Laptop/Notebook Computer Clicks Off On Its Own!

[Guest]

My hp pavilion ze5185 (Windows XP SvcPk 2) will just make a clicking/popping
noise then turn off on its own. It used to do it once in a while when I was
using it (was told that laptops sometimes have that problem but I never close
mine up thus creating 'stress' on the wiring). But now it does the same
thing after remaining inactive for about 15 minutes. No - I don't have a
virus/trojan. Yes - I have my settings at NEVER - to never turn off,
hibernate, etc. Yes - I have the latest updates. Perhaps there are conflicts
in a driver? Haven't installed anything new in a long time. The computer is
about six years old. Any ideas?

 

[Malke]

My hp pavilion ze5185 (Windows XP SvcPk 2) will just make a clicking/popping
noise then turn off on its own. It used to do it once in a while when I was
using it (was told that laptops sometimes have that problem but I never close
mine up thus creating 'stress' on the wiring). But now it does the same
thing after remaining inactive for about 15 minutes. No - I don't have a
virus/trojan. Yes - I have my settings at NEVER - to never turn off,
hibernate, etc. Yes - I have the latest updates. Perhaps there are conflicts
in a driver? Haven't installed anything new in a long time. The computer is
about six years old. Any ideas?

It sounds like hardware failure, possibly overheating, possibly the
power supply dying. With a laptop your options are limited, but see if
you can clean out any dust in the fan area, etc. A six-year-old laptop
isn't going to be worth fixing, hardware-wise.


Malke

 

[Patrick Keenan]

My hp pavilion ze5185 (Windows XP SvcPk 2) will just make a
clicking/popping
noise then turn off on its own. It used to do it once in a while when I
was
using it (was told that laptops sometimes have that problem but I never
close
mine up thus creating 'stress' on the wiring). But now it does the same
thing after remaining inactive for about 15 minutes. No - I don't have a
virus/trojan. Yes - I have my settings at NEVER - to never turn off,
hibernate, etc. Yes - I have the latest updates. Perhaps there are
conflicts
in a driver? Haven't installed anything new in a long time. The computer
is
about six years old. Any ideas?

Hardware failure, possible overheating.

If the system is turning off and immediately restarting, it's likely a
software-related crash.

If it turns off and stays off, it's nearly certain that the system is
physically failing, and this is unrelated to software and will not be fixed
by software. You're apparently finding that this is becoming more of a
problem - which indicates that a flaky component is becoming a broken one.

Be sure that the fans and heatsinks and vents are clear and unrestricted.
Do not ever use a vacuum (due to static) - use a can of compressed air.

Unfortunately, pretty much the only way to diagnose this kind of failure is
by way of replacement, and that becomes expensive. It may very well be
time to start considering a new system. Yo may find that newer, faster,
far better laptops are cheaper than the original cost of just the screen in
your present one.

HTH
-pk