Mystery of the system shutdown.

[Plague]

Ok, so there I am, idly running around the net when suddenly the computer goes down, the monitor goes into standby mode, the mouse/keyboard/gamepad shut down and the cdrom lights up but isn't spinning. To get out of this, I have to power down the system manualy.

After this, it won't start at all unless I reset my surge protector. However.. it's the only thing pluged into the surge protector that won't start before resetting. The monitor, speakers, etc are still working.

This has happened 3 times, all of which I was online.

All the relevant info:
Win2k
Athalon 1ghz thunderbird
512 megs of ram
80gig HD
250 watt power supply
conexant V90 software modem
Gforce 3 ti500
SB Live Xgamer.
belkin surge master 2 surge protector

 

[Nodsu]

The CD-ROM light would suggest a problem there.

Try running your computer with the CDROM disconnected and see if problems still occur.

Also, installing/reinstalling the latest chipset drivers might help.

 

[Rick]

How about a problem with ACPI or your power supply?

Just some ideas.

 

[Karen_80]

Could a dead/dying cmos battery cause that? Had the same problem at a friend's place - the cmos battery was dead (the system only 3 years old, go figure!), the power supply just about cooked and the cpu fan wasn't running. Replaced them and no more shutdowns.

 

[Masque]

I'd lean toward the power supply going out. Seems a bit under-powered for the system.

 

[oulooool]

Originally posted by Masque
I'd lean toward the power supply going out. Seems a bit under-powered for the system.

I would suggest the same thing. I never actually encountered a cmos battery problem before so I have no idea on that one. Yea it does sound like a power supply issue to me at least.