Bad Power Supply.
Weak voltage power rail
The hardware components inside your computer (HP Pavilion a1114n Desktop PC), are cooled by air flow. Heat is radiated away, then air flow helps carry the heat away. (Heatsink/Fan)
The Power Supply is cooled by the same method.
Power Supply's used in today's computers are SMPS.
Switched-Mode Power Supply,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switched-mode_power_supply
Click on the photo of the open Power Supply, to the upper right.
In-between the letters B and C, and C and D; are Heatsinks.
Look like whitish/grayish rectangular blocks, of varying thicknesses, stacked along a singular flat bar.
The block shapes are aluminum fins.
Whatever this Heatsink is placed against, it will absorb the heat from it, and radiate it away with the thin fins.
Air flow from the small internal Fan, helps carry heat away from the thin fins.
Heat = Wasted Energy
The Power Supply overheats, and cannot keep up with the call for power.
Components inside fail; the Power Supply fails.
A THIN coat of dust on the Heatsink fins for the Processor, will drop the cooling capacity a LOT.
If you would like to test the Power Supply, you will be using the test for the three main voltages;
3.3 Volts, 5 Volts, and 12 Volts. All are DC Voltage.
(In comparison two D cell flashlight batteries store 3 Volts DC.
The dangerous voltage is contained within the metal case, of the Power Supply)
You need a multimeter. An economical model is around $5 to $12.
Available in a multitude of stores. An auto parts store is but one example. Large store chains may carry them on a checkout aisle rack.
Or if there is a working unused computer, that has a KNOWN to be good, and Compatible Power Supply, you could borrow it for a temporary test unit.
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=bph06788&tmp_task=solveCategory&cc=us&dlc=en&lang=en&lc=en&product=501964#bph06788_section_2Regards,
joecoolvette
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