Computer randomly shutting off

Aerozord · 11-02-2014, 01:33 PM

To be clear I dont mean I get an error, or it goes into shutdown. I mean suddenly it is off like someone just pulled the plug on me. The only thing I know of that would cause that is the safety device to keep the CPU from overheating but I dont see why its happening now in colder weather when mid summer it was fine. Nor do I know how to check. Any ideas or suggestions?

Azisien · 11-02-2014, 02:51 PM

99% chance power supply faulty.

1% chance other stuff, get a hardware monitor like OHM or Speccy or whatever you like and see if any of your components are lethally overheating I guess. Can always scan your RAM and HDDs but I don't see how failures in either of those would cause immediate power loss. Lastly if none of these seem to fit, could be power problems in the motherboard itself.

Aerozord · 11-02-2014, 03:31 PM

It sounds like most of those would involve replacing parts

synkr0nized · 11-02-2014, 03:39 PM

It's unlikely that an all out stop that looked the same as if power was pulled / switched off is a result of a software issue. So, yeah, you're likely looking at replacing a part.

I mean, if you got a BSOD (various hardware, driver, and even software issues) or the screen locked up and forced you to reset it (possible RAM issue or maybe motherboard) or there were any audible alarms from the case (CPU reaching or crossing temperature threshold), it would probably be more straightforward. But straight up turning off? My initial guess would be to check the power supply, just as Azisien indicated.

If it's a desktop machine, you could try to unplug things from the motherboard so that it's just the motherboard and power supply and see if it will Post and let you play in BIOS, or try the supply in another computer. If it's a laptop, I am not sure what you can do to test it besides try another power brick if possible.

Sorry I am less helpful at fixing when it comes to hardware.

Aerozord · 11-02-2014, 05:18 PM

Not sure how to really test it. Its not like it always does it. Its completely random, I could be on for hours or minutes before it shuts off. Even if I isolated a component unless I get lucky I wouldn't be able to rule anything out for sure

shiney · 11-02-2014, 05:28 PM

Sounds a bit like a short circuit to me. But your best bet may be to check Windows Event Viewer and see if an error is logged prior to shutdown. Look for critical-level events to see. Also if you do have any tools to check your temperatures / motherboard I would suggest enabling them so you can rule those issues out.

Is this a desktop or a laptop? If desktop I agree with Azisien and synk that it sounds like power supply.

Aerozord · 11-02-2014, 05:42 PM

It is a desktop, How to I access the event viewer?

shiney · 11-02-2014, 08:18 PM

Just click start and under the search bar on the bottom type event.

Aerozord · 11-03-2014, 01:14 AM

The only critical events are it just logging that it rebooted after an improper shutdown. There are a some events logged a few minutes before it crashed saying a program had entered a stopped state.

---------- Post added at 01:14 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:00 AM ----------

I logged times better this time, nothing was going on for several minutes before it crashed. systems were update programs like flash were running on and off. I was playing minecraft too. Otherwise nothing was active.

Raem · 11-03-2014, 07:08 AM

I had a similar issue caused by an overheating GPU once, although I was able to determine the cause because the fan was grinding... Still though, you can try and rule it out by downloading GPU-Z and letting it run in log to file mode.

In the event of a shutdown, check the logs after a reboot and see if it correlates with a increase in CPU or GPU temp.

11-02-2014, 01:33 PM	#1
Aerozord So we are clear Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Former murder capital of the world Posts: 13,824	Computer randomly shutting off To be clear I dont mean I get an error, or it goes into shutdown. I mean suddenly it is off like someone just pulled the plug on me. The only thing I know of that would cause that is the safety device to keep the CPU from overheating but I dont see why its happening now in colder weather when mid summer it was fine. Nor do I know how to check. Any ideas or suggestions? __________________ "don't hate me for being a heterosexual white guy disparaging slacktivism, hate me for all those murders I've done."

