Computer shutting down
 

No 2 son has a Gigabyte mobo in his desktop PC. It is shutting itself down at exactly 30 minutes. First step was to replace the PSU - same.

It matters not whether we leave it on the Bios setup or boot into Win7, exactly 30 minutes each time. All temperatures are normal, fans ok. This has me beat!

The internet has several similar cases with other mobos but no solutions. I am not aware of any BIOS or mobo setting that will actually shut down at a fixed time - is there one?

Computer shutting down
 

The thing is that if that occurs while in BIOS, and it occurs at exactly 30 mins then some sort of timer is running. It won't be anything relating to temperature or power since both would be shutting down the system at a not specified and exact set of time. So it must be BIOS or any other rom type software inside a chip or controller.
Is this happening on a new motherboard since you first installed it or it started to happen after a few weeks/months?
Try unplugging everything. Remove the motherboard battery for a few minutes and reset bios. Plug in the the motherboard on the PSU (preferrably another PSU, perhaps an old one which will still have enough power to boot a mobo-ram-cpu) with only the CPU, RAM and a keyboard on Also I don't know what firmware you motherboard came with, but if it wasn't the first version then you might want to give it a try just to make sure it is not a firmware bug which got inherited from one version to another.

Taken from Toms Hardware web site

I had problems with a Gigabyte motherboard and it was the PCI slot causing random shutdowns. Putting the graphics card in a different slot or using inboard graphics stopped the shutdowns. I had to replace motherboard in the end.

In your case, the 30 minutes is odd and some timer event, power saving etc must be the cause. Is there a power save setting on USB peripherals or other external devices.

As mentioned by Prazum, disconnect everything you can, take out graphics card and use inboard etc and see what happens.

Thanks, all. We've also been through Tom's pages with no results. The conclusion that it is a 'timer' is ours too, but we cannot find anything that is
a)Set for 30 minutes
b)Will shut down the pc

The board is around a year old, and the problem started when the machine was moved out for redecoration. We have tried with most bits removed, but RAM yet to try. Firmware has not been changed. Initial suspicion was the mobo but the accurate 30 minutes cycle has cast doubt on that. On-board NIC has 'disappeared' as well and bizarrely the sections of the mobo install DVD which install NIC drivers do not appear in the 'menu' now.

Weird!

I suffered a similar problem some years ago, although I never timed the shutdown intervals. It turned out to be the CPU.

How did you establish that?

Since it seemingly can't see an NIC, have you tried to disable it at BIOS level?


Some old timing circuits used to use heat and could easily be accurate within a minute out of 30, but not to a second out of 30 minuets.


My old HP shut down due to the capacitors adjacent to the CPU. It was a fairly accurate timing, but not exact. However, it might be worth a look at those to see if any are oozing. Usually 5 years old before that happens.

You might also look at core temps and see if one misbehaves, but again, accurate to a second in 30 minutes it wouldn't be.


It sounds like you've asked yourself what should comply with what at 30 mins - and does not.

Despite it seeming independent of OS, I'd still boot with a non-windows OS just to make sure.

Agreed, LR - I will be booting with a Linux Mint DVD when I can get round, although since the '30 minutes' is evident in BIOS setup I don't think it will do much.

That's interesting, BOAC.

I've never heard of anyone decorating their pc before.

Did it need a new colour to blend in with the rest of the space, or was it just feng shui?

I wanted a 'manly' beige but Mrs B insisted...............

Worth seeing if you have this option in your BIOS?

SD

On the list, Saab, but does not explain the timing.

The CPU was changed under warranty.

Is it automatically connected to the internet? Try it without.
I vaguely remember having a computer problem that recurred after exactly 30 minutes and it was something to do with the exchange.

stevef - a bit beyond me - can it be 'connected' with a 'missing' NIC and in te BIOS setup page? Nevertheless when I get a chance to visit I will be running with the Cat5 disconnected anyway.

Shy - I guess the CPU fault was established by a computer technician at a check?

The PC was built for me. It never worked properly and the shop found the fault after it went back to them.

Oops, I didn't read the question properly (shutting down in BIOS after 30 minutes as well as after boot). As you were. :)
I wish I could remember my circumstances after four years but the 'exactly 30 minutes' stuck in my mind.

If you tried removing the mobo battery and bios rest and still fails. Next probably use different PSU. PSU's are being updated and some advanced PSU got controller inside it. What I'm thinking is the automatic response of your PSU to shut it off if it detects overload.

All done earlier, Alex.

Anyone - Is there any diagnosis that will determine whether the problem might be CPU or mobo without replacement?

Google CPU stress test, for a range of options.

SD

Ta - I have downloaded 'HeavyLoad' and will see what it says when I get time.

Have a look at the 'wake on lan' section in the bios. Just thinking that it might have a setting for 'shut down after 30 mins of no network activity' and the fact that the NIC has disappeared is triggering it?

You might also check that the network socket hasn't been damaged in the move, causing the vanishing act.

try to do this in CMD.

c:\>shutdown.exe -a

lol..

will wait for the result of your HeavyLoad

cheers!

bog - a good thought. Waiting for 'an appointmemt' at No2 son's mansion. He is coping at present using a laptop and 30 minute 'Windows' on Windows on the problem desktop.

Not to hijack BOAC's thread, but I have a similar problem with one of my more gastropodic users' Sony VAIO* laptops going to standby after 5 mins of inactivity.
Checked power saving settings, BIOS, even wiped the whole machine with fresh no-OEM-crap OS - no change :{
* procured before the start of my reign

BB - welcome aboard! The more the merrier. 2 Q's
1) Is this EXACTLY 5 minutes
2) Does it occur in the BIOS set up page?

Thanks old bean!
1. Yes, timed it
2. Haven't checked, good point. Although this thing has no BIOS, it is UEFI-based :hmm:

Does the Vaio do this with mains and/or only on battery?

Boogle - I'm well out of date! However, my system has a 'EFI System partition' on the C drive which I understood to signify uefi, but boots into a 'Bios' page (Gigabyte mobo)

BOAC, UEFI is really 'bios mkII' and can be a useable operating system in its' own right. Some have a basic browser and basic programmes built-in. (A media centre etc..). My current pc has it, but I've had a look and can't see any settings that might be tripping Booglebox up.

A previous machine had a much more complex UEFI, but I don't have it here to play with.

Bb mentions that he's checked the 'bios', but it might be worth re-setting via the jumper/cmos battery if not already done.

Understood, but my 'puzzle' is that I appear to have UEFI but boot into 'Bios'???

Some of the Uefi 'flavours' look like the bios that we're used to, but technically they aren't bios. Unified as opposed to basic, and partly backwards compatible, but it's splitting hairs really, I'm happy to call it bios if you are!

What's in a name. I have a 'CMOS type battery - does that alter things?

Uefi/bios, prezactly.

But here we go again! It's not a cmos battery. You have a cell that keeps a chip (which may be cmos) from losing its' memory. Ramnesia. It's also a cell for powering all sorts of things, and may even be used in stacks of more than one to become a battery.

Have you attended to the needs of your Son and his computer yet?

- no, I have an application for a meeting in his busy schedule.....

EDIT to add: His main work is property photography and the processing of the images for his clients. He is 'managing' with 30 minutes of Win7 and his Laptop which has all the stuff he needs, so the pressure is there but not high.

Got an 'appointment' today. With everything out, just mobo, CPU and keyboard, there is no monitor output nor boot up, just cycling on/off of CPU fan. If we plug in lad's Graphics card and connect to that - normal display, boots into Windows7, but still shuts down at 30 mins either in BIOS screen or Win, all temps normal. Still 'missing' the NIC too.

Conclusion is mobo FUBAR. Would the glitterati agree?:)

Which motherboard and what processor?

Some of the recentish AMD socket boards won't run graphics without a specific cpu, and have to have a video card gpu to do that. You'd think that it's a duff board, but it isn't.

As I posted on another thread, I have had that start up/shut down shuffle twice.

Once m/b and once it was power supply.

You could try a cheap power supply and and see if it stays awake with that, which may eliminate one or the other.

If the ethernet connection is broken it sounds as though a new m/b is required anyway.

I suspect a capacitor is breaking down - can you see any bulging of capacitors on the m/b.

Just try with the bare minimum or you may overload it - even linux on a usb stick if you want a temporary operating system to test with.

Not sure whether previous poster is thinking about AMD APU's, the later ones sometimes need bios updates before they will run.

I don't think that is your problem.

Ta both - Mobo is a Gigabyte GA-H87M-HD3, which has, I think, an on-board VGA chip. No sign of capacitor problems and we have tried a new PSU. Currently investigating warranty!

Finncapt,. I was reading between the lines re: BOAC's mentioning the video not working wothout a graphics card. It is gotcha with some recent AMD boards. (I found out the hard way).

BOAC. That motherboard won't accept a dsub/dvi adapter from the onboard chip. You will need a graphics card if you are using a vga monitor. DVI and HDMI will work from the onboard chip. So don't write the board off if that's the case.

Have you checked the network socket for damage (crossed/bent contactor springs)? I still think that it may be causing the shut downs, and wonder whether your offspring used it or a wireless connection?