Help! :(
This is an open call for help regarding my computer. Rob and I are stumped as to what the problem could possibly be.
Here's some background. My system likes to randomly shut off when I'm doing certain things (not always but usually) such as have too many programs open with iTunes playing, am installing new software (specifically patches for WoW never get even halfway through and my windows updates crap out occasionally too) or am burning a cd/dvd. It completely shuts off, no blue screen of death or anything, it's just not on anymore. Here's the weird thing... I have to physically cut off the power source in order to reboot it. I have to turn off the power bar it's connected to, then turn it back on before it'll reboot. If I try just clicking the on button again it won't work, no matter how long I let it sit.
Also, nothing shows up on the event viewer because it's shutting down so abruptly we assume there's no time for it to log the problem.
Rob originally thought this was a problem with the power supply but we've exchanged supplies and it didn't help. Then it was suggested that the system might be overheating. He checked the heat sink, no scorching and lots of thermal paste. Also, if it was overheating it wouldn't allow me to reboot right away after cutting off the power right?
Rob took a look at it internally, there's no scorch marks anywhere that would indicate a short circuit, we even replaced the RAM sticks in case they were the issue as it dies usually during some intense processing. Nope. It's been suggested it could be caused by the on board video card but uh... that doesn't make any sense to me as I'm generally not doing anything graphic intense at the time it shuts down. But maybe it is that, who knows.
Right now the only thing we can think of doing is getting an entirely new motherboard and seeing if that works. Anyone else have any ideas?
I'm unable to install things or do proper backup on my system on a regular basis and for me, that is a VERY bad thing. I'm half tempted to chuck the damn thing out a window at this point :(
Here's some background. My system likes to randomly shut off when I'm doing certain things (not always but usually) such as have too many programs open with iTunes playing, am installing new software (specifically patches for WoW never get even halfway through and my windows updates crap out occasionally too) or am burning a cd/dvd. It completely shuts off, no blue screen of death or anything, it's just not on anymore. Here's the weird thing... I have to physically cut off the power source in order to reboot it. I have to turn off the power bar it's connected to, then turn it back on before it'll reboot. If I try just clicking the on button again it won't work, no matter how long I let it sit.
Also, nothing shows up on the event viewer because it's shutting down so abruptly we assume there's no time for it to log the problem.
Rob originally thought this was a problem with the power supply but we've exchanged supplies and it didn't help. Then it was suggested that the system might be overheating. He checked the heat sink, no scorching and lots of thermal paste. Also, if it was overheating it wouldn't allow me to reboot right away after cutting off the power right?
Rob took a look at it internally, there's no scorch marks anywhere that would indicate a short circuit, we even replaced the RAM sticks in case they were the issue as it dies usually during some intense processing. Nope. It's been suggested it could be caused by the on board video card but uh... that doesn't make any sense to me as I'm generally not doing anything graphic intense at the time it shuts down. But maybe it is that, who knows.
Right now the only thing we can think of doing is getting an entirely new motherboard and seeing if that works. Anyone else have any ideas?
I'm unable to install things or do proper backup on my system on a regular basis and for me, that is a VERY bad thing. I'm half tempted to chuck the damn thing out a window at this point :(