My computer keeps shutting down by itself! Can anyone help me?
@moonlight_dream (520)
Romania
December 18, 2008 11:52am CST
For a while now, my laptop keeps shutting down by tself out of the blue, no matter what I'm doing in that moment, either if I'm browsing the internet or doing something else, it just shuts down every few hours. I can't tell why, so can you give me any ideas?
I don't think I have any viruses on my computer, so what else could possibly cause this?
2 people like this
10 responses
@modstar (9605)
• Philippines
19 Dec 08
It's possible the your laptop must be running a lot of programs in the background. You can check it by pressiong control + alt + delete altogether once. If there's more than 30 programs running, you better check some because these programs might be using a lot of your laptop's memory making it unable to work thus shutting it on its own to prevent damage.
@moonlight_dream (520)
• Romania
19 Dec 08
I checked them out, there are 113, but how can I know which ones I can delete from that list? I don't even know what those programs are for...
1 person likes this
@modstar (9605)
• Philippines
19 Dec 08
113 is too much! Maybe you can try to check which programs you don't need or use then try to uninstalled them either in the control panel or start menu. 113 programs running at the same time will really crash you computer and possibly triggered the restart. If you want to do it manually, try to close the programs in the task manager.
@vishnu_badlapur (560)
• India
19 Dec 08
I can think of 3 reasons for this right now.
1) Your battery is not fully charged or it is having some problem and so the OS's power management is shutting down the computer when battery power reaches a certain percentage level.
Is you computer shutting down even when on power suppy? If yes, its not the battery problem. Else its sure to be a battery problem.
2) Your computer is infected with a virus/trojan/worm etc etc etc....
Use a up-to-date AVG or Norton to scan you system...
3) Some software may be configured to shutdown the computer after finishing it's task. For example, a backup program that backs up and shuts down the computer...
Check for any such program in system tray....
1 person likes this
@moonlight_dream (520)
• Romania
19 Dec 08
The battery is not the problem, I keep it plugged in all the time.
I don't know for sure if there may be a virus, the last time I checked (a few weeks ago) it was fine. Though I use Vista, so I had Norton installed, now it expired... so I had to download another antivirus - avast. I don't know if it's that great.
Can it have anything to do with norton expiring? If I downloaded another one, isn't my computer still protected?
I don't know how about those kind of programs, where can I check them?
@moonlight_dream (520)
• Romania
19 Dec 08
Thanks for answering! I'm afraid of trying anything else, though. I remember I changed something in my computer (because of someone's advice) the exact day it started to shut down, it may be related, but I'm not sure. So I think I'll take it to a service first.
@kerriannc (4279)
• Jamaica
19 Dec 08
I was experiencing the same problem. The computer technician told me that it is because the air is not circulating right in the laptop. When you are using it do so that where the fan is it can be able to circulate the air.
@moonlight_dream (520)
• Romania
19 Dec 08
So I suppose keeping it in bed all the time is not reccomended... :)
So that could've been the problem? It would be great if that's all! I'll take it to a service to be sure.
Thanks for answering!
@moonlight_dream (520)
• Romania
20 Dec 08
I hope that's all it was wrong with it. Thanks for the advice!
@kerriannc (4279)
• Jamaica
20 Dec 08
It is not recommended. I have it on the bed all time Tuesday because I was not feeling well and it shut down on me. When I call the technician this was the advice he gave to me. Now I am using it in my lap with nothing under the fan. It seems as if we both love to rest it on the bed. I am glad that he told me not to. It is now doing better.
@Jenaisle (14079)
• Philippines
19 Dec 08
It might be the power supply that is dysfunctional. You will have to consult a computer technician. Save money buy doing it now, before the damage becomes so big it could no longer be repaired. The power supply is not something a non-expert should tinker with. Cheers.
@moonlight_dream (520)
• Romania
19 Dec 08
It's not the battery. And I hope it's not something too bad :|
Is it true that a laptop, if damaged, it can't be repaired? Some people told me that a computer can be repaired all the time but a laptop can't. I don't know why... is it true?
@AndrewFreyne (6281)
• United Kingdom
19 Dec 08
There are a couple of things that I can think of although nothing is absolutely certain without carrying out a dianostic check of your pc. A computer will generally shut down or turn off if there is a problem in relation to temperature. Your pc may be overheating inside and this would shut down in order to protect your microprocessor or cpu. A huge buildup of dust inside tends to cause problems as it acts as a blanket and your internal components start to heat up and this can be very problematic. One of the main reasons for your computer heating up inside probably relates to the fans! If dust is building up on them then they will not work as efficiently. This also goes for the fan just about your CPU. So, this is one reason, temperature related. The other reason could relate to your power supply! How many devices do you have on your system? I mean hard drive, floppy drive, cd-rom drive? These are the main devices. Do you have more than these main devices installed? If you do, this can sometimes mean that your power supply is being overworked! The overall power of your power supply may be insufficient. If this is the case then you would have to upgrade your power supply to a more powerful unit! This could possibly result in your system shutting down. There are a few other reasons but these two points are the main areas I can think of. Ultimately, you will have to have your system checked by a qualified technician if you know nothing about checking your system yourself. I do everything on my pc including my own maintenance, getting rid of the dust internally on a yearly basis. Good luck and I hope that you resolve this problem. Andrew
@moonlight_dream (520)
• Romania
19 Dec 08
It can happen because of dust? I didn't know that... That might be it. I never keep it on a desk or table, I just take it with me wherever I stand, mostly in my bed, so yeah it could be because of the dust.
Though I think I'm gonna take it to a servcie to be sure. Thanks for your answer!
@paulj0s3ph (77)
• Philippines
19 Dec 08
check the batteries maybe it worn out already or it needs replacing. also make a deep scan on
your laptop it might be infected. or do a system restore to a state where your laptop last
function well without the restarts and all. and if still does not work. i advise you
to visit your repair center something must me work with your power supply or motherboard
@moonlight_dream (520)
• Romania
19 Dec 08
It's not because of the batteries, and I already tried a system restore.
I think I will go to a service and let them deal with it. Thanks for replying!
@moonlight_dream (520)
• Romania
18 Dec 08
Just shutdown, but it's not normal at all! Since it happens by itself every few hours...
@shaie78 (141)
• Malaysia
19 Dec 08
It easy for your problem, your computer have crash file software windows and some file was missing on internet file..the solution you must format your computer and install antivirus also firewall.thank you
@kidkiller87 (122)
• Malaysia
19 Dec 08
Do you laptop has the cooling system, such as motor? If your laptop doesn't has a cooling system, when you use it too long and the heat keep insides and can't be out by the cooling system, your laptop will become very slow and even restart or shut down. Maybe you should bring it to pc shop to check it. =)
