Computer shuts down while trying to start windows...

[WoodiE]

I've got a Dell GX270 running Windows XP SP1 which is located in a computer room which is kept at a constant 66 degrees.

I came to work yesterday and noticed the computer had shut down, upon restarting the computer I received after POST that the computer had shut down due to a thermal event. After pressing F1 to continue the computer will continue to load then about 2-6 seconds after the black Windows XP with the green status bar shows up the computer will just turn off. Turning it back on only repeats the cycle.

Here's what I've tried thus far:

1. I've checked all the fans - all fans are in full working order and the CPU heatsink is cold!

2. Used a different power supply as well unplugging all drives minus the HD.

3. Ghosting the hard drive to another hard drive with only the same results.

4. Reinstalling Windows XP on a new hard drive.

The odd thing is the computer will stay on all day if I'm in the BIOS, or from a boot cd such as the Ultimate Boot CD or Windows CD. It will run HD tests all day w/o shutting off once. When I tried reinstalling Windows XP it completed the long formatting as well as the copying of files, however aftre the computer restarts to load into the graphical install of Windows XP it then just shuts down.

What am I missing? What's causing this thing to just shut off while loading windows - I was thinking the motherboard, but how does it know when windows is starting?

Any ideas?


-Michael

 

[Monkey Wrench]

You lost me at "Dell"....

 

[jon2]

Does your BIOS have an an automatic update? THink it is called ESCD or ECSD.

There is definitely something wrong in the start up routine.

 

[WoodiE]

No, there is not an auto bios update in the dell, nor can I update it as Dell only offers an exe update which installs via windows or such. They do not offer a boot disk type update.



-Michael

 

[HeartBreak]

Sounds like you've tried all the obvious fixes; have you tried a different IDE cable? (long shot, but possible)

It could be, perhaps, that the thermal sensor in the cpu fan has gone out, too. Perhaps try another cpu fan?

 

[ZANDOR]

I at one time had this same problem..I replaced the mother board.Still was doing the same thing..Come to find out I had a bad 512 ram stick ddr

 

[cvec7]

I'd check the ram like zandor said...I've seen ram cause a huge and odd range of problems before.

 

[rocknbil]

LOL . . . WURD! (Does that make me a Luser? Oh f**ing welll . . . ) I agree, spontaneous shudowns have always been RAM-related in my experience, try pulling one chip at a time and see if it at least boots.

 

[rossb]

Start by pulling any unrequired internal cards (like SCSI, video capture, sound, internal modem, network, etc..)

Try to disabled any unrequired on-board devices (like sound, network, etc..)

Try to boot it in safe mode.

 

[.21Rc10GT]

I at one time had this same problem..I replaced the mother board.Still was doing the same thing..Come to find out I had a bad 512 ram stick ddr

I have had that exact problem with the ram as well, with the things woodie is explaining, it could be a bad stick of ram... I dunno, try it?

 

[1500valk]

http://forums.us.dell.com/supportfo...ex_other&message.id=22497&c=us&l=en&cs=&s=gen

this seems to be on point.

 

[WoodiE]

Nice link valk - I didn't realize Dell even had a forum. Thanks!



-Michael

 

[1500valk]

you are most welcome. Happy to help out.

 

[bustedgears]

I'd have to say ram also.

 

[beason]

if not ram, maby the heat sensor is burnt out... does your bios have an option to turn off the thermal sensor??