Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

Question

Computer turning itself off

Oct 5, 2012 10:55PM PDT

Hi all,

I was just wondering whether anyone can help me... my computer is quite old now and has randomly taken to turning itself off when in the middle of work; just literally cuts out without shutting down properly. Is there anything I can do to prevent this as am a bit skint at the moment in terms of buying a new one.

Thank you ever so much.

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Clarification Request
Hardware details please
Oct 5, 2012 11:01PM PDT

as well as what you've already done. The usual suspects are overheating, marginal power supplies and failing components such as capacitors.

- Collapse -
Answer
Sounds like it is ...
Oct 6, 2012 2:40AM PDT

most likely a heat problem. This could be caused by dirt and dust inside the case or covering the heat sinks or by deteriorated thermal paste between the CPU and its heat sink. It can also happen because the various fans (such as the fan on the power supply, the graphics card or the fan on the CPU) are no longer working.

This can be solved by locating and correcting the problem and a heat problem can usually be verified by removing the side of the computer's case and directing a floor fan across the case's contents (motherboard and attached components such as graphics card, modem, NIC, RAM and yes, even the hard drive and power supply.

If the floor fan enables the pc to remain on start cleaning and replacing or just clean it up then leave the fan where it is and use the pc with the case open if money to replace worn components is an issue. (I have an old system with dual 450 Mhz CPUs and two very hot running SCSI hard drives that I keep running simply because I still use an old orphaned legacy app installed on it - its two CPU fans completely quit working years ago but the floor fan keeps the whole system cool enough that there is never a problem.)

- Collapse -
Answer
Some info pls.
Oct 8, 2012 1:10PM PDT

The PC model, ram. os , would help understanding the possible issues.

- Collapse -
Answer
Try this out!!!
Oct 9, 2012 12:43PM PDT

Hey I am Mukesh.I heard your problem and Maybe my answer will solve your problem.So you are using an old computer and check how many cooling fan have you installed in the casing.Because some PC may get too hot after sometime and then shut down by itself.If you have only one cooling fan,install another on or two fan..Thank You..