Computer problem

[tall510]

I have a strange thing that is happening to my computer. After it is on for a few hours and I'm not using it, it just stops. I have to reboot it to get it working again. Sometimes it take 3 to 4 times to get it working. Could there be something wrong with the video card or maybe the hard drive. Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks.

[BulkHedd]

Do you mean it just shuts off? Check the power settings and make sure it isn't set to go to sleep (or hibernate) after a certain period of time.

[tall510]

Do you mean it just shuts off? Check the power settings and make sure it isn't set to go to sleep (or hibernate) after a certain period of time.

I think that is ok, because it use to just go to the screen saver and stay on.

[Gardenboy95]

It will be interesting to see how this comes out, becaused I just got a new
Compaq, and it will sleep and for a few minutes you can bring it back up, but if you wait too long, I have to unplug the power and plug it back to make it reboot. I have not looked at the sittings at this time.

[gewhite3]

If a PC is in sleep mode it may take more than just a mouse movement to wake it up. You would need to hit the space bar, enter key or some other key to snap it back to the real world. Mine goes to sleep after a while sitting idle and I hit the enter key to wake it up.

[noelie]

Take a look at your hibernation settings also as that can be problematic.

Display - Screensaver - Power - Hibernate

Personally I never use Standby/Resume/Hibernate as I've always found it too risky and troublesome. I prefer to tell the PC to shut off the screen and hard drives instead because you're not really saving much power after that IMO.

[Tizzy333]

Dude, also check your powersource My PC started turning itself off at anytime a couple months ago and it was a screwed powersource =)

[luveyes]

I would consider replacing the power supply if at all possible.

There is a small chance it could be the hard drive or the video card. But I don't think they are the culprit.

If at all possible, open the case and check connections. Make sure they are tight, also re-seat the memory (take it out and put it back in). Also make sure all of the PCI cards are snug. These things may help and may not.

If the above doesn't help, consider replacing the power supply if at all possible.

If you could provide some info about your computer it may help with some further things to try.

• OS (Operating System) - Windows XP Home/Pro, 98, 2000.
• Is it a Dell/Compaq/HP
• CPU Brand/Speed
• Amount of memory

Just some basics about the computer. If you don't know some of the stuff, there are a couple of utilities you can use to figure it out.

• CPU-ID http://www.cpuid.com
• BelArc Advisor http://www.belarc.com

Hope some of these suggestions help.

Later,

luveyes
http://pcprogrammers.net

[tall510]

I would consider replacing the power supply if at all possible.

There is a small chance it could be the hard drive or the video card. But I don't think they are the culprit.

If at all possible, open the case and check connections. Make sure they are tight, also re-seat the memory (take it out and put it back in). Also make sure all of the PCI cards are snug. These things may help and may not.

If the above doesn't help, consider replacing the power supply if at all possible.

If you could provide some info about your computer it may help with some further things to try.

• OS (Operating System) - Windows XP Home/Pro, 98, 2000.
• Is it a Dell/Compaq/HP
• CPU Brand/Speed
• Amount of memory

Just some basics about the computer. If you don't know some of the stuff, there are a couple of utilities you can use to figure it out.

• CPU-ID http://www.cpuid.com
• BelArc Advisor http://www.belarc.com

Hope some of these suggestions help.

Later,

luveyes
http://pcprogrammers.net

The thing it does is when I boot it up alittle screen comes up saying "Go to power save" than the screen turns blank. The computer seems to boot up, but I can't see anything.

[mike_n_herrin]

/\ OK! i think that is an important piece of information. we have to know the make and model of your computer so we can figure out how to shut of that power save thing. it seems like maybe something in the BIOS which is how you see some writing and stuff on your monitor BEFORE you get into windows. as luveyes said if you don't know all the info like make and model of your computer, i'd strongly recommend you download the BelArc advisor as he linked to it above and the you can copy and paste that information in here or you can just type some of it in. it will help us a lot to figure out how to turn off whatever power saving feature is messing around with your computer. the good news is i doubt now that it's actually something that is broke, just a setting that needs changed/off.

[tall510]

/\ OK! i think that is an important piece of information. we have to know the make and model of your computer so we can figure out how to shut of that power save thing. it seems like maybe something in the BIOS which is how you see some writing and stuff on your monitor BEFORE you get into windows. as luveyes said if you don't know all the info like make and model of your computer, i'd strongly recommend you download the BelArc advisor as he linked to it above and the you can copy and paste that information in here or you can just type some of it in. it will help us a lot to figure out how to turn off whatever power saving feature is messing around with your computer. the good news is i doubt now that it's actually something that is broke, just a setting that needs changed/off.

The computer is a P4 2.53 mhz. I'm running windows XP home edition. The computer is custom built.

[mike_n_herrin]

/\ then to help us figure out what motherboard you have and if we can look up the book to it you can download the BelArc Advisor, which is a little computer program that will identify all the hardware and software on your computer and tell you about it. or if you have the book to your motherboard that would tell us which motherboard it is.

you can get the BelArc Advisor here: http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

and click on "click here to download your free copy." all this little program does is tell you what is inside your computer and what software is installed.

after you download it, then install it, and it will give you a profile of your computer. if you could copy and paste the information near the top right about under "main circuit board" what kind of motherboard you have that would help us. mine for example says the following:

Processor a
2.70 gigahertz Intel Celeron
8 kilobyte primary memory cache
128 kilobyte secondary memory cache

Main Circuit Board b
Board: Intel Corporation D865PERL AAC27648-209
Serial Number: BTRL41023041
Bus Clock: 100 megahertz
BIOS: Intel Corp. RL86510A.86A.0089.P21.0502132202 02/13/2005