Computer shutting down randomly?

[funkychunkymonkey]

Its happened twice now. My computer just shuts down whenever it feels like it. Then it has trouble restarting itself. It powers off entirly. Why?

 

[Lintasare]

Could be a variety of different things. It could be a virus or malware messing with your system. Your power supply could be going out. It could be a hardware problem, a hard drive problem. Just not enough information in your OP to tell what it could be.

 

[Imzadi]

IS your fan working overtime? It could be overheating. If I'm watching YouTube & have left too many windows open at the same time, it overworks my hard drive and the fan kicks into overdrive. If I hear my fan start this high speed whine, I have to start closing windows fast or my computer just shuts down completely.

 

[mickilee]

More likely a over heating problem.. Take the cover off and carefully clean it out and the fan.

Pet hair and if you are smoker ,are very bad for the computer. You should see immediate results.

 

[Imzadi]

More likely a over heating problem.. Take the cover off and carefully clean it out and the fan.

Pet hair and if you are smoker ,are very bad for the computer. You should see immediate results.

Yes, I finally bought a can of compressed air yesterday. I've been pulling out dust bunnies underneath keys the size of tribbles. I sprayed some air in the fan hole and a cloud of dust blew out. My fan is not working so hard today. But, I still have to open it up. I'm afraid to find pet hair all wadded up in there like a big Brillo pad.

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

how do I clean the fan? Anyone got a good simple way? I can- aired it a few weeks ago. I also took the canned air to the keyboard (WOW the cat hair) and then I tried to dust bust the rest up.... F8 is history!

 

[Imzadi]

There are probably detailed directions & pictures online. Do a Google search for your make & model number of your computer and include "taking off the back" or "cleaning fan". That's what I'm going to be doing when I'm ready to attack the Brillo pad of cat hair inside.

 

[Piecey]

That happened to our brand new computer. We called Dell and they told us it was a Windows update that was causing it!

They removed the latest update and it stopped doing it.

So maybe that is what is causing it??

 

[themarquis]

how do I clean the fan? Anyone got a good simple way? I can- aired it a few weeks ago. I also took the canned air to the keyboard (WOW the cat hair) and then I tried to dust bust the rest up.... F8 is history!

stick the straw from the canned air right up near the fans and blast it good. You want to hit it four or five times to make sure you get all the dust.

what are you usually doing when the computer shuts down?? This is the most important bit of information. Videos/youtube/DVDs/games = overheating. None of the above = most likely something else (not something good, I'm afraid).

If you boot it up from its cold state and let it just sort of "sit there" (don't run videos/games/etc. just leave it alone!) does it ever shut down? Try running it for a few hours without "stressing" it out and see what happens.

 

[Diznygrl]

I had this problem with my PC (*ptooey!*) a while back. Turned out I needed a new power supply.

 

[bananda]

my computer did that. turned out that a game we had was mucking up the settings.

 

[nd5056]

Underpowered or faulty power supply will do that. I'd swap it with working one to test it. It may temporarily drop one of its working voltages below the safety threshold - instant reboot.

.

 

[just4today]

Are you sure your computer isn't haunted?

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

Usually on im on the internet, sometimes here and sometimes facebook. I havent downloaded any new software lately, except a photo program from a freind and a game from yahoo. It could be a power problem because the plug was falling out of the wall when I looked. (DANG CAT!!!). Seems ok today, knock on wood. Sure, lets blame it on being haunted, Lets blame my dad LOL

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

I must be looking in the wrong place cause I cant find anyplace to tell me how to take the computer apart and clean the fan.
I have a hp Pavilion enteraiment pc dv6

 

[Shutterbug]

is that a laptop or tower?

if its a laptop you cannot easily take the back off it not at all.

 

[mickilee]

how do I clean the fan? Anyone got a good simple way? I can- aired it a few weeks ago. I also took the canned air to the keyboard (WOW the cat hair) and then I tried to dust bust the rest up.... F8 is history!

i use isopropyl alcohol , rubbing alcohol with q tips... very carefully though..
and make sure while you are in the tower. that all the parts are pushed in tight with no dust on them too..

for laptops there are screws hidden.. just undo them, you might have to google your kinda laptop how to pull it apart..