No Experience / CPU Temp.

Hi -
Don't have much knowledge; have only installed memory.
Giving some background 1st [s o r r y !] -

Running hp pav with xp home [pre-installed: gike!] only doing graphics, some music, no games. Owned seven months, and for the past 3 or so, at startup, get the BIOS msg. that "hardware monitor found an error; f1 to enter setup - f2 to continue".

Contacted hp & tried a BIOS update; but have had to do a *Destructive Syst. Recov. since...and all ran okay - no prob's until -> *CD-burning prob's then wouldn't stay on after startup - got to the desktop; then off.

My question is this:
Noticed on a brief foray into BIOS that -

-CPU fan speed: 3534 RPM
-Syst. fan speed: 0 RPM
-CPU temp.: 94 deg. C / 201 deg. F

After reading a few posts here, all I know is that something's seriously wrong; but have no clue where to go from here.

Any simple advice for a rather 'simple' user??? ;-)
El

You don't get any message, the computer just shuts off on its own? And you no longer get the "hardware monitor found an error" message?

Well, the first thing to do is take the side off the box and watch when you start it up. Does the cpu fan come on? (its on the motherboard, towards the top.) Carefully clean off any dust. Make sure the heat sink is securely seated on the cpu, and isn't loose. I would try reseating the heatsink, but that may be a bit advanced.

The hardware monitor message could imply that your power supply is dying, if you can, try putting in a different one.

Try booting into safe mode and see if it still shuts down.

If all of this sounds greek, I'd take it to the shop and let them look at it.

Hi -
Dave, thanks for your reply. Um, since I don't know what a heatsink is, you can pretty much gague my levels, here!

Yes, I've still got the 'hardware monitor found an error' msg. in bios when booting-up. As I'd mentioned, it's done that for at least 3 months now with no observable impact on performance...

The Syst. Recovery was due to CD-burning issues and seems to be okay - still trying to get the programs back, tho. (HATE MS at this point...grr.)

Today I checked again - same speed, same temps. were shown.
Now that the Box is nearly servicable, I'll be able to at least take it out of the case and have a look during startup. If it *appears* to be okay - not a lot of dust, fan working, etc. - do I take it in some place, anyway?

Wish me luck,
El

If you still get that error, what happens when you press F1 or F2?
You say "nearly serviceable". I assume that means you would be all set if it just stopped shutting down after 30 seconds?

If everything appears to be working correctly when you look, but the computer still shuts down and shows high temperatures, then yes, I would take it to a PC repair shop.

You could try fixing it on your own w/ help from us here, but since we can't see the computer, and you aren't very familiar with it, that would probably just be frustrating and time consuming. Feel free to get a second opinion here though when the service people tell you the problem and what it will co$t.

Hi -
Sure, "I'll be back". [When the repair estimate's in hand... ]

NO, it's not shutting down constantly, only when I have a job that it doesn't want to do...and I can't get the ____ scanning software to un-install OR install. Grrrrr, squared.

At least I can still design websites on a crippled box.

Appreciate your help,
El

have you sent the box to the shops??

if not, u can do this thing & see whether it helps.

first get a screwdriver. the business end should look like a addition sign "+". now face the box so the cd drive, power button, etc faces you. now open the panel to the left side of you. the screws are in the back. turn the screws anticlockwise to open. then you hafta slide the panel to the back of the box and take it away.

once u manage to get the panel out, peer into the box and look for dust. if there is dust, take a vacuum cleaner and clean it out, carefully. small part WILL NOT get suck in. . now there's a big green or dirty yellow board, occupying the majority of space in the box. its called the motherboard. we'll refer to it as M/b from now on. look for a fan mounted on the M/b. when you turn the pc on, does this fan work??

yes - the solution is a bit difficult for you. take it to a shop.

no - the fan has a power cable (two wires coming out of the fan and ending in a plug kind of thing.)
is it connected to the M/b??

yes - the solution is a bit difficult for you. take it to a shop.

no - try to find a socket for the plug on the M/b. it will be near the place where the fan is physically mounted on the M/b. plug it in. you will see the plug goes in one way, and does not go in the other way.

now does the pc work???
if it soes not work to your satisfaction, take it to a shop.


your problem is basically a ventillation one. as you put on more pressure on the CPU by way of DVD movies, heavy games, and big proccess intensive softwares, the CPU heats up considerably. and it becomes a vicious circle.

be in touch.