Expert: Rider - 1/2/2008

Question
QUESTION: I have serveral desktops, different brands, OS and CPU's. Since I moved to the desert, they randomly keep shutting off on me. Any ideas what could cause this?
Specifically, one PC i brought with me, started doing this upon my arrival. Two other PC's that where already here, have been sutting off for a while (my neighbours) and I got a couple of (old) PC's which I completely reformated and installe WIN XP from scratch, soon started to shup off as well... Any suggestions at all?

Thanks

Tom

ANSWER: Here are a some possibilities:

You may be experencing brown out conditions from your commercial power supplier.

Your BIOS has reset to default - the power settings are putting the computer into stand by.

You Windows power settings are timing out.

I suggest you look at the power settings in the BIOS and the Windows Power settings. If these are desktops then you can set them to never or disable the stand by mode.

If the power settings are all ready disabled or you do disable them and they still shut down randomly I suggest you get a decent UPS (Uninruptable Power Supply) the batteries will take up the difference when a brown out condition occures.

HTH

http://www.diy-computer-repair.com/UPS-Uninterruptible-Powe-Supply.html

My new E-Book for the Do It Yourselfer:
http://www.diy-computer-repair.com/ebsp-1.html

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for your reply, but it must be something else. I am already using a good UPS (up to 5 min power). Also, it seems that it doesn't happen because it goes in standby. On the contrary, it seems that it happens when the computers work the hardest: one PC shuts off when I play a video; another one suts off while I play the Luxor game (the same game runns on a different PC and a laptop without a hitch).
Is there anything that could cause these shut-downs?

Thanks

Tom

Answer
If the system BIOS and the operating system isn't causing the shutdowns then it can only be one of these.

If your computer is shutting down under heavy load it may be:
Heat:   (add more cooling, move to more open area)
Power:  Increase the power supply wattage (upgrade)
       UPS, test the UPS, there should be a procedure in
       the users manual or check the manufactures web site.

My bet is on the UPS, how old is it? Do you get a battery recharge light offten?

HTH