i will be working on my friends COMPUTER and all of a sudden it cuts out... not off just out. the fans and the light on the motherboard will still be on but i cant do anything or see anything. the only way to RESTART it is to unplugg it from the wall and plug it back in. its a HP Pavilion 750n, anything i can do about this.Usual info needed - What model? How old? What happened prior to this?, etc., etc

I'm all guessed out for the day. well the hard drive failed (it was a cheap one) and we had to replace it. i used a western digital hd and it works fine, i put windows 2000 pro on it, and i was in the process of doing the drivers when it cut out and i got CONFUSED. well in the BIOS the hardware monitor showed the current temp of the processor and it went from 124-195*F and when i tried to start windows it cut out again. if i let it cool it will start windows but if i try to do anything it cuts out again. if you need anything else tell me...That is too hot for a processor. If it is an AMD high temp can kill them, if an Intel they usually shut down.

Time for some THERMAL paste, a new CPU fan, and finger crossing.