11-02-2014, 03:31 PM	#3
Aerozord So we are clear Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Former murder capital of the world Posts: 13,824	It sounds like most of those would involve replacing parts __________________ "don't hate me for being a heterosexual white guy disparaging slacktivism, hate me for all those murders I've done."

11-02-2014, 03:39 PM	#4
synkr0nized synk-ism Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: throughout the Wired Posts: 6,857	Good luck tracing the issue. It's unlikely that an all out stop that looked the same as if power was pulled / switched off is a result of a software issue. So, yeah, you're likely looking at replacing a part. I mean, if you got a BSOD (various hardware, driver, and even software issues) or the screen locked up and forced you to reset it (possible RAM issue or maybe motherboard) or there were any audible alarms from the case (CPU reaching or crossing temperature threshold), it would probably be more straightforward. But straight up turning off? My initial guess would be to check the power supply, just as Azisien indicated. If it's a desktop machine, you could try to unplug things from the motherboard so that it's just the motherboard and power supply and see if it will Post and let you play in BIOS, or try the supply in another computer. If it's a laptop, I am not sure what you can do to test it besides try another power brick if possible. Sorry I am less helpful at fixing when it comes to hardware. __________________ Find love.

11-02-2014, 05:18 PM	#5
Aerozord So we are clear Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Former murder capital of the world Posts: 13,824	Not sure how to really test it. Its not like it always does it. Its completely random, I could be on for hours or minutes before it shuts off. Even if I isolated a component unless I get lucky I wouldn't be able to rule anything out for sure __________________ "don't hate me for being a heterosexual white guy disparaging slacktivism, hate me for all those murders I've done."

11-02-2014, 05:28 PM	#6
shiney Derrrrrrrrrrrrrp. Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: The land of fartz and buttz Posts: 8,266	Sounds a bit like a short circuit to me. But your best bet may be to check Windows Event Viewer and see if an error is logged prior to shutdown. Look for critical-level events to see. Also if you do have any tools to check your temperatures / motherboard I would suggest enabling them so you can rule those issues out. Is this a desktop or a laptop? If desktop I agree with Azisien and synk that it sounds like power supply. __________________ boop

11-02-2014, 02:51 PM	#2
Azisien wat Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 7,177	99% chance power supply faulty. 1% chance other stuff, get a hardware monitor like OHM or Speccy or whatever you like and see if any of your components are lethally overheating I guess. Can always scan your RAM and HDDs but I don't see how failures in either of those would cause immediate power loss. Lastly if none of these seem to fit, could be power problems in the motherboard itself.

11-02-2014, 05:42 PM	#7
Aerozord So we are clear Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Former murder capital of the world Posts: 13,824	It is a desktop, How to I access the event viewer? __________________ "don't hate me for being a heterosexual white guy disparaging slacktivism, hate me for all those murders I've done."

11-02-2014, 08:18 PM	#8
shiney Derrrrrrrrrrrrrp. Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: The land of fartz and buttz Posts: 8,266	Just click start and under the search bar on the bottom type event. __________________ boop

11-03-2014, 01:14 AM	#9
Aerozord So we are clear Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Former murder capital of the world Posts: 13,824	The only critical events are it just logging that it rebooted after an improper shutdown. There are a some events logged a few minutes before it crashed saying a program had entered a stopped state. ---------- Post added at 01:14 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:00 AM ---------- I logged times better this time, nothing was going on for several minutes before it crashed. systems were update programs like flash were running on and off. I was playing minecraft too. Otherwise nothing was active. __________________ "don't hate me for being a heterosexual white guy disparaging slacktivism, hate me for all those murders I've done."

11-03-2014, 07:08 AM	#10
Raem schway Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 97	I had a similar issue caused by an overheating GPU once, although I was able to determine the cause because the fan was grinding... Still though, you can try and rule it out by downloading GPU-Z and letting it run in log to file mode. In the event of a shutdown, check the logs after a reboot and see if it correlates with a increase in CPU or GPU temp.