The Dell that only shutsdown...

[ergeheilalt]

Hmm, sounds like it might not be grounding properly. Something is shorting and causing a shut down. Check to see if any loose screws rolled under the motherboard and are causing a short on the case.

Erge

 

[Brother Shatterstone]

Hmm, sounds like it might not be grounding properly. Something is shorting and causing a shut down. Check to see if any loose screws rolled under the motherboard and are causing a short on the case.

I'm pretty sure that it wouldn't shutdown, it would simply reboot like a faulty power supply would, plus I can't see how safe mode would make a difference.

 

[Fast Learner]

Any BTW, it would be wise never to Purchase a Dell. EVER. It's best to build your own, getting double the quality at a fraction of the price.

Or not. I've purchased 6 different Dells over the years and only one machine had any problems whatsoever, and the Dell guy was out to my house the very same day and fixed it. I haven't had to spend one second thinking about how my PCs were doing. Dell uses standard parts (unlike the morons at Compaq) so you can easily upgrade or change your machine at will.

Dell's are excellent, and they have absolutely outstanding service (best in the industry). I cannot recommend them highly enough.

FWIW, I spend about 3 or 4 hours a week helping my friends fix their homemade PCs: it's not a lack of knowledge, it's about knowing what's important to you. For me the time required to spec out, build, and maintain my own PCs is much better spent either earning money or engaging in leisure activities, like gaming.

In my opinion, building your own PC is the perfect activity for people who enjoy building their own PCs, and is a tremendous waste of time and effort for those who don't. If you value your time and sense of peace more than messing around with your PC, Dells are oustanding.

 

[Brother Shatterstone]

Dell uses standard parts (unlike the morons at Compaq) so you can easily upgrade or change your machine at will.

For the most part they do but their low-end machines do not, and even their high-end machines uses non-standard parts. (mainly power supply)

In my opinion, building your own PC is the perfect activity for people who enjoy building their own PCs, and is a tremendous waste of time and effort for those who don't. If you value your time and sense of peace more than messing around with your PC, Dells are oustanding.

I totally agree with this, I built my machine case I find it to be fun not because I thought it would save me money.

 

[Welverin]

If this was my PC I would have simply formatted and started over... This is a windows error, probably due to the SCSI cards being pulled without removing them original from windows. (Not me, my boss did that.) Of course I can't really format it cause they only want it for the software that's on it.

Are the SCSI cards still around to be put back in to test your theory and remove them properly?

 

[Brother Shatterstone]

Are the SCSI cards still around to be put back in to test your theory and remove them properly?

They’re around but they are not obtainable for me... I sort of get to test my other theory. The user has signed off on it being gone so I’m going to run a 2000 install with keeping the same registry. I’m not expecting any successes but hey I got to be here till four anyways.

 

[3catcircus]

Well, I got a computer that I'm finding that us stumping and I've seen a number of great ideas for troubleshooting from others on this board so I thought I would give you all a try.

OS: windows 2000 (sp4)
Synopsis: After boot up the computer shutdown 7 seconds to 20 seconds after start up. Logoning on to it, or the network, or simply waiting for this reboot has no effect on it.

Both Safe Mode and Safe Mode with networking work normally.

This computer was on the network till we swapped to the new network last week, a few SCSI cards where removed at this time, and have been removed from the hardware. Current virus defs are verified, and updated when needed, on every logon. Virus scan was ran anyhow, nothing found and the windows update is clear of needing an critical system updates…

Anyhow got any ideas?


Oh and when I say it shutdown, I mean just that, the OS goes through shutdown and turns off so it’s not a power supply issue.

Has the computer *recently* been updated to SP4 via Windows Upate set to run automatically? My wife's computer had a problem of rebooting roughly 75% through the splash screen. If that is the case then you've a corruputed SP4 update. If not, the only other possibilities seem to be Sasser, a thermal event, a bad chunk of memory or a bad power supply. Removing the SCSI cards should have no effect like you are describing.

 

[Henry]

One additional word about Dell: I've used them as a staple at my manufacturing plant for 6 years now, ordering some 40 machines in that time. Only one has had problems - occasionally, lemons DO occur. Nowadays, counting OS and software, I can't BUILD a box cheaper than I can buy one - those days are swiftly coming to an end. Fortunately, Dell's been stellar in my experience.

Brother S, Windows 2000 is VERY plug and play, and I'm not saying it COULDN'T happen, but it seems highly unlikely incorrectly removed hardware would cause an unexplained shutdown. If the SCSI's do turn out to be the problem, let me know, because that's one to add to my "weird" file.

 

[Brother Shatterstone]

Brother S, Windows 2000 is VERY plug and play, and I'm not saying it COULDN'T happen, but it seems highly unlikely incorrectly removed hardware would cause an unexplained shutdown. If the SCSI's do turn out to be the problem, let me know, because that's one to add to my "weird" file.

Indeed, I've done worse to 4.0 and have less of a reaction... :\

Unfourtantly, we will never really know what's going on with this computer as shortly after my last post I was told that I had spent to much time on it that the software we needed we will simply wait till the new network can remoting install it and that the user is SOL till then. :shurgs:

I can't really blame them, we have no control over this new network, and this software was promissed and payed for.

As for other possibilities. Nothing else has changed since the computer was removed from the network and then readded. A virus that wasn't effecting it the moment it was shutdown only to start effecting it 4 days latter when it was brought up doesn't make allot of sense in my mind. The virus definitions have been updated twice since then so any known virus that could have effected it has probably long since been discovered and accounted for.

Really the only thing that has changed is the lack of SCSI cards so it comes down to how much do you believe in coincidence or not.