's the PSU again... but that doesn't make sense... it's a new PSU, and I know it can power the computer (It's been doing so just fine for as long as I've had it).
It's been plugged into the same power strip that fed my old computer for 5 years... and that was fine til the month before it died... same problem...
I've tried to plug it into different outlets, and it still does it...
My gut says it's something with the power going to the house. It can't be the circuit, since my mom's room and my room are on the same one... and hers is about as old as my old one was...
[Edit #1]
The 12v ATX connection was loose. I plugged the connection back in all the way, and it seemed to be working.. but I tried running UT3, I got a BSOD, and it restarted, making the problem come back...
[Edit #2]
PSU can't be the problem. Reason: I had it running for 12 hours straight at a friends house. It didn't cut out at all...
... Besides, I don't think dust would cause voltage dropoffs. Spikes maybe... but not dropoffs...
alternatively maybe your local utility has gone cheap and you need to consider a UPS/power conditioner
I may have to get a conditioner... but I don't really know if it will help...
It worked fine til now...
Still... I think you may be right. It just cut out in the middle of a CHKDISK...
It's a voltage problem somewhere...
One, it could be the kind of wiring in your house... if its an old house that could be a problem.
Two, it could be the brand of PSU you got. Not all things are created equal.
Just because your moms is as old as yours doesn't mean the two computers are similar... if she has a different brand of power supply in her computer then it may react differently. On top of that it may not be the circuit at all, could be the actual wires leading to the socket your using.
But really, my money is on the brand and wattage of the power supply you got (without knowing more info)
also, I believe you will get that error if your power wattage just isn't enough to cover what your computer is trying to do (mainly in regards to the video card and hidden processes)
Have you tried a basic cleanup? registries, viral check, back-info erase... ect.
If too much is going on and your computer is trying to pull more power than it can provide, it may shut down...
though really I've never heard of that happening, but it makes some logical sense.
Heres a good test.
If your mom's works so well why not try taking hers out and putting it into yours,then putting yours into hers and see if the same thing still happens.
If it doesn't then that tells you something about the brand or wattage needed.
If it does, then that tells you it isn't really the power supply thats wrong.
Here is a simple test for your house wiring:
Plug a small (25-40 watt) incandescent lamp into the same wall outlet as the computer, and turn the computer off and on. Does the light output change? If not, you have enough AC power.
Now test your surge suppresser/power strip the same way, by plugging the lamp into the power strip/surge suppresser. If there is no change lamp brightness when your computer is turned off and on, thats not the problem - which leaves an inadequate PSU as the only likely culpret - except for your computer's on/off switch and power cord. Switches can wear out. Is the switch warmer to your touch than the computer case right beside it after a long intense gaming session? (This happened to a PDP-8 computer that we were using on the Gemini Program; that thing was about the size of a big PC and drew 1,500 watts!) Touch and check temperatures at both ends of the computer power cord, too. If they aren't hot. either, it is almost certainly an inadequate PSU that is causing your low voltage problem.