Mysterious Outages on my HP Pavilion desktop p6240f

[W. eWatson]

Maybe every three weeks my PC just dies. I bring it up and it's OK. Each
time I call HP tech support they run diagnostics on the h/w. Nothing wrong.

It seems to me there might be an event log somewhere that gives a clue
as to what was happening around the time of the outage.

As far as I know, I might have kicked something under my desk that
turned it off, but connections look tight. This probably usually happens
when I'm working on the PC

Comments?

 

[richard]

Maybe every three weeks my PC just dies. I bring it up and it's OK. Each
time I call HP tech support they run diagnostics on the h/w. Nothing wrong.

It seems to me there might be an event log somewhere that gives a clue
as to what was happening around the time of the outage.

As far as I know, I might have kicked something under my desk that
turned it off, but connections look tight. This probably usually happens
when I'm working on the PC

Comments?

Quite possible your cord might have a frayed wire in it. When the cord gets
bumped, it shorts and the PC loses power.Buy another cord and see if it
happens again.
Or one of the pins might have worked loose enough that when you bump it, it
shuts down.

 

[Paul in Houston TX]

Maybe every three weeks my PC just dies. I bring it up and it's OK. Each
time I call HP tech support they run diagnostics on the h/w. Nothing wrong.

It seems to me there might be an event log somewhere that gives a clue
as to what was happening around the time of the outage.

As far as I know, I might have kicked something under my desk that
turned it off, but connections look tight. This probably usually happens
when I'm working on the PC

Comments?

Heat? When was the last time it got a good cleaning?

 

[Seth]

It seems to me there might be an event log somewhere that gives a clue as
to what was happening around the time of the outage.

Have you tried typing "event log" (without the quotes) in the Search box?

 

[W. eWatson]

Heat? When was the last time it got a good cleaning?

That's an interesting idea. I just installed a another HD, and there was
lots of dust inside, which I blasted out. However, it was the next day
when it failed.

 

[W. eWatson]

Have you tried typing "event log" (without the quotes) in the Search box?

Ah, yes. I guess I haven't shaken my XP experience yet Good idea, and
that brings up my next post on the box.

 

[Char Jackson]

Ah, yes. I guess I haven't shaken my XP experience yet Good idea, and
that brings up my next post on the box.

In XP, you're probably used to going to Start, Run and entering
eventvwr.msc to bring up the Event Viewer. In Win 7, it's exactly the
same.

 

[Char Jackson]

That's an interesting idea. I just installed a another HD, and there was
lots of dust inside, which I blasted out. However, it was the next day
when it failed.

I'm not always a fan of applying cause and effect to two events, but
it's interesting that the problem started soon after you had the case
open and did some work. Maybe you should retrace your steps and review
your actions to see if you knocked something loose. Also, take a look
to make sure you didn't lodge a cable against the cpu fan. If it can't
turn, the cpu will overheat and shut the system down.

 

[Char Jackson]

If "it shorts", there'd be sparks and/or breakers tripping.

I don't know why, but to people outside of the field, everything is a
short. Shorts, opens, loose connections, miswired components, burned
out bulbs, you name it, if it's an electrical problem, it's a short.
It's like they know only that one word for everything electrical.

 

[charlie]

I don't know why, but to people outside of the field, everything is a
short. Shorts, opens, loose connections, miswired components, burned
out bulbs, you name it, if it's an electrical problem, it's a short.
It's like they know only that one word for everything electrical.

Maybe "short" is a contraction of "short between the ears?" <G>

 

[richard]

I don't know why, but to people outside of the field, everything is a
short. Shorts, opens, loose connections, miswired components, burned
out bulbs, you name it, if it's an electrical problem, it's a short.
It's like they know only that one word for everything electrical.

Note I did say "possible". I have had power cords do exactly that on me
many ocassions and a new cord fixed the problem.
But hey, if ya wanna pay a tech guy $200 to fix a $6 problem, go for it.

One time I suddenly lost my internet connection. Tried all sorts of things.
Then called for a tech guy to come out to see what was wrong. He spent over
an hour trying to figure out why it wouldn't work. After he left, I wanted
to move the machine anyway so the cable I had on wasn't long enough.
Replaced the cable with a longer one and suddenly I was back online.

