Dead PS?

[Carlosinfl]

So a co-worker says her PC is infected with worms/virus. She has a Dell demsion desktop PC that is about 1-2 years old. I load up Win XP and it takes about 5 minutes (2.4GHz)

Anytime I tried to run an application like IE the system would just shut down completely w/o any notice. I figure the partition is not really worth saving so I back up files and prepare for fresh XP install.

As I am booting from disk, I get to the generic "blue" install Windows screen and again, the system w/o any notice shuts off. I know now this can't be XP, because it is still an issue w/o even booting into the OS and just from CD.

What I don't understand is that I can load the OS and login to Windows under her user name and as long as I remain in idle or just browse local folders, the system will remain running. Ask for IE or any other app and it turns off?

Is this a faulty PS and if so can I replace this with a normal ATX PS or are Dell PS different?

 

[Carlosinfl]

TH bump.

 

[Ice Czar]

possibly but RAM would higher on my list of suspects
run memtest86+ (freeware)
as to replacing the supply
PC Power and Cooling offers a line of replacement PSUs for the Dells

there are also adapters, the specific model of Dimension enters into it as well
http://www.siliconacoustics.com/atxtodelad.html

ATX to Dell Adapter
Some Dell computers made after September of 1998 use a proprietary PSU specification that is only compatible with an ATX power supply when used with an adapter. Although an ATX power supply may physically fit in a Dell computer, and the electrical connections will mate, damage to the motherboard and/or PSU may result unless an adapter is used.

This adapter is not compatible with the Dell 8100. Some Dell models that utilize a Pentium 4, including the 4300, 4400 and 8200, do not require an adapter.

on the plus side the supply that is in there is able to do the job if its working properly and there havent been upgrades (added draw)

might also want to refer to Corruption 101