Alert! Previous Shutdown Due To Thermal Event, Any Ideas On How To Fix It ?!?

Question

im a pretty smart kid when it comes to computers but im stuck with this one major problem. everytime my computer boots up it freezes on the windows xp loading screen and cuts off. since it said it shut down to a thermal problem i changed the fan with the same exact model , i cleaned my entire computer with a can of compressed air , a reaplied some thermal paste since i hadnt done soo since i got the computer , and i opened up the power supply and cleaned that out also. However whenever i boot into my bios and let my computer sit for a while, ill exit bios and it will boot up normally but in about 1 minute it cuts off again. I have no other clue what to do and i dont wanna waste money by taking it to a computer shop when i can find the answer and hopefully fix it myself. I have a Dell Optiplex GX280 with windows xp , thx alot in advance !

Answer 1

Check the tops of the capacitors on the main board (look like tiny coke cans) sorry if thats too remedial. If the tops of them are not totally flat then they may be swollen and bad.

If has a little brown power looking stuff at the top or base it's time to find a replacement system board.

A while back a dude in twain stole the info from a company he worked for on how to make the capacitors and he went into business on his own. Part of the stolen info was missing and he made and sold millions of the defective components to EVERY computer manufacture.

When the unit gets too hot for extended periods they blow.

Many PC manufactures owned up and replaced the boards without a charge. Others declined a problem and billed.

I won't mention names.

Answer 2

a thermal event means the chip was heating up and it shut down (hopefully) before any critical, permanant damage occured.. a handy feature I say. #1, turn on the compute rand listen... do you hear fans? there should be 2 fans going, one fan on the inside wall of the case, and one fan on the chip, located on the left side of the case (the biggest panel). I mean, look at your computer fromt he front, put your right ear on the left side panel, and listen... do you hear a fan going that's NOT the fan in the back of the computer? If not, then the fan isn't getting power. Get it repaired asap #2 too much heat in the room #3 not enough ciruclation around the computer #4 was the comptuer dropped recently? the heatsink may be loose, if you're not an expert, then better leave it to a ttechnician to repair for you, don't want to fry any parts do we? haha... #5 clear out the dust from the rear fan, with a can of air or a cotton swab and alcohol or water.

Answer 3

Take the heat sink that sits on top of the processor and clean it thoroughly. Suggestion #2, add another fan to your case. Are you overclocking your processor? If so, you may need a liquid cooling system. When you applied the thermal paste, did you put alot? You should only put the amount of a grain of rice and smear it evenly on your processor. Too much will cause hot spots or overheating.