You always look at every possibility. When you're done doing that, then you
take it to the shop.

 

[Char Jackson]

Note I did say "possible".

Yes, and that's the part Nobody was objecting to, because it's not
really possible. At any rate, it doesn't fit the reported symptoms, so
in that respect it's not possible. The OP made no mention of sparks,
heat, melting, smoke, popped breakers, etc., so a 'short' is not on
the short list of possible culprits.

I have had power cords do exactly that on me
many ocassions and a new cord fixed the problem.
But hey, if ya wanna pay a tech guy $200 to fix a $6 problem, go for it.

If you have power cords that are shorting on "many ocassions" (sic)
then your situation is extremely unusual. Other than dogs, cats, rats,
and mice chewing on them, I've never seen a power cable of this type
go bad. Ever. And I work in the business.

One time I suddenly lost my internet connection. Tried all sorts of things.
Then called for a tech guy to come out to see what was wrong. He spent over
an hour trying to figure out why it wouldn't work. After he left, I wanted
to move the machine anyway so the cable I had on wasn't long enough.
Replaced the cable with a longer one and suddenly I was back online.

We all have horror stories of people and techs who don't know the
first thing about how to troubleshoot a problem. You and your tech are
two prime examples, as reported above.

You always look at every possibility. When you're done doing that, then you
take it to the shop.

Troubleshooting means looking at the most likely cause and working
your way down the list toward the least likely cause. Looking at every
possibility is an incredible waste of time. You're not alone, though.
I worked with people like that during my time in the military.

 

[Bob I]

Ah, yes. I guess I haven't shaken my XP experience yet Good idea, and
that brings up my next post on the box.

R-click "Computer" and select "Manage" from the menu, you'll find Event
Viewer under System Tools.

 

[Char Jackson]

R-click "Computer" and select "Manage" from the menu, you'll find Event
Viewer under System Tools.

Which is also exactly the same as XP, so it may not be time to shake
off that XP experience just yet. It still comes in handy.

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

As far as Richard (RtS) is concerned, he doesn't know shorts because he
doesn't wear 'um.

One of the worst was "it's an open short"

Whaddaya mean? Open shorts are the best kind.

No, I'm not punning - well, I sort of am, but I still mean only
*electrical* shorts

 

[Philip Herlihy]

That's an interesting idea. I just installed a another HD, and there was
lots of dust inside, which I blasted out. However, it was the next day
when it failed.

Temperature?

http://forums.cnet.com/7723-12546_102-253581.html

 

[TLC]

Click Start, Run...
Type eventvwr.msc /s
Click OK

 

[jbm]

"richard" wrote in message

Quite possible your cord might have a frayed wire in it. When the cord gets
bumped, it shorts and the PC loses power.Buy another cord and see if it
happens again.
Or one of the pins might have worked loose enough that when you bump it, it
shuts down.


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Certainly sounds like a power chord problem. I had the same problem with my
last computer the day I took delivery of it. Every so often - CRASH. Every
time I inserted a CD into the drive - CRASH. With a CD in the drive, on
power up, no problem. Tested the chord on another computer and a kettle. No
problem. Had me puzzled for days, until I finally changed the chord. No
problems since. It turned out that there was no problem with the chord, it
just didn't like that particular computer.

jim

 

[Ed Cryer]

in message

Quite possible your cord might have a frayed wire in it. When the cord gets
bumped, it shorts and the PC loses power.Buy another cord and see if it
happens again.
Or one of the pins might have worked loose enough that when you bump it, it
shuts down.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Certainly sounds like a power chord problem. I had the same problem with
my last computer the day I took delivery of it. Every so often - CRASH.
Every time I inserted a CD into the drive - CRASH. With a CD in the
drive, on power up, no problem. Tested the chord on another computer and
a kettle. No problem. Had me puzzled for days, until I finally changed
the chord. No problems since. It turned out that there was no problem
with the chord, it just didn't like that particular computer.

jim

I've always liked the old three chord trick, being a guitarist.
G C D7
C F G7
A D E7

Ed

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

I've always liked the old three chord trick, being a guitarist.
G C D7
C F G7
A D E7

Ed

I take it those are power chords. Can they be used to play a volts?