Printing makes computer shut off

[ArchStudent]

Howdy everyone,

Well I've run into a puzzle. My bro's computer that I built for him is acting strange after he bought a Lexmark X1150 series printer. He has a HP Pavillion 4535 (if that is the right model, mini tower) that orignally came like this:

Intel Celeron 450MHz .. Since upgraded it to a Celeron 950MHz (with a socket adapter)
32MB SDRAM .. Have since maxed out the SDRAM to 256MB (1 Dimm)
1MB onboard video .. Purchased a ATI Radeon 32MB PCI video card
4GB Hard Drive .. Now has a 10GB HD

Now he went with Windows XP, and some other toys (Speakers, and a nice monitor) and after adding this printer, and doing the proper setup procedure it will print, but right after printing the whole computer shuts off, and I have to power it back on manually. This problem was never happening before, and I tried both USB ports, and still had the same problem

Now, my best guess is that it has to do with the PSU, as it is only 100 Watts (it is a Micro-PSU). The printer runs off of its own power supply from the wall, but methinks that the fact it is in the USB port leads me to believe that it is too much for the puny PSU.

I am going to try and purchase a 180 Watt Micro-PSU, as this is the one with the most juice I can find.

Do you have any ideas other than the PSU as being the culprit or culprits?

thanks

 

[Unforgiven]

i think thats a great place to start with the power supply but it could be a host of things such as ram, improper cooling, yadda yadda yadda but in all honesty a 100 watt power supply cant power much and the issue may be that the parallel port when trying to print is just taking too much power and the computer just pukes.

 

[ArchStudent]

Yep that's what I figured, because without the printer (USB by the way) the computer has no hiccups what so ever. It has run smoothly for over a year now, and methinks that after all the "yadda yadda yadda" has been scrutinized that the PSU is just pooched out.

Thanks for the reply Unforgiven

 

[GregANDTCH]

Have you looked here:
Directron power supplies
YMMV

 

[ArchStudent]

Originally posted by: GregANDTCH
Have you looked here:
<a target=new class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.directron.com/matxps.html">Directron power supplies</a>
YMMV

thanks for the addy I've looked before (about a year ago) and only found 180 Watts, but now I see you can get micro-atx PSUs up to 350 Watts

 

[Smilin]

Here's a longshot for something software related for you to check.

Go to your printers folder. Select File | Server properties. On the drivers tab be sure everything says 2000 or XP. If you see any NT drivers in there get rid of them. These run in kernel mode instead of usermode and are quite capable of crashing or killing a box.

 

[ArchStudent]

Originally posted by: Smilin
Here's a longshot for something software related for you to check.

Go to your printers folder. Select File | Server properties. On the drivers tab be sure everything says 2000 or XP. If you see any NT drivers in there get rid of them. These run in kernel mode instead of usermode and are quite capable of crashing or killing a box.

thanks for that bit of info.


The new PSU seemed to do it only for one test page. After that it has the same issue. I mean this is a HP 4535 mini tower that originally had:

Intel Celeron 400MHz
32 MB SDRAM
1 MB Onboard video
4GB Hard Drive
built in Sound

and I did this

Intel Celeron 950MHz with adapter from Powerleap
256 MB SDRAM (One stick)
32MB ATI Radeon PCI w/ TV out
20 GB Hard Drive
56Kb PCI Modem
Sound Blaster PCI 5.1

so now that I have ruled out the PSU (mind you it was probably good to change it anyways) will look into that folder setting as well.

Thanks

 

[ArchStudent]

bump

 

[fw3308]

I think you are on the right track with the power supply but I agree with what Smilin said regarding the drivers for your printer. I have seen buggy drivers or conflicting drivers reboot servers before. Good luck!