HELP! Computer Switches itself off automatically

[Joseph]

My computer switches itself off automatically when i am in the middle of
using it.
It has also begun freezing for no apparent reason.
I have no idea why this porblem occurs, I am not very tech savvy but I would
appreciate any possible causes / solutions for the problem.

The Computer is running Norton Antivirus.

Thankyou.

 

[DL]

Try Control Panel > Administrative Tools > Event Viewer
Then post full details of any err's shown at the time of shutdown.

Are you able to immediately reboot the PC?

 

[David H. Lipman]

From: "Joseph" <[email protected]>

| My computer switches itself off automatically when i am in the middle of
| using it.
| It has also begun freezing for no apparent reason.
| I have no idea why this porblem occurs, I am not very tech savvy but I would
| appreciate any possible causes / solutions for the problem.

| The Computer is running Norton Antivirus.

| Thankyou.


Usually caused by problematic hardware; RAM, CPU, CPU fan, etc.

 

[Joan Archer]

Could be caused by overheating or RAM problems, how long has it been
happening and what changes have you made since just before it started to
happen ?

 

[Plato]

My computer switches itself off automatically when i am in the middle of
using it.

Look for heat related problems first.

 

[Onsokumaru]

Look for heat related problems first.

Please be more specific.

Is there a certain time period, any error messages in Event Viewer, does the
computer become less responsive before it turns off.
Do you happen to be using a specific program at the time.

Heat could be a problem, but usually the computer will lock up first.

Could be a hardware problem, PSU, VGA card or drivers.
If you feel comforable, take of the side cover and check the connrections
inside the PC, (only if you know what you are doing though). Check external
leads also. You could also check for dust build up in the heatsink, and that
the CPU fan is running.

There was a virus that would shut down computers. Try typing "shutdown /a"
in a command prompt. You should get a message "Unable to abort because no
shutdown was in progress", if it reads "shutdown aborted", or whatever,
(since I have never seen that message", something is instructing your PC to
shutdown after a certain period of time.

 

[David H. Lipman]

From: "Onsokumaru" <[email protected]>


< snip >

| There was a virus that would shut down computers. Try typing "shutdown /a"
| in a command prompt. You should get a message "Unable to abort because no
| shutdown was in progress", if it reads "shutdown aborted", or whatever,
| (since I have never seen that message", something is instructing your PC to
| shutdown after a certain period of time.

Th OP stated...
"My computer switches itself off automatically when i am in the middle of
using it."

He did NOT indicate a NT System Shutdown type message indicative of the Lovesan/Blaster,
Sasser worms or certain BOTs that explot TCP ports 445 and 135.

His automatic shutown is indicative of a hardware problem.

 

[Onsokumaru]

From: "Onsokumaru" <[email protected]>


< snip >

| There was a virus that would shut down computers. Try typing "shutdown
/a"
| in a command prompt. You should get a message "Unable to abort because
no
| shutdown was in progress", if it reads "shutdown aborted", or whatever,
| (since I have never seen that message", something is instructing your PC
to
| shutdown after a certain period of time.

Th OP stated...
"My computer switches itself off automatically when i am in the middle of
using it."

He did NOT indicate a NT System Shutdown type message indicative of the
Lovesan/Blaster,
Sasser worms or certain BOTs that explot TCP ports 445 and 135.

His automatic shutown is indicative of a hardware problem.

Maybe you should pay attention to the way some people post here.

Just because he didn't mention a message it doesn't mean it didn't appear,
hence my request for as much information as possible.

Many people ignore, dismiss, OK, or simply send a message to the background
when the messages appears, because they can't be bothered reading them or
think it is related to some other program.

Whilst I didn't think it was likely, there is always a possibility.

My apologies for trying to offer assistance.