Problem: PC Shuts Down

[scoobyonline200]

Ok so I dont know much about computers, but I know that there are a bunch on here that do. So here's one question for you guys. For about 2 days now, my computer has been shutting down without warning. And usually when I'm doing something with video or something related. Any one know why it shuts down?? I'd be in the middle of something and BAM it shuts off! any info??? please help!

 

[DQuaN]

Does it go through the shutdown process or does it just switch off like someone pulled the cord out?

 

[Famine]

Ok so I dont know much about computers, but I know that there are a bunch on here that do. So here's one question for you guys. For about 2 days now, my computer has been shutting down without warning. And usually when I'm doing something with video or something related. Any one know why it shuts down?? I'd be in the middle of something and BAM it shuts off! any info??? please help!

Overheating. Open the case and suck all the dust out. Download MBM5 to check the temperature of your processor and warn you when it reaches critical levels.

 

[KieranMurphy]

When it happens, boot right back up and go into your motherboard BIOS. Chances are that there's something in there that allows you to check the CPU temperature. If it crashed due to overheating, the temperature should be still quite high if you check it straight after in the BIOS.

The last time I had a similar problem (kept cutting out while gaming) it was because the heatsink got clogged up with gunk and as a result the fan couldn't get air to it properly.

A quick blast with some compressed air and the problem was sorted.


KM.

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

It also could be that your power supply is ready to die.

 

[KieranMurphy]

My money's still on a CPU overheating issue...


KM.

 

[scoobyonline200]

well there's alot of good tips here, I'm going to try them all out. And I think it may be to overheating because it usually shuts off (as if cord is pulled out) when I'm multitasking. Watching a video and surfing the net or watching a video on the net while downloading something....But I'm going to try it out.

 

[amp88]

I'm going with faulty RAM. Test it.

 

[Law93]

to me it sounds like you're doing to much on your computer at once and it can't handle it. so pretty much over heating might be it or it could be what your OS is

 

[amp88]

to me it sounds like you're doing to much on your computer at once and it can't handle it. so pretty much over heating might be it or it could be what your OS is

Well, there's no such thing as doing "too much on your computer at once". If you ran 1 very CPU and memory intensive program you could stress the CPU and memory more than running several much less intensive programs concurrently. The capabilities of the components in the system are finite, but you can't overstress them just by running lots of processes at once. The more programs you run the more likely you'll feel the system is less responsive and takes longer to complete tasks, but you can't do damage this way.

 

[KieranMurphy]

to me it sounds like you're doing to much on your computer at once and it can't handle it. so pretty much over heating might be it or it could be what your OS is

I know you're just itching to blame it on Windows, given your posting history on this forum, but in my experience, computers don't just power off without any warning because Windows is "doing too much".

If the PC is suddenly powering off without warning while doing certain tasks, then you've almost certainly got a hardware problem.

So we don't need any "Get an APPLE cuz Windows is rubbish LOL!" posts thank you very much. That's where you were going right?


KM.

 

[Robin]

You know...... it could be something really simple thats causing it.....maybe a faulty power outlet or a gang if you are using one.... try a different socket in the wall... or the wires could be loose in the plug or the PSU..... Im only thinking this because its powering down as if its being pulled out of the wall..... if it was an overheating issue it would power off as a shut down with a more graceful turning off of components rather than a BAM...DEAD... kind of thing...

 

[240^drift]

http://www.microsoft.com/security/default.mspx

and download the Sasser.Worm patch.
thats what you probobly have if your pc is currently shutting down.

 

[KieranMurphy]

http://www.microsoft.com/security/default.mspx

and download the Sasser.Worm patch.
thats what you probobly have if your pc is currently shutting down.

His computer is randomly powering off without warning, it's not going through the shutdown routine.

The main symptom of Sasser is your computer being forced at random to go through the shutdown routine. You get a warning message about your computer having to shut down and a timer starts, when it's at zero, Windows shuts down. (edit: I'm actually think of the Blaster worm, but Sasser has a similar shutdown symptom)

What's he's describing sounds like a hardware issue.


KM.

 

[guska]

This may or may not be relelvant, but following a system restore, whenever I boot up, I need to start quite a few processes manually, including explorer.exe. Any ideas?

Running WinXP Home SP2