laptop shutting down when playing video/games

[Teen Davey]

I have a problem playing videos/games . After playing a game for about 10
minutes the laptop shuts down (turns off) and I have to switch it back on .
This has been happening for the past year , even games I have played in the
past with no problem (diablo) now shut the laptop down after a short length
of time . It only occurs when playing videos or games , all other times the
unit runs normally ... going into and returning from standby , etc . and
there are no other problems with the system I know of. As it has only just
started I am wondering if one of the automatic updates has changed something
..
It is an emachine laptop running XP home edition (orig system software) and
is approx 4 years old .
I have updated Direct X .
I have checked hibernation settings ... although unit doesn't go to sleep -
it switches off
I have tried restore , but can only go back 6 months
I have defragmented and cleaned up the hard drive
Where does a novice computer tech start to trouble shoot this problem ???
Any help would be really appreciated
Thank you

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

It may be a heat problem.

 

[On the Bridge]

its a heat problem it may be dust and dirt are in the fans way... there are
some programs that can show the temp of the cpu.. like everest (get the
trial here)
http://www.lavalys.com/ it gives you icons in the tray one of those are
cpu.. see how hot the cpu is getting,


you can also try to put a fan to blow some cool air on the laptop to see if
the laptop can work and its not overheating...

--
50 Ways to leave your Vista....

CHORUS:

You just format the drive , Clive
Get a New Mac , Jack
Y'don't need that crap toy, Roy
Just get yourself free
Boot from a *nix, Jix
You don't need to discuss much
Install XP, Lee
And get yourself free

 

[Patrick Keenan]

I have a problem playing videos/games . After playing a game for about 10
minutes the laptop shuts down (turns off) and I have to switch it back on .

Turnng off and not restarting indicates hardware failure, often thermally
related.

In other words,. you are cooking the notebook.

This has been happening for the past year , even games I have played in
the past with no problem (diablo) now shut the laptop down after a short
length of time .

Not surprising; it isn't like silcon heals. The failure spreads.

It only occurs when playing videos or games ,

Which put more load on the system, draw more power, and generate more
heat....

all other times the unit runs normally ... going into and returning from
standby , etc . and there are no other problems with the system I know of.
As it has only just started

Just started? Didn't you *just say this has been happening for a year*?

If you mean it's just gotten worse, it's because you've made the problem
worse by continued overheating.

I am wondering if one of the automatic updates has changed something

No. It's more like the laptop components are melting under load. The
shutown you describe is seldom software related, and is commonly thermal.

The updates are the wrong place to look.

..

It is an emachine laptop running XP home edition (orig system software)
and is approx 4 years old .
I have updated Direct X .
I have checked hibernation settings ... although unit doesn't go to
sleep - it switches off

Because of fatal errors or thermal protection schemes.

I have tried restore , but can only go back 6 months
I have defragmented and cleaned up the hard drive

The drive isn't likely to be related to the problem - except in the sense
that its contents force the PC into an overheated state.

Where does a novice computer tech start to trouble shoot this problem ???

Start by considering the effects of heat and blocked fans and ventilation
ports.

You may need to replace the system to resolve the problem, as it's cheaper
than finding which components fail under stress.

It might have been OK a year ago, but if you've been allowing it to happen
regularly, the prognois is not good.

HTH
-pk