on off on off on off help!!!

[bama1830]

Computer keeps rebooting every 5 10 or 2 mins. HELP ME!!!!! How do I calm this beast??? Sometimes it stays on for awhile other times it has a hard time even starting, it is new (3mths old) and a desktop.

[insomniac104]

Sounds like it needs a new power source.

[bama1830]

orrrr is it a virus??? I ran a system scan and nothing came up, it won't stay on long enough to run a full mcafee scan, but it did the short one. Even with it being so new you think it needs a power source???

[tupik3702]

Good Luck! :sherlock:

[bama1830]

yep, plugins tight. I talked to Dell for 2 hrs and they told me it's a software problem not a hardware one. They offered me a great deal for $239 they could tell me what is wrong. I told them I thought they were discusting ( I bought the 4 yr extended warranty) thinking it was for problems like this. I can not believe they would not help at all. And yes, I was verrry nice to them. I guess I have to reformat this POS tomorrow. I was up to date on all virus definations, I just don't get it! Once I win the big one, I'll smash this one and mail it in little pieces to them. I just bought it 3 mths ago for around $2000. You'd think they would help huh. A$$holes. So, anyone got any other ideas befoe I dump er out?

[gitpicker]

Don't let Dell call it a software problem!

Too many people have problems with Dell to just blow off any major problem like this.

Is it still under warranty?

If it is you need to insist that a qualified technician check it out because I've never seen a problem like that in a new computer that was caused by a software problem. :nono:

Don't buy any warranty yet until you get this checked out.

[gitpicker]

I don't think it's a virus, so don't bother reformatting anything.

A reboot problem like this could be caused by a number of hardware problems, and that is much more probable than a virus or software problem.

[djr58]

Well, I had that problem once and it was a virus. Not to say that's what you have, since other things can cause it...but you might want to go into safe mode and run your virus scan program to be on the safe side. Hopeit works Ok for you :gvibes:

[gitpicker]

Well, I had that problem once and it was a virus. Not to say that's what you have, since other things can cause it...but you might want to go into safe mode and run your virus scan program to be on the safe side. Hopeit works Ok for you :gvibes:
It could be, but there are a lot of details that seem to point towards something hardware.

The random nature, the sometimes hard starting and the negative scan seem to point towards hardware issues.

[gitpicker]

It could be, but there are a lot of details that seem to point towards something hardware.

The random nature, the sometimes hard starting and the negative scan seem to point towards hardware issues.
I forgot the biggest clue:

Dell is notorious for poor construction and hardware issues, not to mention outsourcing of customer service to India (which might explain the OP's frustrating phone call.)

[Ladyxmess]

My in house geek said-1st off back up everything you need. He said it could be a virus, but sounds like you probably have a bad hard drive or mother board.
If you can, try the system restore.
If that doesn't work, you can test your hard drive; who manufactured it-go to their website, and download dm software (disc management).

He's pretty sure from your description that your hard drive is failing.

I would call Dell back and do what gitpicker said to do. That is unacceptable for a new product.


There is a diagnostic utility on the Dell website-if you can access that.

Good luck, I hope you can resolve this issue soon and to your satisfaction.

[minbari]

Is the power supply fan working? I had a similar problem with my five year old Dell desktop computer, and lubricating the fan solved the issue. :)

[ksmith47]

Yea, like minibari said, it might be the fan - do you hear it running? Could be an overheating problem.

Good luck and back-up your stuff if you can! :gvibes:

[MISSYKADE]

I purchased a computer once and the same thing happened. It took 3 months before the company would fess up that it had a bad mother board installed and they ended up needing to give me a brand new computer with the warranty that I purchased. The computer only worked for about a month before it started rebooting itself.

Don't give up, they'll tell you anything so that they don't have to fix it!

[lassss]

It almost sounds like a hardware issue..did you plug in an Ipod or other hardware? There might be an IRQ conflict.

my BF's puter kept shutting off eveytime he plugged in his Ipod and he wound up buying a new motherboard because he couldn't change the irq setting (MB was old)

[Cajun_Mum]

I hate to tell you this, but my elderly Gateway started doing just that, and it was the HD, we ended up junking it and buying a new Gateway..the old one still sort of works for a few minutes at a time, and hubby has managed to pull off a few files here and there...
BTW, when buying a new computer, I found that if you buy a Gateway at say...Best Buy, with the extended warrenty etc, the warrenty isn't with Gateway, its with Best Buy and good luck to you getting any sort of support from THEM. Next time I pay the extra and order right from the manufacturer. Our first Gateway from best buy lasted almost a whole 10 days, fortunately they just replaced the whole CPU.

