Thermal event

[m]

I have a dell pc windows xp home, recently it starting shutting down in the
middle of doing something twice so far in last few weeks. And when i turn it
back on it says recent shut down due to thermal event, im very new to puters
and know next to nothing. Im guessing this is related to overheating of some
kind. My fan is still blowing as i fel it when i put my hand there. It will
go back on if i wait a min or 2. It does this even if im just surfing or
reading a page, it was on for about 10 min just now when it happend. I dont
know how much a place like best buy or something like it will charge. So b4 i
go can anyone help me,, laymen terms appreciated :0) m

 

[MAP]

It seems that this can be caused by several different things-from bad fans to
a bad mother board,perhaps you should call dell.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=thermal+event

 

[Gary Brandenburg]

My brother's Dell did that same thing, recently, & it turned out to be the power
supply.
Is the fan, up top, where the electrical cord plugs in to the tower, running? If not,
then that's your problem.
He's running a Dimension desktop & the power supply for it was only about $30 US, &
was really quite easy to replace.

~Gary


I have a dell pc windows xp home, recently it starting shutting down in the
middle of doing something twice so far in last few weeks. And when i turn it
back on it says recent shut down due to thermal event, im very new to puters
and know next to nothing. Im guessing this is related to overheating of some
kind. My fan is still blowing as i fel it when i put my hand there. It will
go back on if i wait a min or 2. It does this even if im just surfing or
reading a page, it was on for about 10 min just now when it happend. I dont
know how much a place like best buy or something like it will charge. So b4 i
go can anyone help me,, laymen terms appreciated :0) m

 

[GHalleck]

I have a dell pc windows xp home, recently it starting shutting down in the
middle of doing something twice so far in last few weeks. And when i turn it
back on it says recent shut down due to thermal event, im very new to puters
and know next to nothing. Im guessing this is related to overheating of some
kind. My fan is still blowing as i fel it when i put my hand there. It will
go back on if i wait a min or 2. It does this even if im just surfing or
reading a page, it was on for about 10 min just now when it happend. I dont
know how much a place like best buy or something like it will charge. So b4 i
go can anyone help me,, laymen terms appreciated :0) m

The computer is overheating. Just how old is it? If it is already beyond
the warranty period or the time limit on the service agreement, a good
cleaning with a vacuum cleaner to remove dust, lint, etc., from critical
heatsinks, fans, air inlets, etc., might be all that is necessary. If
one knows how to open the computer case as well as being careful, it can
be a do-it-yourself job. Otherwise, a quick cleaning job is not that an
expensive of a service job at a local computer shop.

 

[windmap]

I have a dell pc windows xp home, recently it starting shutting down in the
middle of doing something twice so far in last few weeks. And when i turn it
back on it says recent shut down due to thermal event, im very new to puters
and know next to nothing. Im guessing this is related to overheating of some
kind. My fan is still blowing as i fel it when i put my hand there. It will
go back on if i wait a min or 2. It does this even if im just surfing or
reading a page, it was on for about 10 min just now when it happend. I dont
know how much a place like best buy or something like it will charge. So b4 i
go can anyone help me,, laymen terms appreciated :0) m

Call dell tech support with your service TAG

 

[m]

Hi ty so much for the info, i tried to open it but cant id love to wipe it
and vac it inside but it has these little screw type things and on the heads
of them there is no place for a screw driver to go, and i look inside as best
i can through vents an the fan and it looks verrrry dirty ive had it about
maybe 4 yrs and my warrenty is over. Im just worried if it is something
small will i get an honest place to not take advantage of my not being
computer savy. Well the fan is on and working i can feel it so it maust be
either dusty or one of the other things you mention. Thre best place round
here would be best buy, i called a guy i found in a local penny saver and he
said $150 just to check it out. but id rather get an estimate and then
decide. but ill try a local computer shop for the cleaning like you said that
sounds good ty again. Its also for a few months now been turning on every
night at 12 midnight by it self. and its not anything i turned on or set to
do that. Some people on here told me its something called lan or wake on lan,
but darned if i can find that, ty :0)