i have brought my computer to 2 places and not 1 has found the problem.the last 1 charged me 90 dollors ffor a memory chip and service but he did not check the power supply. my computer runs and then it shuts off on and off what is the problem you think please help me

Please provide more details.

What is the make and model of the computer? Did it work OK prior to this?

How did this problem start? By memory chip do you mean that RAM was added?

Do not these shops guarantee their work?

Next: what exactly is happening? You turn on the computer? Does the BIOS POST? Does Windows load? When does it fail? Always the same or is it erratic?

Is there a reason that you suspect the Power Supply?

What is the Operating System? XP?

my computer is turning off and on and off and on.i had it at 3 computer places only when it gets there it works. the last computer place said its ok all it nededed wa s a cleaning and add memory to it cause it was real slow.then it worked i brought it home it worked and then it shut off and now its working what can it be i think it is a power supply but the man said no now he says it could be he cost me 90 bucks and i cant trusst this computer any help please

XP Home.

Originally Posted by roxann

it started to shut off when i had it at my server tnni.net and then they said they cant do anything about it because they just updated it.then i took it to another computer place she said it is working great nothing wrong. then i took it to another place and he said it was dirty so he cleaned it out and put memory in .because i nened it bad .it only had i28 of memory.he said it mwas working great.i took it home last night it worked good today good then bang it shut off completly.i asked him to check the power supply but he didnt he said it wwsasent it now he said it might be over the phone.90 dollors he charged me.i have a warning saying 1 tab left and then it shut off.i dont no if its the power supply i dont no whty it is working now and then it goes completly dead.can you help me with thid problem please i am also on yahoo my name there is gaillady123 messinger you can add me

What exactly do you mean by: "i have a warning saying 1 tab left and then it shut off"?

Can you please post the verbatim error message?

You definitly needed more RAM. 256MB is a minimum for XP to run well.

What is the make and model of the computer?


Please reply to this thread. Thanks.

Just a thought here;

"i had it at 3 computer places only when it gets there it works."

Do you take your power cord with the system to these shops?

Do these shops use one of their power cords?

When you get it home, do you always plug it into the same place/electrical outlet? You may have a loose wire on the outlet, an improperly wired outlet, or a worn outlet. Is the outlet properly grounded (third prong)?

you said a loose cord which 1?were you plug it in ?its working now.has been for 12 hrs so i dont no what happened.it might be ok and it might not work again.power supply if it ws bad wouldnt it stop working all togethr? email me please

i computer shop did i think use it but im not sure

I said loose wire. I meant the actual 120 VAC electrical wires in the house going to the screws on the sides of the wall outlet. Ensure the breaker is OFF (or the fuse is removed, depending on how old your house is) before you start touching things in the electrical box the outlet is housed in.

"power supply if it ws bad wouldnt it stop working all togethr?"

Generally yes.

From all problem descriptions it sounds like a cord or electrical outlet problem. If the power cord is not tight in the wall outlet or the power supply you can get intermittent problems.

I gather it's still working as you haven't posted back with the info jephree asked you for.