Computer shuts off without warning

[Oifish]

I was using Word and my computer just shut off. Then it attempted to turn back on but shut off after about 5 seconds. I unplugged it for about 5 min then tried to boot again, this time it got to the windows logon screen and shut off again. I was able to reach the BIOS and my temps looked fine: 37*C. I'm suspecting a PSU issue...anything else I should look for?

PS I need to fix this fast, I was in the midst of writing a paper for school...go figure it breaks then.

 

[paul878]

37C is ok, since you just rebooted.
do you have a multimeter to check the voltage?
Any bulged capacitor on the motherboard?

 

[Steltek]

Also, is the machine plugged directly into the wall, or are you running through a UPS and/or a surge suppressor?

 

[Oifish]

I have a multimeter but I haven't checked it yet. It doesn't look like there are any bulged capacitors. The computer is plugged into a surge protector, but not UPS. I was able to get it to boot to windows and recover my word document, but it shut off after ~6 min of running in windows.

 

[denis280]

do you get blue screen (bugcheck)

 

[Oifish]

do you get blue screen (bugcheck)

Nope no blue screen. Comp is working find then boom it shuts off and attempts to restart over and over again.

 

[Steltek]

Have you tried to plug the computer in directly to the wall to make sure the surge suppressor isn't causing the problem?

If you are in a real hurry to fix it, I'd start by testing the power supply outputs or swapping out the power supply. It would seem to be the most logical culprit for the problem you are describing.

 

[Oifish]

Ok, I tested the PSU with a multimeter and I got 12.33v for the 12v lines, 5.06v for the 5v lines and 3.47v for the 3.3v lines. I have not tested the computer directly plugged into the wall yet, and all those reading were with the PSU plugged into the surge protector.

 

[Puppies04]

This seems to be pointing straight at a faulty PSU (although it could be another component or even a virus) Do you have access to another PSU to fault find?

 

[Oifish]

This seems to be pointing straight at a faulty PSU (although it could be another component or even a virus) Do you have access to another PSU to fault find?

No, I don't have another PSU. Right now it is plugged directly into the wall and has been running fine for about 25min (I'm actually using it to write this post). My surge protector LED indicates it's "protected" and other devices (including a laptop w/o a battery) work just fine off of it. Is there anyway to test to see if a surge protector is faulty?

 

[denis280]

Ok, I tested the PSU with a multimeter and I got 12.33v for the 12v lines, 5.06v for the 5v lines and 3.47v for the 3.3v lines. I have not tested the computer directly plugged into the wall yet, and all those reading were with the PSU plugged into the surge protector.

I would try an other psu. just to be sure.