Is my PSU dying? Or is it Windows?

[Jeff Robinson]

I've had a PC I built for about 4 years now. It had Windows 7 installed since day 1. I later put in a 2nd hard drive and tried out the Windows 8.1 beta that Microsoft was giving out. After a few months of using it, I started to notice the computer would shut off randomly. Not shut down. Just turn off instantly. So I thought it was Win8 doing it so I went back to 7. And it still did it. It got to the point where it would shut off during boot too. So I thought it was a corrupted OS or something so I tried to reinstall Win 7. But it also dies while booting from CD. So I thought it was the hard drives. But it still crashes with out them plugged in.

However, in some strange way, the computer runs fine with Linux Mint. I put in another hard drive with Mint installed and it runs fine. I'm even posting this from Linux.

The reason I think it's the PSU is that it has a high pitched hiss while it's on and it stays warm while the computer is off (even after sitting for a week). But why would it work with Linux?

 

[coolguybaddude]

Might be graphics requirement for windows that might be drying out the life of your psu.
Be sure to read the 5) post of this & what it says about a 6 year old pc:
http://techluminati.com/operating-systems/linux-vs-windows/

You should ask further & wait before choosing a solution.

Also try another copy of Windows 7 & also did you installed linux on the same pc or it had already linux installed in it.

If the latter is the case so try same with "windows installation on another pc & using the hdd on the faulty one."
If problem persists buy a new psu before any serious problem.

 

[epiczombiekill]

I would be willing to bet that linux works because it does not use as much resources and thus uses less power. so it is more than likely the PSU getting ready to die, so if i was you i would order a new psu off of somewhere like newegg and dont use your computer until you get a new psu installed because you do not want your current one in your computer when it finally craps out on you.

 

[Jeff Robinson]

I would be willing to bet that linux works because it does not use as much resources and thus uses less power. so it is more than likely the PSU getting ready to die, so if i was you i would order a new psu off of somewhere like newegg and dont use your computer until you get a new psu installed because you do not want your current one in your computer when it finally craps out on you.

Well I tried a stress test in Linux. I downloaded Flightgear (a flight sim game) and ran it in 3D mode. And it didn't crash.

 

[Jeff Robinson]

Might be graphics requirement for windows that might be drying out the life of your psu.
Be sure to read the 5) post of this & what it says about a 6 year old pc:
http://techluminati.com/operating-systems/linux-vs-windows/

You should ask further & wait before choosing a solution.

Also try another copy of Windows 7 & also did you installed linux on the same pc or it had already linux installed in it.

If the latter is the case so try same with "windows installation on another pc & using the hdd on the faulty one."

I installed Linux on this PC. Also like I told the other guy, I stressed tested Linux with a flight sim game running in 3D mode and the computer didn't die. So I don't understand it.

 

[coolguybaddude]

Might be graphics requirement for windows that might be drying out the life of your psu.
Be sure to read the 5) post of this & what it says about a 6 year old pc:
http://techluminati.com/operating-systems/linux-vs-windows/

You should ask further & wait before choosing a solution.

Also try another copy of Windows 7 & also did you installed linux on the same pc or it had already linux installed in it.

If the latter is the case so try same with "windows installation on another pc & using the hdd on the faulty one."

I installed Linux on this PC. Also like I told the other guy, I stressed tested Linux with a flight sim game running in 3D mode and the computer didn't die. So I don't understand it.

Well try giving a shot to another windows setup. Though i dont see it as a good solution but still worth a try
on the hdd on which you installed linux "the another hard drive".

 

[Jeff Robinson]

Might be graphics requirement for windows that might be drying out the life of your psu.
Be sure to read the 5) post of this & what it says about a 6 year old pc:
http://techluminati.com/operating-systems/linux-vs-windows/

You should ask further & wait before choosing a solution.

Also try another copy of Windows 7 & also did you installed linux on the same pc or it had already linux installed in it.

If the latter is the case so try same with "windows installation on another pc & using the hdd on the faulty one."

I installed Linux on this PC. Also like I told the other guy, I stressed tested Linux with a flight sim game running in 3D mode and the computer didn't die. So I don't understand it.

Well try giving a shot to another windows setup. Though i dont see it as a good solution but still worth a try
on the hdd on which you installed linux "the another hard drive".

The computer crashes during the set up. I already tried that. It doesn't actually shut off though. It goes into a weird cycle of of noises like its losing power but comes back.

 

[coolguybaddude]

Is it Any Hard Disk & Any copy of Windows OS & still same problem but another OS & problem solved irrespective of Hard Disk. What to make of it "PSU". I dont think so. Try another PSU finally if you want to be dead sure though.

 

[Jeff Robinson]

Is it Any Hard Disk & Any copy of Windows OS & still same problem but another OS & problem solved irrespective of Hard Disk. What to make of it "PSU". I dont think so. Try another PSU finally if you want to be dead sure though.

I have 4 hard drives I cycle through with this computer. 3 of which contain a form of windows. I just tried booting into XP, which can't be too hard if it loads a modern Linux. But it died. So I don't know why it never works with Windows of any kind.

 

[coolguybaddude]

Try one of the hdd on another system if you can & also another psu if you can.
This might clarify the problematic component.
Also you said it also crashed without hdd plugged in but with hdd plugged in it only in case of linux it did worked. So i dont think of psu or hdd though i still recommend to give a try to what i said above.
Now other components might come in way so remove RAM & give it a start.
More questions are welcome until you find a post worthy of solution.