My Computer Keeps Shutting Off Unexpectedly

[BabyLew1993]

Well, it does get quite hot. But, its weird, it only shuts off when im doing
something. It happens Most when im playing a game. I'll be playing, then it
just shuts off. it doesnt restart, just shuts off. And sometimes, i'll be
playing and then it'll just freeze, i can't Ctrl-Alt-Del. I have to hold down
the off button. Its really bothering me, im scared that my comp might be
broken. I dont know if its the hardware, or the fans. Please help me. Please!


-A Scared 15 year old

 

[Peter Foldes]

How is your Power Supply ?? Does it get very hot at times.

 

[Mike Hall - MVP]

Well, it does get quite hot. But, its weird, it only shuts off when im
doing
something. It happens Most when im playing a game. I'll be playing, then
it
just shuts off. it doesnt restart, just shuts off. And sometimes, i'll be
playing and then it'll just freeze, i can't Ctrl-Alt-Del. I have to hold
down
the off button. Its really bothering me, im scared that my comp might be
broken. I dont know if its the hardware, or the fans. Please help me.
Please!


-A Scared 15 year old

What game?

The detail in the game may be set to a degree where the video card can't
cope..



--
Mike Hall - MVP
How to construct a good post..
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[Steve Thackery]

I'll be playing, then it

just shuts off. it doesnt restart, just shuts off.

This is absolutely typical of an overheating processor (or possibly power
supply). Especially as it is made worse by making your computer work hard,
which makes the processor run hotter and increases the load on the power
supply.

Get it looked at by a service shop.

STeveT

 

[BabyLew1993]

yeah

How is your Power Supply ?? Does it get very hot at times.

--
Peter

Please Reply to Newsgroup for the benefit of others
Requests for assistance by email can not and will not be acknowledged.

 

[BabyLew1993]

yeah, ima take it to Geek Squad

This is absolutely typical of an overheating processor (or possibly power
supply). Especially as it is made worse by making your computer work hard,
which makes the processor run hotter and increases the load on the power
supply.

Get it looked at by a service shop.

STeveT

 

[BabyLew1993]

BF2 (BattleFeild 2)

What game?

The detail in the game may be set to a degree where the video card can't
cope..



--
Mike Hall - MVP
How to construct a good post..
http://dts-l.com/goodpost.htm
How to use the Microsoft Product Support Newsgroups..
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?pr=newswhelp&style=toc
Mike's Window - My Blog..
http://msmvps.com/blogs/mikehall/default.aspx

 

[Peter Foldes]

Change or clean the Power Supply. Blowing out the dust that accumulated in there over time might rectify the issue. If not change the Power Supply

 

[Patrick Keenan]

Well, it does get quite hot. But, its weird, it only shuts off when im
doing
something. It happens Most when im playing a game. I'll be playing, then
it
just shuts off. it doesnt restart, just shuts off. And sometimes, i'll be
playing and then it'll just freeze, i can't Ctrl-Alt-Del. I have to hold
down
the off button. Its really bothering me, im scared that my comp might be
broken. I dont know if its the hardware, or the fans. Please help me.
Please!


-A Scared 15 year old

If the PC shuts off and restarts, it's a software crash that Windows is
trying to get around.

If the PC shuts off and *does not restart*, this is a sign of hardware
failure, often due to heat.

There is no way to fix this in software. You have to identify and replace
the damaged components, but that's not so simple.

It's very difficult to tell exactly which component has failed - and if it's
due to heat, it's quite possible to be more than one component. It can be
the processor (very likely) or memory or any of the components on the
motherboard (where heat damage is likely to spread), or the power supply.

Sorry, but there isn't an easy or inexpensive answer to this one.

HTH
-pk

 

[Steve Thackery]

If the PC shuts off and restarts, it's a software crash that Windows is

trying to get around.

Well, a driver problem, possibly. It's extremely difficult indeed for an
application to be able to crash Vista. Despite its other faililngs, it is
even more solid than XP and its predecessors in terms of crash resistance
(except for kernel mode drivers, which will always be able to bring down the
OS).

SteveT

 

[Peter Foldes]

If the PC shuts off and restarts, it's a software crash that Windows is

trying to get around.

That comment above is not true at all. Hardware issue will also do the same at times. Believe me I have seen this
at least a few hundred times.

The OP has a problem with his PS It is either full of dust or it is on it's way out or the HD is about to pass away

 

[Patrick Keenan]

If the PC shuts off and restarts, it's a software crash that Windows is
trying to get around.

That comment above is not true at all. Hardware issue will also do the same
at times. Believe me I have seen this
at least a few hundred times.

The OP has a problem with his PS It is either full of dust or it is on it's
way out or the HD is about to pass away
================

Not necessarily so. The power supply may be fine, while the processor may
be cooked. But there's no way to know without replacement, which can get
expensive.

-pk


================

 

[Nonny]

That comment above is not true at all. Hardware issue will also do the same at times. Believe me I have seen this
at least a few hundred times.

The OP has a problem with his PS It is either full of dust or it is on it's way out or the HD is about to pass away

This comes from someone who only this past week told one poor soul
that his CMOS battery was to blame for a system losing its time with
the PC powered up and with Windows running.

 

[Peter Foldes]

All I can do is smile Barney