Computer help....yay! • Gaming • General Gaming • Eurogamer.net

Fixxxer 2 Nov 2004 17:39:34 1,386 posts
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Right, as any recent visitors to Shivoa's Suggested System Specs may have noticed, I'm currently building my computer. Apologies if you helped me out the question I asked because I haven't gone back there since I found the answer myself (in a box, no less) and realised what an incedibly stupid question it was. So, here's a question that should test you.

I've got my computer up to the BIOS screen and it said 'cpu is unworkable or has been changed'. Now I did a bit of research and it appears I need to update my BIOS so I went in to Norwich to buy myself a floppy drive to allow me to do this. Unfortunately, since I've been back my computer's developed a fun, fun new problem whereby it shuts down after about 20 seconds of being on.

Any ideas you lovely, lovely people?

Khanivor 2 Nov 2004 17:43:47 44,800 posts
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Clear the CMOS. There should be instructions on how to do this in the manual. Otherwise unplufg the computer from the wall and prise out - gently - the battery from the motherboard. Leave for five minutes and then re-insert, turn on and cross fingers.

Edited by Khanivor at 17:44:01 02-11-2004

Angel_Treats 2 Nov 2004 17:46:19 11,070 posts
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This is going to sound really stupid, but I've had the "shutting down after 20 secs" problem and it baffled me, the local indie guy and two engineers that the PC manufacturer sent out. The solution? Make sure the shutdown button on they keyboard isn't sticky or pushed in. I'm sure that's nothing to do with your problem, but you just never know; apparently it's quite common and a lot of people fail to spot it!

Fixxxer 2 Nov 2004 17:48:12 1,386 posts
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It'll be a couple of hours before I can put any of this into practice but keep it coming.

Yeah, all fans seem to be doing their spinny thing.

I do have instructions about clearing the CMOS (it's something to do with switching a 1,2 plug to 2,3 position, I think) so you don't need to worry on the front (although I'm sure you're not)

Thanks.

mentat 2 Nov 2004 17:49:48 5,613 posts
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overheating?

Fixxxer 2 Nov 2004 17:50:38 1,386 posts
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MonkeyTennis wrote:

Angel_Treats wrote:
This is going to sound really stupid, but I've had the "shutting down after 20 secs" problem and it baffled me, the local indie guy and two engineers that the PC manufacturer sent out. The solution? Make sure the shutdown button on they keyboard isn't sticky or pushed in. I'm sure that's nothing to do with your problem, but you just never know; apparently it's quite common and a lot of people fail to spot it!

The 20 Second shut down problem occured on me when I incorrectly set the FSB CPU Frequency and Multiplier. Have you got that far yet?

I had to start from scratch by doing what Khanivor suggested, resetting the bios.

Edited by MonkeyTennis at 17:48:39 02-11-2004

Erm, I'dont know, sorry.

If I can do it in 20 seconds I'll give it a try.

Fixxxer 2 Nov 2004 17:51:37 1,386 posts
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Intel Pentium 4 3.2 GHz

Fixxxer 2 Nov 2004 18:04:28 1,386 posts
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350W.

I tried resetting the BIOS and it said what it said when I turned it on for the first time (ie no mention of CPU unworkability) so I assume it worked. Unfortunately it didn't seem to work as it went off again.

Deleted user 25 November 2010 10:50:19

Post deleted

the_milkybar_kid 10 Mar 2015 19:34:01 8,474 posts
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11 year old thread resurrection.

I've got about a 7 year old pc that been used for storing pictures, music, surfing the Internet and nothing much else. I had a problem with the old monitor that I got from an even older pc, one of the first tft's. I ended up chucking that as it kept going into power saving mode. Even though the pc was running fine, no overheating or anything.

I've come to update my ipod for my gym music and it's coming up with the same 'entering power saving mode '. Tried the connections at both ends and had a look inside, the cable that connects the vga to the card is in fine.

What's likely to be at fault here? The pc itself runs absolutely fine.

wrinkly 10 Mar 2015 19:35:45 3,721 posts
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Basically, in technical jargon, it's fucked.

/glad to be of help.

snowbored 10 Mar 2015 19:51:25 534 posts
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Graphics card itself?

I had this one time, my computer had a PCI graphics card, which I had installed and the original built in onboard graphics.

I removed the graphics card and plugged the monitor cable into the onboard VGA plug instead and then it worked OK.

So I put it down to the card having developed a fault.

Deleted user 10 March 2015 19:59:24

Try updating the BIOS via a floppy drive like the OP...That should sort it right out.

the_milkybar_kid 10 Mar 2015 20:01:07 8,474 posts
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@bad09 I can't get on to check windows, it goes only power saving from initially switching it on.

mrpon 10 Mar 2015 20:04:52 37,366 posts
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the_milkybar_kid wrote:
11 year old thread resurrection.

I've got about a 7 year old pc that been used for storing pictures

No famous women.

the_milkybar_kid 10 Mar 2015 20:16:11 8,474 posts
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@bad09 I'll give that a whirl, cheers guys. Wouldn't have a clue where to plug it onto on-board graphics though.

the_milkybar_kid 10 Mar 2015 20:37:06 8,474 posts
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Ah yeah, was behind a plastic bit that was screwed down. Still nothing though. It knows that there's something connected as it comes up with the message before the screen powers back down.

the_milkybar_kid 10 Mar 2015 21:30:40 8,474 posts
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In that case I think it'll be the cable as it did this with the old monitor and this is a fairly decent dell screen. I'll get hold of anither cable. Thanks for your help make, very useful.