Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!clyde.concordia.ca!uunet!mcsun!ukc!stl!fig07.stl.stc.co.uk!dpw
From: philip@hazel.stl.stc.co.uk (Philip Hobson)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: PC Power Down Problems, Help!
Keywords: HELP PC
Message-ID: <2608@stl.stc.co.uk>
Date: 19 Jan 90 15:49:42 GMT
Sender: news@stl.stc.co.uk
Reply-To: philip@hazel.stl.stc.co.uk
Organization: STC Technology Ltd.,
 I have been having some intermittent problems with my home PC computer.
 I was wondering if any body else has had the same problems or may know
 what it is.
Lines: 50


 I have an Amstrad 2086 single floppy drive machine with a 12" HRCD.
 Connected to it I have a 5.25 external disk drive and a 32 Megabyte hardcard.

 What has happened is that the base unit has powered itself off 3 times now.
 The first time was after about 1 hours use when no disk accesses were taking
 place. The second time was just after the C> prompt had appeared after
 switching on the computer. These incidents were over a month apart.
 Other symptoms include a slight dimming in contrast on the screen every
 now and again and a variation in fan noise, which again is intermittent.

 After the second power down I became concerned and had an engineer come and
 replace the computers power supply unit. However after leaving just the base
 unit on overnight with only a C> showing on the monitor
 (before switching the monitor off) I woke up to find the base unit
 powered down. (Powered down meaning the base unit it in effect off although
 the power switch is on - the fan is stopped and the power light is off).

 Another test was leaving both the monitor and unit on with a program running.
 This was successful for 12 hours when I decided I would switch the computer
 off. The screen dimming is still occurring intermittently and the last power
 off described above was after the power supply unit had been replaced.

 Does any body have any idea what it could be?

- The monitor drawing to much power? (Why so intermittently?)

- Dodgy power supply unit? (HAd it changed)

- Dodgy motherboard? (Every thing works?)

- Mains supply dodgy (lights and TV don't cut out when computert did)

- Hard card drawing to much power? ( No access or use of hardcard made on
over night test)

 - Power supply wattage to low? ( They are meant to handle these things?
 Any way someone else I know has a similar setup and has had no problems)

Apart from these intermittent faults everything works fine.


Last time the screen had a bout of dimming I think I saw the power
light on the base unit flicker ever so littlely?

Any help or suggestions a.s.a.p would be most appreciated

Please e-mail me personally.

Thankyou Phil Hobson