Sudden power down

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Sudden power down

by Karla
(Arlington Heights, IL)

My sales manager's computer has about 3-4 seconds of power when I first turn it on, then completely shuts down. There was a minor power spike a couple days ago (yes, he has a surge protector). Is it the main power supply that is bad?

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Sudden power down

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Jun 24, 2009
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Power Supply
by: Support

Hello Karla,

There is a possiblity that the power supply was damaged with the power spike.

I take it that the computer is a desktop not a laptop?

Try this for the desktop -

Disconnect the power cord from the computer or surge protector, also unplug the surge protector. Check the surge protector's circut breaker, if you can reset it (some have a red push button that will pop the circut breaker then you can reset it). For the computer press the power on button, it will not start but that will disapate any residule power in the computer.

Plug the surge protector back in and then the computer power cord.

Power up, did it shut down right away or stay powered up?

If it stays powered up, then you are done.

If it shut down and the Ciruit Breaker reset didn't work try the power cord in the AC socket, did the computer power up and stay up?

If it did then the surge protector did it's job and needs to be replaced.

If not then the power supply took a hit from the surge and needs to be replaced. I would hazard that the power supply was the only thing that was damaged because the computer will power up then shut's down.

If it is a laptop the same procedure will apply with the exception of removing the laptop battery while you are testing the power.

If it is a laptop and it will not stay powered up with the battery removed then I would hazard that the laptop adapter took the surge not the power supply in the laptop.

Hope this helps...

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