Pc won't stay on for more than a couple of seconds

corkyo4 · 12 Apr 2010 at 21:17

Hi all,

just at my girlfriends and we can't get her pc to switch on. We press the power button and it comes on for a few seconds sometimes a bit longer sometimes less.

We swapped the power lead as we thought it was that but no change. Don't really know the spec apart from it's an AMD CPU, it's a custom built pc too.

We did get as far as the bios loading but that happened only once.

Can anyone advise please.

Thanks

tom

bmi92 · 12 Apr 2010 at 21:29

I had this problem once and it ended up being the thermal paste on the CPU/Cooler had pretty much had it, and the CPU was over heating and the PC was shutting down as a safeguard.

corkyo4 · 12 Apr 2010 at 21:34

M0NSTER said:
I had this problem once and it ended up being the thermal paste on the CPU/Cooler had pretty much had it, and the CPU was over heating and the PC was shutting down as a safeguard.

Would that happen even after only a couple of seconds?

demonfatality · 12 Apr 2010 at 22:57

if the cpu isnt being cooled it would shut down almost imediatly...have you tried removing the mobo battery incase its a bios error

bmi92 · 12 Apr 2010 at 23:09

corkyo4 said:
Would that happen even after only a couple of seconds?

Yeah it was happening after no more than 5 seconds. Glad I didn't fry my CPU!

Liampope · 12 Apr 2010 at 23:14

Does the power button feel stiff/sticky. Maybe it's staying in an off position and telling the mobo to shut down? I'd check the CPU first - should be easy enough to tell if it's getting too toasty. Or if you do manage to get into BIOS, is there a section that displays the CPU temp?

joey2cool · 13 Apr 2010 at 04:24

if it is a cooling issue, be thankful AMD have followed intel, ive seen vids of older AMD processors frying themselves whereas intels will forcefully reduce vcore and frequency to cool it down to the point of turning of if there is no cooling present

sir-les-mp · 13 Apr 2010 at 04:43

i would also double check that the cpu power 4/8 pin cable is also connected properly and as suggested double check the thermal paste and seating of the HSF

corkyo4 · 13 Apr 2010 at 06:44

Thanks all I'll give the paste a go and see if that helps.

The power button isn't sticking so I don't think it's that.

I'll check the power lead but I know nobody has been inside the case since it was brought so I think that's a low chance - but worth a check.

I'll also get the vacuum and suck some dust out.

What are the symptoms of the psu failing? That's not been mentioned so I'm assuming that would cause different issues??

Thanks

tom