Sample Reason Why A Computer Shutdown

A friend of mine came bringing her CPU in our house to be checked for some kind of annoying behavior. Fisrt, she said the computer suddenly shut off while enjoying her Facebook. Even playing an offline games for an hour, it turns off.. Second, even without doing any task, the computer would suddenly turn off after 30 minutes or even an hour.

The situation is not the same, as it may occur even in a short period of time like 5-15 minutes which is I think due to the hot climate or something. But it's not!

It took me 6 hours troubleshooting her CPU, an EMAXX MCP61P AVL motherboard. I tried to format and install OS using another hard disk drive to check if this is one of the problems. It turns off while in the middle of installation - upon loading cabinet files. Then, I've switched the memory to different slot to see whether it's good or bad.

Check the temperature

For me, touching the heat sink safely would help me feel and know how the temperature goes within the CPU. It's overheating when the heat you felt at the tip of your finger is too hot and dare not to touch it. However, not all situations are accurate.

This could be a challenge if you don't have spare parts similar to that one supported by the motherboard - like the processor and a RAM attached to it. But thanks because I have a processor which is supported by the kind of motherboard she have. So, I took the chance to learn on this one by checking first the software's installed which uses a lot of memory usage, for viruses which may cause the system to shutdown, the operating systems behavior as well, the hard disk and above all the processor and memory. 

Check the Thermal Paste

Hmm... why not check the thermal paste (often than not it may happen once). Let us remember that every thing attached to the board is considered essential and should not be underestimated . Then, I tried to check the thermal paste between the heatsink and the processor (where I've seen has dried up and need to be replaced), but what I did was just wipe it out and placed it again without thermal paste.

Yeah! Even without thermal paste, the CPU will run but it's really necessary to put thermal paste in-between to absorb heat effectively. However, the problem persists. Tired enough, no choice but to test the last option I had in mind - to use another processor instead.

How happy I was to see it did work. Indeed, the processor was the real problem. It runs smoothly in 3 hours without abruptly shutting down while doing defragmentation, virus scanning using Microsoft Essentials at the same time. I can now enjoy Facebook or play games without interruptions. Problem solved!

Computer Won't Open Due To A Memory Failure

Have you experience an instance where your computer does not start but awhile ago it goes smoothly? This happen most with an old computers. Have you thought of troubleshooting it on your own but not sure about it or how to do it? 

There are many reasons why a desktop won't open maybe it's a video card problem, a hard drive, a processor, a board and maybe just a memory alone. Open your desktop cover and give it a try troubleshooting your own desktop. It's hard to detect any error or put an assumption if we don't check all the peripherals properly but focus first on the memory.

Do It Yourself

 
When a computer don't open where it does before, try fixing the memory. Else, something wrong with other peripherals. If you want to learn how to troubleshoot it by yourself do it safely. Anyway, you can do it the way I do, by taking a risk in order to learn. In fact, everyone can manage their own desktop or laptop except for major problems.

 

Actually, some old model of motherboard has two or more memory slots to chose with while the latest models has only two. You can check the memory through another CPU (if you have an extra one) to know whether it's bad or you may just go on by pulling it off and push again slightly. If by just pulling it off and on don't work you may place it to another memory slot to find if it will work. Clean dusty slots by the use of blower or using hair drier. If ain't work, then try replace it with a new one.

Re-seatting the memory might solve the problem and no need to find a technician unless you don't know how to do it. In that way you can avoid spending a little for PC check-up.

Troubleshooting: Intel Desktop D845EPI/D845GVSR

I got this board few months ago but I thought this to be defective because when I first attempted to repair it myself, I got a lot of headaches finding the real trouble behind it. So in short, it was stocked up in the shelf for a long time. It was just yesterday when I decided to revive it once more hoping It will work.

I removed it from the case and started to work step by step. I looked for a good power supply and tried to see if it will power on. It does. This gives me a hint that I should continue. Then I tried to attached everything necessary for the board to operate like the hard disk, CD-ROM and the 256 memory, It doesn't have an AGP slot anymore (removed). I relied on the integrated video controller to work out fine although the onboard video jack is not tight enough to hold the cable.

I formatted the hard drive and installed windows XP. I successfully installed the OS but as I go along, I encountered several troubles regarding the graphics resolution, the video controller and the USB port.

Graphics Resolution

When I tried to configure the resolution, it doesn't have any option except an 8bit color adjustment and none else. I tried a lot but sort of there was really a problem - not with the OS or some other program. I tried resetting the bios but failed too.

So I decided to browse Google for an answer.

I got a hint and I decided to update the Bios using the one downloadable from Intel's site. Although I'm a little scared updating the Bios as I'm afraid of a more complicated situation where in some cases updating is not quite successful. But to my surprise, it works well and the trouble about the 8bit resolution has gone. It changed to 16 bit resolution which is a bit better.

Video Controller

This is the second problem I encountered. The first driver I got from Intel can't be installed since the system does not have the minimum requirements. It took me many hours wasting my time looking for the right driver and reading some answers from any forum. I didn't have the clue until I used Driver Genius Software to identify the most updated one for this video controller. So when I got that, I downloaded it again from Intel using the specific driver's name. After that I tried installing the new one and I got it. It works and I was able to change the screen resolution to a higher one. The graphics is now working smoothly.

USB Port Not Working

I mentioned above about updating the BIOS. Yes, it help me solve the problem regarding 8 bit screen resolution but this time there was a trouble with the USB port as it was not functioning at all. All USB connected peripherals even the printer was not totally detected. I was again stucked to another problem. However, I was able to put it back by going to the Setup (BIOS) and configure it by pressing F9 (default Bios settings).

Although, the board is now working, I'm still worried that it may not work in the next few days but I hope it will.

Intel discontinued the support regarding this model and it is already belong to the discontinued products under Intel's website. Still the drivers are available in their site which can still help those users who have this kind of discontinued products.

I'm not a computer technician but trying to be one through self-study.