I am running Windows 98, Intel P4 processor. My computer started just shutting itself off. At first I thought it was an over-heated processor, so I opened up the case and vacuumed it out, and, yes, there was a lot of dust plugging the power supply fan, but not the processor fan, and both fans were working. But it kept shutting itself down, even after the fluff was cleared away. I took it into a shop, and they recommended replacing the power supply, since it was not the recommended size for the processor. Did that, but it still shut itself down.
Sometimes it would do it as soon as it booted up completely, other times it would wait 15 to 45 minutes before it shut itself off. But I discovered it does not shut off if I boot it into “safe mode.” Aha! must be a software problem.
But I could not find it, even using the feature to verify each driver before it loaded. So, I took it back to the shop, and because of finances, asked them simply to back up my data, outlook, favorites, etc., then wipe the hard drive and reinstall Windows 98 (I really can’t afford, even at their prices, a new operating system right now). So they are doing that now.
I am writing here to see if anyone has any other ideas about what might be causing this problem. I am afraid that I am going to get it back, and the same thing will happen. Could the processor itself be damaged? Any thoughts will, as always be appreciated.
Tia
