Computer problems . . .

[DarkHippie]

My computer keeps turning off randomly. There is no warning or slowdown, it doesnt go into shutdown or anything. i'll be doing my thing and all the lights go out.

[JPMNICK]

is it a laptop or desktop?
if it is a desktop, it sounds like you have a bad power supply. You probably need to get a new one

[JimBeam]

While we have a computer problem thread fresh I'd like to ask an unrelated question.

My wife's laptop is doing this thing where when you're typing it sometimes randomly jumps to other parts of the typing area.

The last time this happened to me was on a laptop at work which eventually went tits up.

Coincidence you think or is that a warning sign w/ laptops ?

We just had the OS reinstalled a few months ago but I guess that wouldn't have anything to do with it if the harddrives going.

[PhishHead]

While we have a computer problem thread fresh I'd like to ask an unrelated question.

My wife's laptop is doing this thing where when you're typing it sometimes randomly jumps to other parts of the typing area.

The last time this happened to me was on a laptop at work which eventually went tits up.

Coincidence you think or is that a warning sign w/ laptops ?

We just had the OS reinstalled a few months ago but I guess that wouldn't have anything to do with it if the harddrives going.

my laptop does that as well, i just got use to it after awhile never figured out the problem.

[Fallon]

i'll be doing my thing and all the lights go out.
So your computer is giving you blue balls?

[DolaMight]

Before you change the power supply, try booting into safe mode by hitting F8 before windows loads. If you can boot to that it's a driver issue not the Power Supply. You would probably want to reinstall windows afterwards.

After that check for dust on the fans and heatsinks in your case. If they're overly dusty then your something on your motherboard, chipset etc... may have burnt out.

[zentraed]

Random restarts can be caused by bad capacitors on the motherboard. Take the case off and and look at all the little cylinders on the motherboard. If any of them are swollen or busted, that's probably it.

Plenty of pictures here to show what you're looking for. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacitor_plague)

[ToLEEdo]

sounds similar to many bad power supply stories
Anyone know how to check to see if it is bad?

to update my computer problem. We never fixed it and I'm currently running Ubuntu on that computer from a CD and not using the hard drive.

[cupcakelove]

While we have a computer problem thread fresh I'd like to ask an unrelated question.

My wife's laptop is doing this thing where when you're typing it sometimes randomly jumps to other parts of the typing area.

The last time this happened to me was on a laptop at work which eventually went tits up.

Coincidence you think or is that a warning sign w/ laptops ?

We just had the OS reinstalled a few months ago but I guess that wouldn't have anything to do with it if the harddrives going.

my laptop does that as well, i just got use to it after awhile never figured out the problem.

Are you sure guys are hitting the touch pad with your thumb? I do this all the time.

[JimBeam]

I dont think I'm hitting it but it may be possible.

There's also an occasional clicking of the harddrive which I know as that intensified on my work laptop it was closer to it crapping out.

[badmonkey]

I dont think I'm hitting it but it may be possible.

There's also an occasional clicking of the harddrive which I know as that intensified on my work laptop it was closer to it crapping out.

That clicking is like the beeps it makes when it boots up. They mean something. If you pay close attention it will click out morse code for either "replace me" or "S.O.S." depending on the brand of hard drive.

[PhishHead]

Are you sure guys are hitting the touch pad with your thumb? I do this all the time.

my touchpad is turned off for an external mouse.

[DolaMight]

Another thing you could try is to take a glass of water, exactly 2/3's full or measure it to 234ml. Make sure the water is at exactly room temperature (70 °F) then turn your computer on, then with a funnel slowly pour the water into the computer through the power supply fan at the back of the case while your computer is tilted at exactly a 79 degree angle. This should fix your problem with the capacitors and power supply.

[Nothing Sound]

...... check for dust on the fans and heatsinks in your case. If they're overly dusty then your something on your motherboard, chipset etc... may have burnt out.

It could even be causing an over heating problem.
This happened to a friend of mine recently.
The computer would shut down for no apparent reason.
He brought it to me and as soon as I opened the case I noticed a shit load of dust.
All I did was vacuum and blow it out. Problem solved.

[extracheese]

My friend has the same problem with his DELL inspiron laptop.
Curser jumps all over the document while typing. It has done this since he got it. I dont know why he didnt deal with it while under warranty. Just yesterday, he was watching Heroes on line and the screen slowed down..and froze and then woujldnt shut off - he had to unplug and remove battery to shut down.
Then he couldnt turn it back on. It simply wont turn on..totally dead.

since its only 2 yrs old i suggested taking it in for repair.

[CofyCrakCocaine]

Yep. I'm having the same problems. I'm just too busy to open the whole thing up and read up on how to open the PSU without killing myself or examine the motherboard.

It's really annoying. It seems to do this more frequently if I'm logged onto RF.net...

[JustJon]

Yep. I'm having the same problems. I'm just too busy to open the whole thing up and read up on how to open the PSU without killing myself or examine the motherboard.

It's really annoying. It seems to do this more frequently if I'm logged onto RF.net...

Never open a PSU. Unless you really know what you are doing, you will definitely do more harm than good. I build my own PCs and I never fuck with PSUs. If you are having PSU problems, just replace it.