Peculiar problem with my dear PC, just happend today

[calmius]

Today I brought a pc from another apartment back home. I decided to turn it on the kitchen. I connected everything correctly as usual. I plugged it into the wall jack (grounded). Things started to go wrong when I connected very powerful speakers to the same outlet where pc was connected. At the moment when I connected the speakers, theh PC shut down. I pressed the button and nothing. I thought a contact disconnected inside the outlet. I reconnected it again and PC Started (same jack). Not everythying was right after that. After windows had started the screen went black and the monitor went to standby mode. The pc continued to act as if it was on, the fans all working. I restarted it via the power reset button. This time nothing past XP logo loaded. Monitor simply turned off. Same happened on BOTH operationg systems on this pc for 2 times in a row. I decided to connect it to outlet in another room, with surge protector.
This time windows started but after one minute monitor went off again. I opened to case to see if all the fans were working. I thought maybe something is overheating and turns it off as precaution. All fans function as they should. THen I restarted pc again and there were not blank screens. Everything worked fine.

Please please please help me! I am so worried about her. SHe is my child. I don't want her to get sick. My pc is my life!!!

[Nuclear Krusader]

It happened to me something similar when connecting my PC and a laser printer to the same outlet. The monitor flickered. Problem went away when I unplugged the printer. I suspect it has something to do with the gauge of the electrical cables.

Today's home appliances and PCs need too much juice as compared with yesterday's gadgets. Once I turned on the microwave oven when the refrigerator was recharging and it blew half of the electrical installation of my house.

[calmius]

But what happened? Please help me guys!

[Cricket]

Hi calmius,

Have you tried that monitor with another PC in another room?

What about trying another monitor with that PC (in another room)?

I'm guessing something got shorted or the power flux zapped something in the power supply of the PC and the monitor.

Have you inspected the motherboard and other components carefully for any scorch marks?

Did you smell anything burning or hear anything when this all happened?

Cricket

[calmius]

Thanks for help Cricket.
I tried running this pc in another room with Surge Protector (OH WHY DIDN"T I DO IT IN THE FIRST PLACE?) and on another monitor. The same thing continues to happen.
When I turned the pc on this morning it turned on. I was able to operate windows for a while, but then the monitor turns off again. It really does appear as if monitor just turns off cause it's in stand by mode.
I restarted it via power button, and same thing happens. ON the third restart nothing appears past the XP LOADING logo.
This is causing sucha nervous breakdown for me. But, I am glad I have my old computer to back me up.
Am I right to assume that if the windows turns on that means the processor is working? and that the video card is working? how to single out certain parts?

Please tell me how can I figure out what could be wrong? which part in this pc is malfunctioning?

[Force Flow]

Yes, I would assume the processor and video card are alright (for the most part, anyway), since you got a POST (for the CPU) and you can see a display on the monitor.

You could try booting up in safe mode, then restart the computer normally once it completely boots up. I think if you press F8 or the two Ctrl keys, you'll be able to start up in safe mode.

If you have a sound card (a PCI card, not an integrated one), you might want to try removing it. Then try booting up.

[calmius]

I will try removing the sound card. But why do you think it could have something to do with it? How would I know whether it's something wrong with Motherboard or Powersupply?

[Cricket]

Hi calmius,

Have you tried another video card in that computer?

Have you tried another power supply?

Is the computer shutting down or is the monitor just going into sleep mode?

Have you checked your power management settings?

Cricket

[andyms18a]

its pos that when you moved the computer somthing in side became loose open the case and check every things fully pushed in to the slots and all cabbles are tight

[calmius]

It's just the monitor going to sleep mode. And it happens during whatever I am doing. The pc is NOT idle when it happens so I guess it's NOT the powersaving settings.

Also I have 2 Operating systems like I said, and this happens to both.

[Cricket]

Originally posted by calmius Also I have 2 Operating systems like I said, and this happens to both.

If it's happening in both OS's it's more than likely hardware related...video card, motherboard or power supply.

I remember reading about a weird problem someone was having a few years back and they eventually narrowed it down to the motherboard (can't remember what the problem was or which motherboard). The thing was, the motherboard was the least likely candidate as the problem device...so you never know.

I just had a Matrox G200 video card die on me a few months ago after 4 years of use...it just stopped working one day.

Cricket

[calmius]

Ok, so when I start it in SAFE mode, the monitor does NOT turn off. WHat does it mean? what to do next?

[Cricket]

Originally posted by calmius Ok, so when I start it in SAFE mode, the monitor does NOT turn off. WHat does it mean? what to do next?

The monitor works while in Safe Mode? That means you may have a video driver issue...or maybe something to do with DirectX. Try removing the video adaptor (video card) from Device Manager, reboot and see what happens.

Cricket

[calmius]

What do you mean removing from device manager? Could you please explain? Delete the profile of the video card?

If this is something wrong with video or direct x, how come it happened to both OS?