My problem:
Computer shuts down unexpectedly, leaving me no warning.
My Story:
I wake up and want to use the internet on my computer, so i proceed to boot up my Emachine and all goes well through Dos, then we get to Windows XP and we find problems.
I then click on the Internet Explorer icon and am surfing the internet.
When I am doing something important it usually shuts off. lol
It gives me no warning its going to shut down or anything just goes BLACK.
So I'm stuck with a computer thats blinking but is tottally shut off.
The power button on my computer has a light that circles it and when it shuts down the wrong way it starts blinking.
While blinking I cannot restart the computer.
My Temporary Soulution:
I have found that I can restart the computer if i get into the back of the computer, unplug it, then proceed to move the switch on the power unit to the left then back to the original place it was. Then plug in the power cord back in its spot. Then restart the computer.
It boots fine but im still stuck in the same rut.
IS MY COMPUTER GOING TO GO BLACK ON ME AGAIN?
Please help!

One thing for sure, hardware issue. But which hardware?
If you did not install any new hardware recently. You will need to observe for any patterns in shut down.
For example. Will it shut down if you do not connect to the net. ?
If it does, could be LAN card issue

Or time the shut down. For example, Does it shut down around after 10 mins after you on the PC
If it does, Could be overheating protection.

Thanks for the reply.

I was just surfing the internet looking at the cardinals baseball team page and then bam it blacks out.
-I didnt hit any certain button on the computer at all, I was just reading somethings about todays game.
When I try to play a game with either of my internal DVD-ROM's, The computer blacks out.
-I put my cd into the dvd tray and it loads the game but right as the first menu(on any of my games) comes up it suddenly blacks out.

I have not connected any new hardware recently.

I have timed the shut downs:

Shut Down 1. 3 hrs 22 mins
Restart 2 min later
Shut Down 2. 33 mins
Restart 52 secs later
Shut Down 3. It shuts down almost after it loads up Windows XP and all the programs at startup.
Restart 1 min 11 secs later
Shut Down 4. Same thing, shuts down after it loads up Windows XP and all the startup programs.
Restart 5 minutes later
Shut Down 5. 13 mins

Altho I wouldnt think that it could hurt, I think that dust has got into my power supply and I would need to replace it.

This post has been edited by donaldsell: Jul 28 2008, 10:10 PM

Looks like a over heating problem, that's why when you give it time to rest, It can stay on longer.
intensive apps like game heat up even faster, then it blacks out instantly

So I was correct when I thought it was my power supply.

Do I just buy a bigger (more powerful) power unit and install?

Not exactly power supply., Need more fans, Of course changing a new power supply would make things better but What I am suspecting is the CPU's thermal paste .
Okay, try this
Use a normal Fan that we have at home. open the case. BLOW the computer when you run your system.
If it still shut down. It could be the thermal paste of the CPU,
You need to buy some to put on the CPU.

Okay ill try the fan thing...thanks again for the post

I found a program called speedfan, anyways this little program packs a punch. It tells temps, speeds and voltages.

My core temp at first was over 210 F. PLUS
Now its down to 135 F.

http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/2177/them...puterpe1.th.png

The fan cooled it off alot. And on top of that im playing my game without a blacked out computer.

This post has been edited by donaldsell: Jul 29 2008, 12:22 AM

Speed fan... Hmmm, Nice.. can add that to my learning's blog..

all was going good untill i tried to see if my computer would keep the same temps all nite.
they went back up. even with the fan on it.

well i think i will reapply the thermal paste
add more fans
and see if that fixes my problem

thanks alot shingo for your help

donaldsell