PC starts then as it boots turns off

On my laptop right now.
A few minutes ago the powerstrip that my desktop connects to turned off. PC, 2 monitors, printer, and external speakers died. I think my son pushed the rolling cabinet against the wall where the powerstrip was at and tripped it.

In any case everyone minus the dekstop is coming back up. When I hit the power it starts up and right before it goes to boot it turns off. I suspect the power supply finally kicked the bucket. The PC is 7 years old. About a month ago the PC would turn off just on it's own after being on for a while (3+ hours).
Best I can tell it's the power supply (or at least that is my theory).

So before I put down some money on a new power supply and recommendations to narrow it down? Apart from putting another power supply (used from my older PC but not sure it will work due to size) anything else I can try?

hey jedi, getting a new PSU wood certainly be a good idea regardless if it is that old. Also, what kind of PSU is it? (brand, specs)

Also, what specs are the computer? by knowing that, we can also help recomend upgrades/fixes if you need to replace something else.

Anyways, you can check the PSU one easy way by buying a PSU tester. they typically look something like this: http://www.gizfever.com/images/PowerSupplyTester3.jpg

Or, you could use a multimeter.

If it's been just turning itself off randomly after being onn for a while sounds like its overheating. Try taking the case off and see if your fans are smashed or something. 

Happened to me a while ago, I literally just took a vacuum to my computer, 'twas too dusty :D .

But if Its continues to just shut down at startup, my next idea would be the power supply, or atleast the connections associated with it.

1st try to clera ur power suply because it can get dirty on the inside and make it overheat. I sugest using a vaccum cleaner on the outside fan or just open it and clear it from the inside.

2nd that can be ur board as well since if it was the power supply the PC wouldnt even start up at all. Check the battery you got in the motherboard. Remove it for 10 mins or so then put it back again and retry booting your pc.

Thanks all for the replies.

I'm typing this from my PC!

This is the PC I have BTW

http://reviews.cnet.com/desktops/micro-velocity-dualx-t1300/1707-3118_7-31515254.html

I took the case window and using a can of compressed air got rid of the dust.  No major dust bunnies but it was a tad bit dusty in there.

Next I went into the bios and turned on all fan notifications, left the case window off and started the machine.

It worked but I am getting some notifications on startup that I have to bypass.

The bios is saying that the CPU fan is not running fast enough.  & sure enough I agree.  When you power on the PC the fan seems to have a lot of trouble spinning.  It's not until you get to the bios screen with text on the monitors that it runs fast. 

This is what my fan looks like:

http://www.arctic.ac/en/p/cooling/discontinued-products/cpu/280/silencer-64-ultra.html

So i'm thinking before I spend big $$$ on a new power supply I should get the fan for the CPU replaced, hu?

Should I just get the same fan as before?  Or is there something better?

Actually not sure I can get that fan due to it's age?  But then again I have yet to look.

Thanks all

is the CPU fan unmountable if so try to check if there isnt any dust on its axis. it might have a bit there blocking the spin. Nowadays you can get a heat sink (idk if this is the correct english word just used google translate:P ) for the cpu. And remember to swap ur termal mass if you do unplug your fan from the cpu.

I would try some WD40 on the joints of the fan (Look up wikihow or something for how to do that). Also, don't use a vacuum inside your PC or you can cause static. Use compressed air instead.

If the lube doesn't work then I would suggest just getting a new fan, or find one second hand that still spins freely (Manually). Older fans only really last 10,000 hours before failure so it's probably on its way out.

Hello Jedi. Recently Had the same issue. Computer turned off then upon reboot would only stay running a few seconds. For me it was my power-supply. Easiest way to tell is to smell the exhaust fan, works best when its hot. But you will smell a burning plastic smell. Its actually the protective cover being melted off the coils due to overheating. Also May be the problem for you CPU fan, Not getting enough power to run correctly. But if you do replace that fan. Your best bet is to go all out and buy a "Golden Orb" Heat sync. Guaranteed never to worry about overheating again.  I Hope this helps in anyway. Also a good idea is to get IOLO's Game booster 3, Not so much for the boosting abilities as much as the CPU and GPU Temp readings you can get from the click of a button. Program also has built in benchmark and screen/video capture. Is a wicked program for free.

DocEightBall, now that you mention it I do recall a few weeks back smelling that electrical burn smell in the room.  I could not pinpoint the source and it did not last too long and I was working on my sister's desktop at the time (ie. changed out here mobo) and figured it was her machine and not mine.  Hum... perhaps it was mine.

In terms of the Golden Orb are you talking about this one?

http://www.frostytech.com/articleview.cfm?ArticleID=256

I have not yet looked to see how the fan is attached to the CPU.  Since the mobo is on it's side inside the case and the case is behind in the desk I've been lazy to pull it all out.  And with the PC working again... well why bother right?  LOL.

I'll download that free program today and see what readings I'm getting.  What is too hot?

To me it sounds lite the CPU fan could be broken or that a legg is deattached. It surley is a overheating error of some sort. Could be the PSU that have problems providing the power needed to run the fans also due to some error.

Just wanted to add I wrote from my phone so did not have time to read all other posts. I might have repeated stated things ^^

[:'(]

Yes I think this is the fan you mentioned.

http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=3457

Only "bad thing" is I'm going to have to take the mobo out to put the bottom plate it to install the fan.

Not hard to do but just a big pain in the butt.  But hey while I am at it I guess I should take the unit apart even more and give it a real good compressed air cleaning right?

never open the PSU... at least not if you're no electrician...

But.. but.. but... what if I want to fry my hair, eyes, and fingers.

Then can I open it?

well of course then you are allowed to do it, yes :P

Well I have found the Golden Orb II online but I'm concerned it's too big for my mobo.

The think is 120mm x 120mm x 63mm high.  It looks like it will bleed into my RAM slots on my mobo.

I have an ASUS A8N SLI.  Looks like my top most blue RAM slot will be covered by this fan/heatsink.  I have 2 rams that have heat sinks and the other 2 do not. 

So I'm not sure I want to risk it with this fan.  Any one have another suggest?