Computer abruptly stalls (not particular to Windows)

[cwinay]

Hey guys,
I couldn't find a dedicated hardware section here so I picked this section to ask my question assuming that system administrators of all kind hit this forum. Guide me to an appropriate section if possible.

My computer abruptly stalls. I've dual boot with Windows XP Professional and Ubuntu 9.x

XP has become slow to load, login and responds to clicks/keyboard events. After sometime it just stops responding but there is always some output on the screen. (No blue screen) Can hear the CPU fan running.

No such problems with Ubuntu but after sometime it just stalls as if power is cut suddenly. No output on the screen. No CPU fan running.

After that if I try to restart it, either it just won't start or if it does then none of the OS loads successfully... it stalls again while loading any OS.
I need to give it some resting time but no guaranteed start after that too.
Since yesterday it has gone on "indefinite strike" and just refuses to start.

I've tried removing some devices which I thought were faulty (network card and CD writer) but no luck.

I've also updated BIOS through XP.

Please help.
Thanks in advance.

[RedSon]

Sounds like you may have a weak power supply. I would expect XP to just stop working for no reason every so often, but if Ubuntu also does then it's likely a hardware issue. Also the fact that the computer doesnt start up after you try to restart it makes me think its a power supply.

They are pretty cheap, you could get one for less than $40.

[cwinay]

Thank you.
I've changed the power supply and it seems to work.
Although one question still lingers on my mind. How is it that different OS react in different manner to a weak power supply??

XP has become slow to load, login and responds to clicks/keyboard events. After sometime it just stops responding but there is always some output on the screen. (No blue screen) Can hear the CPU fan running.

No such problems with Ubuntu but after sometime it just stalls as if power is cut suddenly. No output on the screen. No CPU fan running.

Why is this??

I also tend to think that it could be because of heating... not sure.
But my CPU fan runs whenever my box is on (winters & summers). It never stops ...probably because of the fact that I live on the hotter side of the planet.

Thanks again for solving my basic problem.

[MusoFreak200]

i agree i believe it is a hardware problem...

you may need new fans installed to cool your cpu and it is also possible that you have a weak power supply that has a damaged circut or someone has been twisting the powercable...