Why is my computer shutting off by itself??

[poohbear2]

This just started yesterday and I am not sure what the problem is. I will be in the middle of a movie or online and " POOF" the computer automatically shuts itself off.

 

[disneymama73]

You are kidding me! Mine has been doing the same thing, and it also started yesterday.

<insert Twilight Zone music here>

 

[poohbear2]

I hope its not some weird virus. My virus protector had expired a few days ago and I just downloaded Panda.

 

[disneymama73]

I have McAfee running....

 

[jfulcer]

Random shutoffs (IMHO) are a general harbinger of a power supply problem. Does your computer make a lot more noise than it used to?

You should be able to feel the airflow off the back of the computer when it's on. Do you feel a fan blowing? If not, you most likely are going to need a new power supply shortly.

You can read:
http://www.acronis.com/enterprise/resource/tips-tricks/2004/shutting-down.html

Is it a Dell GX270?
http://baheyeldin.com/miscellaneous/computer-downtime-due-to-leaky-capacitors-on-dell-gx270.html

 

[MickeyMouseGal]

My first Dell laptop did that because it was overheating. (Although Dell swore that this wasn't possible. Funny though, when I aimed a small tabletop fan at the computer, it didn't happen as quickly.... hmmmmm.)
I talked to the people at Best Buy and they confirmed the overheating theory. Unfortunately, it is due to something... the motherboard maybe... dying, and eventually the computer would do it more and more often until it got to the point that it was turning off after minimal use. I gave up and got a new one.

 

[daughter_of_amid_chaos]

It is caused by overheating. My Sony did this continuously as well as making a very loud noise and getting very hot. We sent it and they fixed it but it started all over again. When we told them it started again they said it would cost $200 and my dad wanted to complain and they hung up with him.
We bought a delll the next day.

 

[Soccermom-Cheri]

I had the same troble with a Toshiba laptop. Replaced the fan and some other internal stuff and within a week it was back to shutting off.

so, that's a Sony, a Dell, and a Toshiba ....

I'm going back to snail mail and a calculator.

 

[dg39]

"so, that's a Sony, a Dell, and a Toshiba ...."

Add Compaq Presario to your list. Oddly enough, mine shut of unexpectedly yesterday......

 

[safetymom]

Do you have Spy Sweeper on your computer. The latest edition was causing problems for some people.

 

[Patch'sD]

Try Cleaning the Dust out of the vents

 

[RadioNate]

"so, that's a Sony, a Dell, and a Toshiba ...."

Add Compaq Presario to your list. Oddly enough, mine shut of unexpectedly yesterday......

It happened to my DS's emachine too. Eventually the power supply failed and we ended up replacing the computer with a cheap-o. He's 5 so it doesn't need fancy.

 

[anewvance]

I agree with overheating because I just had the same problem with my laptop. When I had to much running or was playing pogo, my computer would get to hot and shut off. My dh ended up vacuuming out the vent and haven't had a problem since.

 

[piratesmate]

Rats! I was hoping to find some new insight on this problem. LOL We got DD a new computer last Christmas & it started turning itself off about 2 weeks later...usually during the boot though. We pulled it all apart & re-seated everything and it worked great for about 2 months. Then it started again - except now it's happening more after it's been running a while.

We checked the internal temp, re-seating everything yet again, run the anti-virus & spyware stuff, but nothing. DH keeps saying he's going to bring home a meter to check the power supply, but who knows when that will happen.