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

Why is my computer randomly shutting down?

Nov 10, 2018 9:43AM PST

The problem I am having is that my computer starts to shut down at random. I could be playing a game, or browsing the web, or pretty much anything you can think of, and my computer gives my the blue windows screen that says shutting down. Here is what it looks like,
http://prntscr.com/lgp4zi

I've searched up tons of different things to try and fix my problem but nothing has worked. For example, at first I thought the problem was my power supply, so I went ahead and bought a new one, but the problem still occurred. I tried turning certain windows features off, like fast start up. I also went ahead and updated all of my drivers. All of this along with some other things i've tried didnt help one bit. My computer will start to shut down whenever it feels like it. Normally happens 1-3 times a day, no more than that. Although some days it will not turn off at all, like yesterday it did not turn off at all for me, but just about 20 minutes ago today it did.

One thing I have noticed is when my computer is being shut down it will sometimes continue to boot up and shut down after a few seconds. I then flip the switch on the power supply to stop it from doing so. A few times in the past my computer would also turn on in the middle of the night by itself. I would wake up and hear it boot on and off.

Another thing I would like to state is that nothing is overheating, I've monitored all of my temps through HWMonitor and other software, and even felt the parts myself to make sure it was not hot. I also have my pc cleaned out. (no dust, etc.)

Here is a link to my build: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/bvmRRJ

I would greatly appreciate any help, thank you!

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Clarification Request
That screen
Nov 10, 2018 9:59AM PST

Looks like what happens when you tap the power button or something asks for a shutdown. On the surface this doesn't sound like hardware but it could be.

1. Supply a Web Speccy so many small items can be checked. How is at
https://www.piriform.com/docs/speccy/using-speccy/publishing-a-speccy-profile-to-the-web

2. Change the Power Button action to "Do nothing." How is all over the web but try:
https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/69741-change-default-action-power-button-windows-10-a.html

3. Just leave the side cover off for now.

4. What is this about drivers? How did you do that?
Read https://www.howtogeek.com/233115/the-only-way-to-safely-update-your-hardware-drivers-on-windows/

- Collapse -
What now?
Nov 10, 2018 10:40AM PST

1. Here is a speccy: http://speccy.piriform.com/results/DdDp8FeKhxpGxb6wsdJHWWV
2. If I was to change my power button action to "do nothing", how would I turn my pc back on once I turn it off? I use that to turn my pc on.
3. I have it off
4. I used Geforce Experience to upgrade my graphics driver and I downloaded Driver Easy to see what other things needed updated which there was like 2 things that I didn't bother to update.

- Collapse -
Thanks, will get back soon.
Nov 10, 2018 10:46AM PST

As to item 2, this will just stop an accidental tap or a failing button. It won't stop power up.

4. Read the article again. I have had to undo driver updater work so many times that I tend to lose my cool about those things. In my experience pure *rap apps. I've tried them on and off over the years and have always gone back to the old ways. (Get drivers from makers, install them in some specific order.)

- Collapse -
Speccy
Nov 11, 2018 2:01AM PST
- Collapse -
Answer
Speccy reading.
Nov 10, 2018 10:54AM PST

1. The BIOS is out of date. The new one is 11/7/18 and notes system stability.

2. Vcore looks low but that's set by the BIOS so while I would have advised a tweak here I won't because of item 1.

3. Monitors are on both 1080 GPU and on board.
This in theory is OK but I worry it could press the onboard IGP and the temp goes over and the machine shuts down. Look around the BIOS for a setting for temperature shutdown. The wording may differ but you get the idea.

Frankly I'd get the monitors onto the far better Nvidia 1080.

4. Seems to be a lot of SVCHOST and System IP connections. Be sure to turn this off:
Read https://www.howtogeek.com/224981/how-to-stop-windows-10-from-uploading-updates-to-other-pcs-over-the-internet/

- Collapse -
Thank you!
Nov 10, 2018 11:26AM PST

I did everything you told me to and it all went well. Lets hope one of these fixed the problem. I let you know if it turns off in the next coming days. Thanks for the help!

- Collapse -
Just so you know.
Nov 10, 2018 11:31AM PST

Nothing really stands out as "it" in the report but the BIOS version, Vcore, monitors, Windows Update Sharing are all things that could help. My bet is the BIOS could be calling for a shutdown if the overtemp is a tad too low. And since the BIOS was out of date they can change that as folk complain.

- Collapse -
More about the power button.
Nov 10, 2018 11:32AM PST

That setting is because tracking down a flaky button is just painful. If changing that alone fixed it they I'd check the wiring from button to board and if that's good change the power button.

- Collapse -
Problem happened again.
Nov 12, 2018 4:39AM PST

The day after you helped me my computer went good for the whole day. Unfortunately last night i woke up to my computer powering on and off. Then this morning when I turned it on, 5 minutes later is powered off without even giving me the shutting down. It just turned off completely and instantly. Then when i went back on it happen again. So 2 times in the matter of 10-15 minutes. I'm just really worried and not sure what to do now..

- Collapse -
That's not good. Is the same screen as above showing?
Nov 12, 2018 8:36AM PST

Or something else showing? The screen you shared had me thinking of the incidents with bad power buttons. The workaround was to have Windows ignore that button since we can still power up but power down was down through the Windows menu.

If it's not showing that screen then it's usually hardware like power supply or motherboard. It doesn't tell us which or rather I'm not there to see what you see so I have to call it with what you tell.

You seemed reluctant to change that setting about the power button. How is it set now?

- Collapse -
A bit different.
Nov 12, 2018 9:07AM PST

I did change the power button setting. Like I said, I did everything you told me to do. But earlier this morning, I did not get the shutting down windows screen that I linked a picture of. This time it just shut off instantly with no warning, just turned off.

- Collapse -
That points to hardware issues.
Nov 12, 2018 9:34AM PST

If the machine stays up I'd take another Speccy report as it may show something new.

But without seeing the machine I can't tell where the issues are. Sounds like heat or failing PSU or motherboard.

- Collapse -
Speccy
Nov 12, 2018 9:37AM PST
- Collapse -
New does not mean it's fine.
Nov 12, 2018 9:57AM PST

Or it will work for the usual years. It only means it's new.

I'll read the speccy and reply later but have you ever heard of the Bath Tub Curve? New opens the door to the beginning of that curve.

- Collapse -
I suspect bad RAM chip
Nov 12, 2018 3:16PM PST

Because the shutdowns exhibit different symptoms, which means sometimes a blue screen can appear, other times it can't.

As for the rebooting issue, it's possible he has some "wake on" feature turned on in the BIOS. Most likely would be WOL (wake on LAN).

- Collapse -
Answer
Speccy reading for 11/12/2018
Nov 12, 2018 10:07AM PST

That's one clean speccy. I think I see the Vcore went up a little so that was either just a difference from reading to reading. When I do such tests here I reboot the PC, run the Speccy so it's almost always the same condition.

I'm missing what the new or old PSUs are so let's check into those. With this rig, almost any 600 Watt SINGLE RAIL model will be fine.