I have a real head-scratcher here and would like to get some fresh opinions on what to do.

I have an Acer that over the last few YEARS I've cobbled together a variety of different parts so its less Acer and more Best Buy / Fry's assorted products.

The other day my wife clicked on Yes to install IE 9 as part of the Windows Vista Update process.

As the machine rebooted, it began to start turning off shortly after displaying the bios and sometimes the Windows launch bar.  At first I suspected this was a Power Supply problem and then an overheating problem but I ruled both out by replacing the PSU and monitoring heat levels and ensured fans were working and blew out some of the dust that had accummulated.

Since the entire computer was turning off I continue to suspect that this is hardware related. So far I've:

    * tried a different video card
    * installed a new power supply
    * pulled the memory stick by stick
    * tried booting from each of the two hard-drives (I pulled the power from each of the hard-drives to force Windows to load from one or the other)
    * tried booting from the CD-ROM directly
    * tried booting from a USB drive

However, after trying all of these options I'm still at the same place.  It seems to turn off only when it tries loading an Operating System like Windows Vista/Windows 7 or Unbuntu.  However, I can run Seagate Disk Tools for several hours off a CD as I tested the hard-drive (a Barracuda 1TB) which passed all tests.

I've pulled the memory stick by stick and tried testing and booting with it but I still get the same results, the computer shuts down at different points while loading EITHER Windows Vista repair or the Win7 upgrade disk I have.

I even put in a new CMOS battery but no change in behaviour.

Any thoughts on what might be the source of the problem?
Hmm that is a puzzler. The only possible thing I can think of is that the OS's are trying to load drivers for something that is no longer working properly. What happens if you try to boot into safe mode on either OS? (I think that Linus has a safe mode)


On a side note, upon consulting my computer repair chart of wisdom, it says to try booting without the case and only RAM & GPU (place components on a non-conductive surface, not on the carpet) . I have learned not to argue with it's wisdom.Thanks for the reply...the machine turns off usually after a minute or two so although a few times I was able to get to the Safe Recovery menu most times it turns off shortly after the Windows launch bar appears.

After a little more research I think the problem is with the CPU/heat sink.  I bought a new 2GB stick of RAM and the computer still shut down after a few minutes.  It seems to primarily occur when the processor gets engaged (it can stay on the BIOS setup screen indefinitely or I can load a hard-drive tool from the CD with barebone DOS and things are OK).  I called a few friends and have a few posts on other forums and this seems to be the consensus. I'm going to get a replacement CPU tomorrow and will try that (fingers crossed).  The fact that the entire machines shuts down too seems to tell me that some internal temperature threshold is being reached (although I'm currently running the machine without its side panels and I have an extra FAN that I installed).

I'll keep everyone posted on my outcomes in case someone else runs into this in the future.Pretty unusual for a CPU to spontaneously cause overheating problems (although I assume you are going to change the cooling as well), saying that I have seen a CPU with a haywire thermal sensor causing reboots and shutdowns (REGISTERED cold at about 80 C).

Best of luck.After checking the heat issues...try the fresh in stall with only 1 stik of RAM...

Let us know...Hi everybody! I'm having the same problems and issues with my PC too, just about almost the same with Haggisdog's. Anybody help me find solutions PLEASE! REALLY REALLY appreciate the help!

It all started after installing Nokia Suite for the purpose of using internet with my nokia mobile. During installation of Nokia Suite, it hangs. So, I couldn't wait and i restarted it by pushing reset button. Then, the problems appeared.

First, it boots up 1 or 2 times, saying disk read error. So, i figured that it could be hard disk error and I CHKDSK it with other my laptop and it's good! I put it back in the desktop and rebooted. Then a few times, it looping around windows loading and restarting like 7 or 8 times. After awhile, it all started shutting down randomly while POST, loading windows. But it stays on if running BIOS setup for about 20 to 30 minutes.

I booted a linux, Precise PUPPY 5.5, and it's good for the first time but later, it shut down while loading drivers screen. I booted it again to make sure but the shutting down is random.

I COULDN'T FIND A CLUE ANYMORE! HELP ME PLEASE! REALLY APPRECIATE THIS!

my desktop specs are the followings

CPU = p4 3.0GHz
motherboard = p4p800 se
RAM = 512MB
Graphics = Radeon 9200 se
HDD = 80GB IDE
Please, everybody with the same problem, start a new thread.

When a PC can idle at the BIOS c and not shut down, it is unlikely that there is a major overheating problem. Instead, the graphics processor is having some kind of issue and begins to overheat when doing a the Windows GUI.

The diagnostic  to remove the graphics card from the system and use the built-in display. If it works on the build-in, then it must be the graphics card that is forcing the shut down.