PC switches itself off.

Mrs_Bones

As the title says, my PC has started switching itself off. Very annoying when you are in the middle of typing something and you lose your work. Anyone got any ideas why it's doing it, even better how I could fix it to stop? Kind of worried it's something terminal and the PCs in it's death throes.

closed

could be many things, psu possibly or overheating, is it clean inside and all fans spinning

backup and factory restore will rule out software

OneADay

Probably hardware fault somewhere or overheating.

Open it up and give it a good clean with one of them pc cleaning spray - designed specifically for the purpose.

It might be the bios battery draining - could try replacing that too - but first give the inside a clean.

macman

Make and model? After how long does it switch off-randomly or after a consistent period? Without more specific info, I'd hazard a guess at overheating too. Get the side panel off and get in there with an air duster.
Might also be a PSU on the way out.

Mrs_Bones

macman wrote: »

Make and model? After how long does it switch off-randomly or after a consistent period? Without more specific info, I'd hazard a guess at overheating too. Get the side panel off and get in there with an air duster.
Might also be a PSU on the way out.

It's a Compaq and just switches itself off randomly, doesn't seem to be a set time pattern.

Thanks for you advice everyone. I'll go get one of those air sprays and give it a clean see it that helps. I may be back for more advice if I can't figure out how to get inside it, but I'll get a spray first on Monday before I start trying to take it apart.

closed

you dont need to spend money on an air spray (or a cmos battery), just blow it out if it's dirty

undo it and have a look first - usually a screw or two, it may be nothing at all to do with dust

it would be a good idea to backup and run chkdsk c: /F - as unclean shutdowns can corrupt the hard disk, which eventually may prevent it booting

http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx

Ratboy

I recently learned that any aerosol, if you hold them upside down they blow air...but not tried it.

Most likely with your compy, CPU fan blocked with dust and overheating, use a brush to clean out while running, stick the brush in, get a facefull of dust!

You can normally check the spec and temps of the motherboard from the BIOS, see if it meets specs? I don't have them to hand, but also dont have a tripping computer, so why would I?

Maybe you have a Windows fault? Try using the computer in safe mode, and uninstall anything you installed recently?

I run my compy with the side off, when attached, you can hear the fans speed up, thus the heat builds up!

Ron_Doran

Ratboy - Mrs. Bones wanted help. What help did you give this person????

Ratboy

Ron_Doran wrote: »

Ratboy - Mrs. Bones wanted help. What help did you give this person????

Did you bother to read my post?

Most likely with your compy, CPU fan blocked with dust and overheating, use a brush to clean out while running, stick the brush in, get a facefull of dust!

You can normally check the spec and temps of the motherboard from the BIOS, see if it meets specs? I don't have them to hand, but also dont have a tripping computer, so why would I?

Maybe you have a Windows fault? Try using the computer in safe mode, and uninstall anything you installed recently?

I run my compy with the side off, when attached, you can hear the fans speed up, thus the heat builds up!

Which part of that did you NOT read? Are you mentally deranged? or unable to read and understand?

johnmc

There's no need to be abusive on the forum, it doesn't help those in need. Please consider editting out your last paragraph.

ratboy wrote:

use a brush to clean out while running, stick the brush in, get a facefull of dust!

Vote #1 for NOT doing that!

It will create static, which does a wonderful job of completely f###### up a motherboard. I've seen a "techie" do it, complete with a rather large discharge spark.

As others have said, clean the computer. This will take a bit of time and may, or may not, show any hardware faults.

WITH THE POWER LEAD UNPLUGGED ..... take the fans and every thing off. Use a small, soft, paintbrush and a vacuum cleaner to gently remove as much fluff as you can.

Use a thin non-metallic item (bamboo skewer?) to remove build up on cooling fins.

With everything unplugged from the board plug the PSU in and turn it on. All you should hear is the fan.

Put the stuff back in one part at a time and start the machine. Go into the BIOS and see if the temperature stays constant. Does it reset? Are there any sounds if it does?

macman

Using a vacuum cleaner inside a PC any anywhere near the circuit boards is a bad idea-it produces large amounts of static.