[LuckyFred]

After $2000.00 AND an extended warranty that is all the help you got???? I'm not surprised that you are steamed!!

I'd call them back and insist on talking to someone who knows their sh** to help you. Keep track of all correspondence, the date, time, who you talked to, etc. See if they can give you a reference number so that the next time you call they can bring up your issue so you don't have to go through the story again.

Then I would write complaint letters to let them know how crappy their service is. If you don't get satisfaction, contact your Better Business Bureau.

Good Luck!! Hope you are up & running again soon.

[redfantum]

It sounds like an IRQ error to me also. I am assuming that you are running xp. If that is the case - do the following to turn off the automatic reboot. This will at least give you an idea of what the actual error is and you can research it from there:

One of the things that is quite different about Windows XP compared to Windows 9x (9x is shorthand for Windows 95, Windows 98, and Windows Me in all their various versions), is that one can control how it responds to certain critical errors—those that cause the infamous Blue Screen of Death (BSOD). In Windows XP, the default setting is for the computer to reboot automatically when a fatal error occurs. If that fatal error only occurs when you're shutting down, the system reboots automatically.

If you haven't changed any of the system failure settings, you should be able to see the error by looking in the Event Log. But a better long-term solution is to turn off the automatic reboot so you can actually see the error when it happens—chances are it will tell you enough about itself to let you troubleshoot further. To change the recovery settings to disable automatic rebooting:

1.
Right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.

2.
Click the Advanced tab.

3.
Under Startup and Recovery, click Settings to open the Startup and Recovery dialog box.

4.
Clear the Automatically restart check box, and click OK the necessary number of times.

5.
Restart your computer for the settings to take effect.


Now when you go to shut down and a fatal error occurs, you'll at least see it and it won't cause an automatic reboot. You still have to sort out what's causing the problem, but that gets us to the next section quite nicely.


This information is from the following page: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/helpandsupport/learnmore/russel_02may13.mspx

They also offer more information on how to determine the causes of your error. Hope this helps.

[Sweethart79]

you all crack me up!

It is most likely NOT a virus.

Have you tried booting into safe mode...does it shut off when you get in there?

I agree with Gitpicker (omg...yes...for once we actually agree...its the prison's fault!) My money is on HD or MB. If you paid 2k for a Dell and it was only 3 months ago...then you need to call them up and rip them a new rectum. If you want to talk to someone who speaks english...get to their billing department. From there asked to be transferred to support/customer service IN THE STATES. Yes, they do have the ability. (Funny how they keep anything having to do with the money in America) :laugh:

If you really cant get anywhere with Dell. You can find an authorized Dell repair shop and take the system to them. It might cost $50, but have them run a diagnostic on it to determine the problem. When they come back and say its hardware, get it in writing from them!

Contact Dell, send them a copy of the diagnostic report and demand you be reimbursed for your $50.

[fromtheheart66]

Mine did that and it was the fan. Easy to replace. On a gateway it was 50 bucks but I know the IT guy here at work and he saves all that stuff so I got one for free.

[bama1830]

To reformatt or not, that is the question :frown3: I hate this crap, i was on the phone with the India section until 2am. Shoot me in the head!!! I have backed up the important stuff, but I am really gonna be pissed if I do all that work and it's for nothing. I'm gonna see how long it stays on this time, then I'll check this thread for any Einsteins and go from there. By the way, thanks for all of the help so far.
Signed,
Dumba$$ of the year for this comp prob, lol
Melanie

[NiKKiL]

Same thing happened to my computer a few years ago. It would turn off all the time. I know how annoying it is. We believe it was a virus that caused it. We had someone look at it, and they said we needed a new hard drive. :worry: That computer is still sitting in my attic to this day. :laugh:



Hope you can fix your computer. :gvibes: