Solved Vista shuts down by itself after login

[Lebon14]

Last week-end, I finalized someone's PC. It had a video card problem (fan incorrectly placed on the card... stuck with tape). So I replaced it by my GeForce 7950GT and sold it to him. I'm 100% positive that the card works.

Now, he called me again. He said that his girl played SIMS3 all week-end after I installed the PC. She said that the PC went #1 and all-of-a-sudden, the next Monday, the computer started to shuts itself up after login' in. He says that he can still hear it running though.

I have no idea what would it be. I suspect a video card driver problem but... those are the latest one. here is the config from what I remember :

AMD Athlon X2 2.9GHz
1 GB of DDR2 RAM (800MHz)
GeForce 7950GT
Vista Home Basic

It can't be a malware since it doesn't have Internet and all I did on the machine is install the drivers, updates, some popular softwares and backup the data.

Any ideas?

P.S User doesn't seem able to access F8 boot menu to get in Safe mode...

 

[bruce2]

Hi Lebon, besides the possibility of software problem, it could be your ram. First of all 1GB is insufficient for Vista. Another you can do is remove the GPU to see if the problem persists.
Good luck and post back.
Bruce

 

[Lebon14]

I said "finalized someone's PC" but I explains myself badly... I switched the Defunct GeForce 9400GT to a working GeForce 7950GT, save the data & format the system...

I will post back tomorrow. Keeps the ideas coming.

 

[H2SO4]

... She said that the PC went #1 and all-of-a-sudden, the next Monday, the computer started to shuts itself up after login' in. He says that he can still hear it running though.

More info would be useful. Is this a "graceful" (but unwanted) shutdown of the sort you see when you purposefully click "shutdown", or does the box just power itself off without seemingly going through the usual shutdown sequence?

 

[Lebon14]

... She said that the PC went #1 and all-of-a-sudden, the next Monday, the computer started to shuts itself up after login' in. He says that he can still hear it running though.

More info would be useful. Is this a "graceful" (but unwanted) shutdown of the sort you see when you purposefully click "shutdown", or does the box just power itself off without seemingly going through the usual shutdown sequence?

According to him, it's the second option.

EDIT

The computer shuts down right after he logs in.

 

[H2SO4]

... She said that the PC went #1 and all-of-a-sudden, the next Monday, the computer started to shuts itself up after login' in. He says that he can still hear it running though.

More info would be useful. Is this a "graceful" (but unwanted) shutdown of the sort you see when you purposefully click "shutdown", or does the box just power itself off without seemingly going through the usual shutdown sequence?

According to him, it's the second option.

EDIT

The computer shuts down right after he logs in.

Again, "shuts down" is ambiguous because it implies the OS "shut down" sequence. I know users can be difficult to deal with, but you might want to get him to describe to you exactly what happens, step by step.

The link to the logon suggests a software trigger. Does it happen in safe mode? What if a different account is used for testing purposes? Is there anything in the event logs to coincide with the "power down" symptom?

 

[Lebon14]

The link to the logon suggests a software trigger. Does it happen in safe mode? What if a different account is used for testing purposes? Is there anything in the event logs to coincide with the "power down" symptom?

I wanted to know if it would happen in safe mode.... but he doesn't seem able to access the F8 boot menu...

 

[H2SO4]

The link to the logon suggests a software trigger. Does it happen in safe mode? What if a different account is used for testing purposes? Is there anything in the event logs to coincide with the "power down" symptom?

I wanted to know if it would happen in safe mode.... but he doesn't seem able to access the F8 boot menu...

bcdedit /set safeboot minimal

 

[Lebon14]

If I can't boot... how the hell should I set that... btw, I am NOT in front of the problem PC. Tomorrow I will.

EDIT

I use my own computer atm.

 

[H2SO4]

If I can't boot... how the hell should I set that... btw, I am NOT in front of the problem PC. Tomorrow I will.

Ah, yes, that would be difficult

I don't know why F8 doesn't work for him but I suspect PEBKAC.

Otherwise, if there's another computer around and both have network connectivity, you might be able to use PsExec (sysinternals) to remotely do the BCDEDIT thing, without logging onto the target box, and thus set it to boot into safe mode.

 

[Lebon14]

What is PEBKAC? And, no, this is the only PC. And, even if I bring it him at my home, I won't be able to make a network since I'm directly connected to my cable modem without any routers or switch.

 

[H2SO4]

What is PEBKAC? And, no, this is the only PC. And, even if I bring it him at my home, I won't be able to make a network since I'm directly connected to my cable modem without any routers or switch.

"PEBKAC" = I think the inability to enter safe mode is most likely just him being unable to press F8 at the right time.

If you really can't get the machine to boot into safe mode, and you'd rather not reinstall the OS from scratch, then organising network connectivity becomes a priority. You can run many tests remotely, view the event logs, edit BCD settings - all without logging on at all.

 

[Lebon14]

He is NOT on the Internet... well... he is 56K... which I think is REALLY REALLY not enough for remote stuff...

 

[Lebon14]

Alright. I solved the problem and the problem is something that we didn't expect.
There is ONE thing they forgot to tell me : they heard a big "POK" then the CPU ventirad went crazy then the computer shut down.

I opened the case of the PC and in less than a second, I seen the problem : the CPU fan got off of its socket!!! Wow... the PC couldn't boot because the CPU was overheating. Plugged it back, closed the lid and connect the PC. 100% working.

Case closed.