pc keeps cutting out

benny hill squad · Nov 23, 2008

Hello, My spare pc keeps on making high pitch noises like fingernails down a blackboard and then just switches off, Anyone help? it's nearly five year old so it might be just getting old but i'd like to find out what's making theat noise!

v14 · Nov 23, 2008

sounds like your cpu fan is goosed m8

benny hill squad · Nov 23, 2008

v14 said:
sounds like your cpu fan is goosed m8

what's the chances of it being that?

muskrat · Nov 23, 2008

benny hill squad said:
what's the chances of it being that?

Just a suggestion mate, next time it cuts out try to boot straight into the BIOS if it will restart and check on the cpu temp, should be under hardware, post cpu temp and it may rule that out.

Muskrat

v14 · Nov 23, 2008

easy enough to find out. open it up and watch it when it starts making the noise.

does it do it randomly?

Jooooles · Nov 23, 2008

give the fan a clean inside turn of the cpu over heat option in the bios see if it still cuts

benny hill squad · Nov 23, 2008

ive already cleaned the dust of it,

it does it when it's starting windows, sometimes it will be ok for five minutes then die. i dont think it's overheating.

muskrat · Nov 23, 2008

benny hill squad said:
ive already cleaned the dust of it, ill see whats happening in bios temp.

You're going to have to dive into the BIOS asap AFTER it cuts out and check the cpu temp to get a true pic of what temp the cpu was at when the machine cuts out otherwise it will have time to cool down, or sit there in the BIOS for a while and watch the temp.

Muskrat

benny hill squad · Nov 23, 2008

ok it's cpu temp was 45 degrees when it went, i cant tell where the noise is coming from but it's really high pitched and annoying! the fan starts ok when i turn pc on. i hope it aint somethin on my pc!

muskrat · Nov 23, 2008

benny hill squad said:
ok it's cpu temp was 45 degrees when it went, i cant tell where the noise is coming from but it's really high pitched and annoying! the fan starts ok when i turn pc on. i hope it aint somethin on my pc!

Seeing as its a few years old I assume its a 586 in there and 45 degs is fine.

Could you elaborate on the sequence of events when it cuts out? Is it always at the same point in boot process?

Muskrat

benny hill squad · Nov 23, 2008

most common when i just start browsing the internet, u can hear a couple of short high pitches then just after goes mad long pitching and the whole pc dies, i was trying to use windows update just now to see if it might be a network adaptor update or something causing it, but while it was scanning looking for updates it went again!

muskrat · Nov 23, 2008

benny hill squad said:
most common when i just start browsing the internet, u can hear a couple of short high pitches then just after goes mad long pitching and the whole pc dies, i was trying to use windows update just now to see if it might be a network adaptor update or something causing it, but while it was scanning looking for updates it went again!

Would you describe the sound as 2 short beeps followed by 1 longer one? When you say goes mad, in what way?

benny hill squad · Nov 23, 2008

it just makes high pitched noises, soetimes more, it's like it's building up to the long one then just squeals for about 5-10 seconds then dead.

muskrat · Nov 23, 2008

benny hill squad said:
it just makes high pitched noises, soetimes more, it's like it's building up to the long one then just squeals for about 5-10 seconds then dead.

Dead, like you had just cut the power? Will it restart immediately afterwards? What BIOS is it award/ami/phoenix/etc?

Messa · Nov 23, 2008

From what you describe I would go along with what has already been suggested, your CPU fan is failing.

If it stops altogether it will be detected by the MB and it will shut down, regardless of whether it has overtemped or not.

Messa

benny hill squad · Nov 23, 2008

yes dead like u just cut the power, i dont know what bios it is, ive switched it off-can't handle that noise for a while. it will start again straight away if i turn the sitch off and on at the power supply, it wont switch back on if i use the button at the front.

muskrat · Nov 23, 2008

Messa said:
From what you describe I would go along with what has already been suggested, your CPU fan is failing.

If it stops altogether it will be detected by the MB and it will shut down, regardless of whether it has overtemped or not.

Messa

Good point Messa, it may be a case of having the side off the thing and watching the fan and see if it stalls, multiple beeps are usually a sign of a cpu/mobo in distress, am also thinking may be a dicky stick of memory or possibly a dicky main psu?

Muskrat

benny hill squad · Nov 23, 2008

Messa said:
From what you describe I would go along with what has already been suggested, your CPU fan is failing.

If it stops altogether it will be detected by the MB and it will shut down, regardless of whether it has overtemped or not.

Messa

a replacement fan is only 3.55 delivered, worth a go.

Messa · Nov 23, 2008

Just been thinking about it, and its uncommon but not unknown for a hard drive to screech if the heads are catching on the platters.

Obviously this would eventually be terminal for the drive so if you suspect the HD you need to backup as soon as you can.

Messa

davidh · Nov 23, 2008

sound like the fan inside the psu

pc keeps cutting out

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