Computer Question

[WyldCherry]

My sister has a Dell Dimension E510 and it is has been acting really weird. you can power it on and if you sit down in the chair it will shut itself off.if you stand up or place a cup on the computer desk it shuts itself off.the slightest bump it shuts down.I am thinking power supply is going.nephew check for loose connections and tried different outlets.still same thing..I know it has a 305 watt PSU in it now.Question is how much can one upgrade to without blowing something and who makes the best PSU's...Thanks

[asgard]

It may be the reset switch or loose connection.

[WyldCherry]

checked all connections ,nothing loose...just started this a few days ago.never been moved or anything.But what are you meaning about reset switch?

[asgard]

checked all connections ,nothing loose...just started this a few days ago.never been moved or anything.But what are you meaning about reset switch?

I just built a 3gig with 500gig drive and the case I used has 2 switches 1 power and 1 reset. But some factory units have it built into 1 power switch like a compaq I think if I press the switch it will restart and if I hold it pushed it will shut down. Now there is a slight chance it may have downloaded a virus try starting in safe mode with no xtra's and see if it stays on. If it goes off then the power supply could be going or motherboard also check the cooling fan on the cpu if it overheats it will turn off by auto somewhere in bios you can check the temp of cpu try this first. If you have a xtra power supply try that too.Let us know the results.my lap top was crashing its old and outdated for todays needs and I had 3/4 of the stuff to build a new one so I whiped it togeather run like a charm vista and fast. Ps I read you have upgrades try removing all non hardware just run the mother board just the way it came out of the box.

[WyldCherry]

Ok thanks, Yeah I know it has viruses.I gave her a few programs that found over 95 different things. and I know some are that Xp Antivirus rogue program.sh ei sin the process of wiping it all out and reinstalling windows.but Her Dell will not detect my Xp Cd's no matter what she tries.Since her computer never came with any cd's but the OS already installed i am in the process of downloading a Dell XP OEM. I have a PSU but its out of a Gateway and only like 163 watts or something like that.not sure if its compatible

[asgard]

Ok thanks, Yeah I know it has viruses.I gave her a few programs that found over 95 different things. and I know some are that Xp Antivirus rogue program.sh ei sin the process of wiping it all out and reinstalling windows.but Her Dell will not detect my Xp Cd's no matter what she tries.Since her computer never came with any cd's but the OS already installed i am in the process of downloading a Dell XP OEM. I have a PSU but its out of a Gateway and only like 163 watts or something like that.not sure if its compatible

XP has no suport any more but the dell had to come with a startup disk that is all you need put disk in drive and restart.all software is on the hard drive.
Also try restore from the menu.

[WyldCherry]

I know.but she loaned those out and the person she loaned them to can't find them

[asgard]

I know.but she loaned those out and the person she loaned them to can't find them

Well you have a problem 2 way's to go call dell and get a new disk. Or reformat the harddrive and load a os. I would unplug the drive that came with dell and Install a spare drive and call dell for a new disk.

[WyldCherry]

thats what she is doing or in the process of doing now.I am waiting to see if that takes care of the power problem.if it still does it then going to try a new PSU..But wanted to find out how high of a PSU I should go safely without blowing the MOBO...

[asgard]

thats what she is doing or in the process of doing now.I am waiting to see if that takes care of the power problem.if it still does it then going to try a new PSU..But wanted to find out how high of a PSU I should go safely without blowing the MOBO...

What are the xtra's she is running.

[WyldCherry]

talking about programs? Bitcomet..desktop weather alert..Avast Anti virus...and couple of other things.Plus her son plays a lot of online games.

[asgard]

talking about programs? Bitcomet..desktop weather alert..Avast Anti virus...and couple of other things.Plus her son plays a lot of online games.


no talking about any added hardware installed inside or out.

[WyldCherry]

no other hardware except printer/fax

[Crazy1_79]

you can go as big as you like for powersupply, the 305 watts is the comsumption required or used by the powersupply. No matter how much it uses it will always output 3.3,5 and 12 volts to the required periphials at a designated amperage. this amperage is the power going to the periphrials and it is usually fairly standard with ATX or AT form types. Now a 1000 Watt power supply is simply going to have more connections for more periphrials where as it needs the extra wattage if these extra connections are being used.

[WyldCherry]

Ok Thanks guys.gonna have to look up and get her one.just incase

[Birdie]

I'd pull the cover and check out the fans, They may be plugged up with dust. Make sure the ram chips are not dusty and seated firmly in the sockets. Look at the capacitors on the motherboard, Some may have the tops of them popped up. Aside from supply any of the can cause these problems too. Lookup you Dell model to see if the main cooling fan was installed correctly, They had some that were put in backwards causing heat problems.