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Dell P3 Keeps Switching Off - Help Please

Hi guys

I've got a Dell P3 933ghz PC (512mb ram) which I acquired from my brother in law. Reinstalled Windows XP Home on it and everything worked fine (I think anyway).

Ordered myself a PCI USB 2/Firewire card and DVD Writer from SVP. When I went to install the stuff the PC wouldn't boot up. The Motherboard lit up but nothing except for flashing power on button on front.

Was advised that the PSU was knackered so I went out and bought a new one via eBay which when it turned up was the wrong one and didn't work anyway so I just put the old one back in and voila the PC booted up and worked fine :j

Well everything was fine until after about 30 minutes when it just shut down as if the Power had been switched off. If I reboot nothing happens.

If I remove and replace the Power Cord (after about a min) and then reboot it works fine but doesn't last very long before I get the same scenario.

Anyway a m8 said to check the fan on the motherboard because it could be overheating. I just did this and it works fine. I left the PC running with the case open as sure enough it switched off after about 20 minutes.

Can anyone please advise me what the problem could be and also any remedy or diagnostics?

Thanks again

WJUK

Comments

  • T4i
    T4i Posts: 1,845 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    Still could be your PSU , might be overheating/overloading and switching the thermal overload protection on.

    Strange one...
  • mr_fishbulb
    mr_fishbulb Posts: 5,224 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    How does it work if you take the new USB card and DVD writer out? They could be pushing the power supply for your system over the limit the PSU can supply.
  • nickmack
    nickmack Posts: 4,435 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Do you know what Wattage the PSU is?

    As mr_fishbulb said, remove any unnecessary peripherals and see if it remains stable to try and isolate the problem.

    Could be a power issue or maybe something shorting, either way you need to find out or you could end up with a dead motherboard.
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