My computer shuts down before the loading screen. What should i do?
Question: My computer shuts down after about two seconds before the windows loading screen. What should I do?
Answer: Since the Computer is shutting off so quickly you probably aren't able to get into the BIOS or into safe mode. Try going into safe mode by tapping F8 quickly after the PC first turns on. Also try going to the BIOS and see if it shuts off while in BIOS. If it's still shutting off, then try removing the bios battery and unplug the power cables (and battery if on a laptop) and then wait 12sec and plug it all back in.
If it works you had faulty settings. if it didnt, try removing the ram dimms blow out eventual dust and plug them back in. If that does not work either you are most likely trying to run a computer with either broken mainboard or burnt cpu.
ORIGINAL CHAT LOG FROM Free Computer Help Chat
Diamond: My computer shuts down before the loading screen. What should i do?
Geek1: hi
Diamond: Hello
Geek1: okay sooo..
Geek1: You turn on your computer...and how far does it go before it shuts down?
Diamond: it turns on for a couple of seconds. It dosnt go to no loading screen
Geek1: what is the last thing you see before it shuts off?
Geek1: Please make sure all USB devices are unplugged except for the keyboard and mouse
Geek1: and try again
Diamond: I dont see nothing. It dosnt load completely nothing.
Geek1: so you turn it on, and you hear the computer turn on...and then after a couple seconds it shuts off?
Diamond: I tried but nothing happens
Geek1: or does it not turn on AT ALL?
Geek1: do you hear the fans start up and hear it working?
Diamond: Yeah i hear the fan's
Geek1: soooooo. Please turn it back on, and tap the f8 key right when it first turns on.
Geek1: if that doesnt work....try f11
Geek1: or f12
Geek1: or f2
Geek1: f9
Geek1: f10, delete, esc
Geek1: you have to push it RIGHT when it turns on
Geek1: how many seconds would you say the computer stays on for?
Diamond: its an old custom built pc.
Diamond: 256mb gfx card, 4gb ddr2
Geek1: oh. never buy customs again
Diamond: 3.4 pentium 4
Geek1: they ALWAYS have problems
Geek1: and are nearly impossible to fix
Geek1: I'm always helping people with customs because they ALWAYS have problems
Geek1: o[0
Geek1: so no luck?
Geek1: A lot of things could be causing that..It doesnt look like the harddrive though
Diamond: u think the 8 year old power suppl went bad
Geek1: because even if the harddrive was crashed, you would still see something
Geek1: yea
Geek1: power supply
Geek1: or
Geek1: over heating
Geek1: more likely power supply
Geek1: it could also be...
Geek1: that the RAM went bad
Geek1: but
Geek1: most likely its the power supply
Diamond: all 4 1gb ram sticks went bad?
Geek1: lol
Geek1: no
Geek1: that would be highly unlikely
Geek1: wait thats a lot of RAM for such an old computer
Diamond: Oh ok i see.
Geek1: try taking one or two out
Diamond: So most likely its the power supply?
Geek1: also unplug everything from the computer that uses power in any way
Geek1: most likely
Geek1: hardware isnt my specialty, but I have access to a hardware chat with hundreds of techs
Geek1: would you like me to ask them?
Diamond: Yes please,
Geek1: How many seconds does the computer stay on before shutting down?
Geek1: Im asking them
Diamond: kk
Geek1: So far one person said it sounds like the power source....but he wasnt positive
Geek1: (this is the same person)
Geek1: I'm going to ask in another room. Hardware room looks dead
Geek1: [09:08] <GumballWatterson> CPU overheating [09:08] <joint> might be defective ram
Geek1: okay so I asked in another rooom
Geek1: and they said its probably not the power supply
Geek1: because
Geek1: if it was the power supply it wouldnt turn on at all
Geek1: they said its most likely the CPU is over heating
Geek1: or defective ram
Geek1: <judgen> wifioregon: Sounds like the mobo, bios settings proably
Geek1: Wifioregon Could be accidental overclocking attempt, power supply, corrupted windows (assumed that you get this far), insufficient component cooling or something else [09:09] <Zinoxy> need more specifics to help further
Geek1: <Blitz> wifioregon, make sure the power button isnt getting stuck
Geek1: you still there?
Geek1: wifioregon: try removing the bios battery and unplug the power cables (and battery if on a laptop) and then wait 12sec and plug it all back in. if it works you had faulty settings. if it didnt, try removing the ram dimms blow out eventual dust and plug them back in. If that does not work either you are most likely trying to run a computer with either broken mainboard or burnt cpu.
Geek1: Diamond: are you still here?
Diamond: Im here thank you.
Diamond: Im trying to perform the actions now.
Geek1: did you see what I posted above?
Geek1: oh ok
Diamond: Yes i did.
Geek1: how are yopu today Iamcoolru?
Geek1: Diamond:, you know how to remove the BIOS battery right? (its the little watch battery)
