HP PC shuts itself down after about 5 minutes

[popegregory]

No warning, it just shuts down. The blue power light stays on but the screen goes blank and informs me that there is no input signal detected.

If I start it up in safe mode and then restart, it seems to be ok.

Any ideas?

[Burrito]

Possibly overheating. Make sure the fans are all running.

[Turn7]

plus one - might need a good hoover out or even the thermal paste between the heatsink and processor renewing.

[Funk]

Agreed on heat being probable cause, or power supply is on the way out.

[popegregory]

Silly question but do I just give it a Hoover and make sure it's not clogged up with dust?

[Turn7]

popegregory said:

Silly question but do I just give it a Hoover and make sure it's not clogged up with dust?

Yep, you'll be surprised how much crap gets in the case. Hoove rit right through using the extension and make sure all the fans and case exits are clear.

[anonymous-user]

Best thing to do is get it on the desk, remove the side panel so you can see the fans, power on and check all are going round. Best not to stick your finger in the fan you could lose a finger nail, if all the fans are working then it is probably dust just clogging things up and a good hoover out should sort it out.

If one of fans isn't working the check that the wire from it is connected to the motherboard, if it is then the fan has probably died and needs replacing.

[popegregory]

Thanks all, I'll give that a go in the morning.

[mikef]

popegregory said:

Silly question but do I just give it a Hoover and make sure it's not clogged up with dust?

Hoovers generate a fair amount of static, which may not be a good idea with circuit boards - unless you invest in a specialist antistatic jobbie: http://mrpcclean.co.uk/product/datavac-esd-safe-ma...

I'd pick up a can of compressed air instead

[Spare tyre]

A few years ago I had a overheating machine

A desk fan pointing at the innards made it work as desired

I did this whilst I waited for a replacement bit to arrive

[Denis O]

popegregory said:

Silly question but do I just give it a Hoover and make sure it's not clogged up with dust?

Had the same problem with mine. Took sides off and Dyson did the rest.

I couldn't believe how much crap was inside. You could have grown potatoes in there.

Works perfectly now.

[Motorrad]

mikef said:

Hoovers generate a fair amount of static, which may not be a good idea with circuit boards - unless you invest in a specialist antistatic jobbie: http://mrpcclean.co.uk/product/datavac-esd-safe-ma...

I'd pick up a can of compressed air instead

When I was a server tech I used to have one of those anti-static vacuum cleaners and used it religiously.

Now I don't own one and use a standard cleaner on my personal machines all the time and am yet to have any static problems. At 280 quid for the specialist item you could blow up a low end cpu/motherboard/ram and still be up on the deal.