It all started when my computer was infected with MSN virus...(stupid me!) went to click on the button and had it installed something into my computer...

So the next thing I did was to reboot the computer ( I did the quick way hoping that it will solve it...) by putting the Windows XP CD and reinstall a new copy over the old one without deleting any partition.... so that all the contents in the harddisk will not be deleted.

When I completed everything and thot that it has solved the problem, and connected to the Net only to be prompted by Microsoft Automatic Update asking me to update my system...and I clicked 'Install' (which I always did) but this time, the computer turns off by itself all of a sudden (it turns off like experiencing 'blackout' and didn't shut down), thinking that it may be a technical question, I ignored it. But when I shut the computer down the next time, normally when there are updates pending, the computer will automatically update the system telling you not to plug the electric cord, and once it completes it will shut down by itself...so i ignored it and let it completed any pending updates.

The next time I turned on the computer, strange thing was, the updates were still pending, so again I clciked Install manually, and again the computer turns off by itself...

I tuned on the computer again and disabled the automatic updates.... and this is when the problem starts...

After like 45 mins, the computer will turns off by itself, but when I press the On button of the CPU again, I just couldn't turn it on anymore. So I have to switch off the electrical socket, and then only I could turn on the PC.

It happened for the second time, after like 45mins or so it turned off by itself, and for the third time, the fourth...

and for the fifth time, the Windows XP performed some kind of diagnostic check and deleted some corrupted files...

I looked up something infos on the NEt and thot it may due to overheating...
and I checked the Asus probe to monitor the temperature/fans speed, and the temperatures ranged from 34-36 C (from the time the computer starts and until it turns off by itself), so I don't think it's due to overheating, I removed the PC casing, and have all dusts removed. and turned it on again and checked every single fan, and found that none is malfunctioned/each one is working just fine; blowingin, blowing out. So I ruled out 'overheating'


This time, I thot it may be due to the virus, that I didn't remove it completely, so I reboot the entire system completely... everything was working fine; installed a new copy of Windows XP, installed some related softwares, and connected to the Web to dl some files, but this time, while downloading some new files, it turns off again by itself.... and I ruled out virus/trojan that might have caused that.


I heard about defect capacitors that manufacturer used that may have caused such problem, so I opened the casing and checked every capacitor, and find that each of them is in perfect condition, no build-ups on top, no out of shaped capacitors, no-nothing. I removed the battery attached on the mobo, and plug it in later, and entered into BIOS, I waited for like 2-3 hrs, and yet the computer didn't turn off by itself, so I don't think this problem again is caused by mobo.

But only this time, things got even worst, after turning on the computer, followed by the 'beep' sound and it STOPS right after BIOS, the computer just hangs like that with black screen, nothing whatsoever, and cannot continue anymore. Tried a second time, the same thing, tried the third , again the same thing, it STOPS right after bios, which I presumed must have crashed/damaged the harddisk since when I installed all softwares previously, I actually thot of installing them all at one ago and restart it altogether, little did I realize that it will crash the hard disk...

Now to all experts out there;
my Questions is:

1) Should I change a new hard disk, since I cannot proceed any further after BIOS it just cannot load to Windows.
2) What's wrong with the computer that turns off by itself when I don't think the problem lies mobo, virus, overheating... ~ could it be due to the graphic card? Since that is the last thing on my mind that may cause that... Apart from that, I don't think the CDRom driver will cause that or the sound card....


Pls.help

Hi. Welcome to ItsAllPC.


Memory is often a cause of computer rebooting.

Have you tried checking your memory with a program such as Memtest86+?

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Hi Humpy12345, welcome to itsallPC

Things like overheating, faulty capacitors and faulty graphics cards absolutely do not lead to predictable shut-downs occurring after a specific event, such as you are experiencing; they lead to unpredictable, even random reboots. While the memory and hard drive could be responsible, it is most likely that it is a software problem.

Windows update following a fresh install could include a large number of fairly deep security and robustness updates. If you have a problem driver or piece of misbehaving software, that is the most likely cause of a reboot during a Windows update.

Your current issue is because you bumped something while you were tinkering in your computer. You could have done any of the following to cause your current situation:

• Dislodged the RAM
• Dislodged the graphics card (if there is one)
• Knocked out one of the motherboard power cables
• Damaged the RAM
• Damaged the motherboard
• Damaged one of the IDE/SATA cables

This is based on the fact that it wont boot, but it can still beep. You need to be honest with yourself here. If while you were inspecting capacitors, you broke one off, it's curtains for the motherboard. You would do yourself a huge favour if you stop jumping to conclusions, because your current decisions look pretty irrational to an expert right now

If you're able to solve your no-boot problem by plugging something back in, I would strongly recommend the following:

• Test the memory with Memtest86+. Many experts leave this out, but it's absolutely important to confirm the memory is okay. Trying to work out what's wrong with a computer with faulty memory is is like trying to solve an equation with a calculator that adds a random number to every operation.
• Test the HDD. You could do this at a low level, but a full Check Disk test will tell you pretty quickly if there's a serious problem. This is the "attempt to recover bad sectors" test; make sure it does this, otherwise it's just a file system check.
• Confirm from the device manager that all the drivers are installed. Install any missing drivers. Make sure all the following drivers are fully up to date: Motherboard/Chipset, Graphics, Sound, Network.
• Make sure your Windows is updated to the latest Service Pack before using Windows Update (currently, Service Pack 2).

If you require any further assistance with any of the above, please post back before you jump to any conclusions!

Have u tried a new mobo

I can't see why it would be the motherboard because the computer is actully booting up at times

However, i could see it being either faulty RAM or the HDD is on it's way out.

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It could be a motherboard problem. It's best to work through things sequentially though, since changing motherboards is such a bloody nuisance.

Changing a motherboard is FUN WOOP WOOP lol

No i know what you mean though, for some people it is a pain

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In my eyes, I don't see how changing a motherboard can be anything but a pain. It's them connectors for USB and earphone etc. at the front - there just so damn figity - I bet that is where the most of your time building a computer is spent.

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Switching out anything else is easy, but to get a motherboard out you have to:

• Disconnect the power connectors
• Remove all Cards
• Unplug all headers; USB, Firewire, Front Panel
• Storage Devices, Removable Drives
• Sometimes you have to completely remove Hard Disk Drives to get the motherboard out, which means removing the other case side panel
• Unscrew the bloody thing and remove it
• Then unplug the RAM
• Remove the CPU

Then of course you have to do all the above in reverse with a new motherboard. Unplugging cables doesn't take much time, but plugging them back in takes 3 times as long if you want to do a tidy job and avoid constricting airflow.

If the motherboard isn't the problem, you've just waste a lot of time.

Granted, the process is pretty quick for the experienced - all up, you're looking at about 30 minutes work (could take an hour or more for the inexperienced). After doing this 50 plus times however, the novelty wears off.

You don't "need" to do them two

Although with the CPU and Heatsink on it makes it heavier (normally top heavy)

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You don't need to remove the CPU and RAM to change the motherboard....what?

Woah sorry Syp, thought this was another thread

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