long question about broken computer 

My old Windows ME computer turned off yesterday when I used it again after a bit of time. It had been on for at least an hour. Now, whenever I turn it on, it'll take less than a minute to turn back off. It feels like a temperature problem b/c it happens later if the comp was off for a while.
Changed the thermal paste, caps are relatively new and look fine,can't get to the BIOS b/c the battery is empty and I only have an USB keyboard. Anyone have any idea?

long question about broken computer 

@noiob do you hear any startup beeps? Most likely its the psu - try replacing that with a new one first

long question about broken computer 

@Fuego I don't hear anything, sadly, and I tried a different PSU. Forgot to mention that

long question about broken computer 

@noiob good psu + no beeps = bad cpu or bad mobo.

However I see some old mobos wont boot with a dead cmos battery? So I'd try that cheap solution first! Any drug store will have one

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long question about broken computer 

@Fuego yeah, I'm gonna try that. It boots, though, but will at some point die, usually while scandisk runs or later

long question about broken computer 

@noiob wtf... hmmn ME is the 98 kernel... Does it bluescreen or just instantly shut off?

long question about broken computer 

@Fuego the screen turns off, USB devices lose power and also my second DVD drive

long question about broken computer 

@noiob the second dvd drive loses power? It should be hooked directly to the PSU though...

long question about broken computer 

@Fuego maybe it just doesn't wanna work if it doesn't get signal? Idk, it definitely is connected to the PSU

long question about broken computer 

@noiob that's really strange. Past this you'll need a multimeter and like a desk power supply :/

long question about broken computer 

@Fuego I guess that's the point at which I consider giving up on it…

long question about broken computer 

@noiob you can always pull the harddrive and copy it and make a virtual machine to boot it forever!

long question about broken computer 

@Fuego Yeah, I really should back up that hard drive, actually. There's six years of blurry photos on there :D

long question about broken computer 

@Fuego It lives! I didn't do anything, but the CPU cooler gets warm now. Seems like the graphics card is a bit busted, though

long question about broken computer 

@noiobI figured it wasnt heat because you said you replaced the heat sink etc - busted how?

long question about broken computer 

@noiob anyway \o/

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