Computer powers off with no errors?

Hi everyone! I'm having a new problem with my computer...
It's an emachine Model # T5254
Processor:
AMD Athlon™ BE-2350, 64-bit dual core processor
2.1 GHz
2 × 512 KB L2 cache
2000 MHz system bus

Motherboard:

4006233R - ECS MCP61SM-GM mATX Motherboard

Chipset:
NVIDIA® GeForce® 6100

Power Supply:
300WATT

Memory:
2048 MB DDR2, 667 MHz (PC2-5300) memory (two 1024 MB modules)
2 DIMM slots

Hardrive:
320 GB 7200 RPM SATA II with 8 MB Cache

Video:
Integrated NVIDIA® GeForce 6100 graphics
Up to 128 MB of shared video memory

It just started about a month ago. The computer shuts off without warning. No blue screen, no error message, it just powers off. It happens when windows is loading and also once windows has loaded it will shut off sometimes after a few hours and sometimes after a few minutes or seconds.

So I first thought it was the memory, so I removed them one at a time and it would still shut off without warning.

Then I figured it was dust, so I cleaned out all the dust inside the computer, and it still shuts off.

Then I reseated everything I could, memory, cpu fan, any plugs on motherboard, etc. but that didn't help.

I ran system file checker in command prompt it found and repaired some files.
I ran chkdsk (full scan) and it found errors and fixed them.
Did a full antivirus command line scan, it found nothing.
I ran Window Memory Diagnostics and it found nothing.

I ran startup repair and it would repair a startup problem but it didn't help with the computer turning off. It did say the error was upgrade or driver related.

Then I figured it had to be software or windows, so I formated and did a clean install windows. Nope still turns off.

So I thought maybe Windows Vista didn't format it enough so I ran a command prompt format and tried to reinstall windows but I can't get the computer to stay on long enough to reinstall.

I checked the temperatures in BIOS and they were both 36C. CPU fan running at over 1200 RPM. Both fans do come on.
The computer stays on if I am in BIOS. :confused Maybe the videos gone bad?

Any suggestions? Is there something I'm overlooking? If it turns out to be hardware I will just end up getting a new tower. I don't want to buy any parts to swap out.

Thank You in advance for any help or suggestions!

 

Greetings, reesa.

First of all, check Control Panel > System > Advanced system settings > Advanced > Startup and Recovery settings. Make sure 'Automatically restart' is not checked, and 'Write debugging information' is set for 'Small memory dump'.

Odd problem, especially since you formatted/reinstalled Windows.

One thing you might try is booting to a Linux distro (Mint and Ubuntu are a couple of good ones). Download the .iso file, and burn that file as an image to a CD/DVD (ImgBurn is a good .iso burning software if you don't already have one). Then boot to that disk, and run the OS as a live environment (in other words, don't install it - just run it from the optical drive).

Put the machine through some stresses, see if the crash occurs, which will indicate if this is a hardware or a software problem.

An added plus: while you're running the live Linux, you should be able to transfer any important data to a flash drive, just in case.

*Edit: Another thought - the sudden shutdowns could also be a symptom of power supply problems - you don't happen to have a spare PSU lying around, do you?

 

Thank you! I think it might be the motherboard afterall. I looked at the capacitors before and didn't notice anything. But I just reopened it and took a better look and noticed 5 capacitors that are raised into a cone shape on top. I attached pictures. Is that what a blown capacitor looks like?

I did back up everything before I formated so atleast I don't have to worry about that. I can't get into the Control Panel because I couldn't reinstall windows the computer shuts off before windows can finish installing.

I don't have another power supply to swap out And I could have sworn there was a light on the motherboard but I can't find it now, and if there is one it's not lighting up.

 

I don't know enough to say whether or not the capacitors are causing the problem but they may be contributing. The tops should be perfectly flat. That is ideally--whether or not worn capacitors are causing your problem is uncertain.

The two posts by dlb in this thread seem to insist on flat topped capacitors.

I would have guessed memory but you looked at that. That the HD had multiple errors is also suspect. Although, I'm not sure a failing HD would stop installation without an error, unless it was during the reboot part of the shutdown. I can't troubleshoot any more than you have, just posting the link to the pics.

 

Thanks for the info and the link. I guess we could replace the capacitors, I don't know if it's worth it, this computer is not that old and we've already had to replace the memory, I wondering what else will go next. Maybe it's just time to get a new tower?

 

Thank you for all the help. I did a search on the emachine T5254 and capacitor, and it brought up links of other people with exactly the same symptoms (shut off without warning) and bad capacitors in the same area, along the heat sink. I'm pretty sure it's the capacitors. Thanks again everyone

 

Sounds like you've zeroed in on the cause, reesa.

Thanks for the feedback, and please let us know if you get things sorted. Good luck! :major

 

FYI to any others. A buddy of mine brought me his T5254 with the exact same symptoms and, after reading this thread, I was able to see the same capacitor problem. I compared two capacitors that are side by side near the heat sink and one of them is noticeably protruding compared to the other. Thanks for saving me the time of researching this.

 

This is a "heads up" on why stand-alone motherboard mfrs. (Asus, Gigabyte, MSI, etc.) make a big deal about building their current boards with solid capacitors.

Liquid-filled capacitors are far more prone to failure (as shown in this issue) than solid ones.

Although I can't quote chapter and verse on the following, I've heard each enough times to believe them:

* There have been cases of inferior counterfeit capacitors ending up in some motherboard production lines - worse quality and a much higher failure rate than solid or properly-made liquid capacitors.​

* Many older Dell desktops (Dim. 2400, GX 2xx series) fell victim to death by bad capacitors. Somewhere in the US legal system, a class action lawsuit over the issue is pending against Dell.​

Bottom line: This is why I am leery of store-bought desktops. I'd rather spend a few extra bucks building one and knowing I used only Grade A parts.

 

Did you find out the probblem? did it stop shutting down?

 

And it hasn't occurred to you that you should bring the motherboard back to the store due to it having a defective BIOS? How many builds have you done in your life, 4? If ANYTHING is wrong, you return it IMMEDIATELY! You cannot repair a defective BIOS!