Vista keeps shutting down laptop

[Sandra]

I have a new (3 month old) Acer laptop, factory installed with Vista Home
Premium. Since the day I bought it, the computer keeps shutting down at
random - power off, black screen, no auto restart. It's rarely online, and I
do not download stuff off the net, not even music. This highly frustrating
event is random - sometimes after 10 minutes of use, sometimes after a couple
of weeks without problem.

Have added a couple of legit programs (Photoshop, MSN Messenger), but this
has been happening since day one, well before I added any software.

To get it to restart, I have to use safe mode, do a system restore, then
when it restarts and gets to the desktop - blam, shuts down again. Wait at
least two hours, then cross my fingers and try again.

I called Microsoft and their not-too-helpful answer was to restore factory
settings. Not much use when the problem has been happening since the day I
bought the computer.

So - does anyone have any suggestions? I see a Mac on my not-too-distant
horizon, but figured I'd give this forum a shot first.

Thank you.

 

[Rick Rogers]

Hi,

At a guess, I'd say you're overheating. Either the internal fans aren't
working properly or the vents are being blocked. The waiting period is a
pretty good symptom of this. You're still under warranty, use it and have
Acer check the machine out.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

 

[Sandra]

Hi Rick,

Thanks for the suggestion. Overheating seems to be a common problem, but
quite often (tonight, for instance), the laptop shuts down after being on
less than 10 minutes. I opened it up, started reading some Photoshop help
directions, and off it went. Barely had time to warm up. At this point, I'm
ready to pitch it out the window - but then I'd be without my shiny new
coaster, which is about the only thing I can rely on it for.

I think it boils down to Vista just being a crappy, unstable OS. My husband
mentioned to a co-worker that I was frustrated with it, and the guy just
smiled and said "Shuts her computer down, doesn't it?" Seems I'm not the only
one.

Thanks, though!

 

[Mike Hall - MVP]

I have a local client who is happy as all hell with her Acer/Vista laptop.

Instead of blaming Vista, take the thing back to where you bought it and get
it checked out..

 

[Rick Rogers]

Hi Sandra,

I doubt it's the operating system (Vista), as the symptoms are screaming
"hardware failure". FWIW, I've got three systems in my house running various
versions of Vista, all very stable including an HP laptop (from which I am
remoting to my x64 Vista machine where this message originates right now)
and two custom builds. None of my systems shut down unless I initiate it,
and that's pretty rare as I run all my systems 24/7. Most (actually
virtually all) of the systems that have crossed my workbench with
spontaneous shutdown issues have been heat-related.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

 

[Sandra]

Mike, that would normally be a good suggestion, but for the next 7 months
we're on contract in a remote fly-in community. Only way in or out is by
plane, and shipping the laptop out for service isn't worth the cost of the
machine.

I bought it right before we left home and flew up here, otherwise you can
bet I'd be in that store tomorrow. Until then, trying to find a solution
online is the next best thing.

 

[Malke]

Mike, that would normally be a good suggestion, but for the next 7 months
we're on contract in a remote fly-in community. Only way in or out is by
plane, and shipping the laptop out for service isn't worth the cost of the
machine.

I bought it right before we left home and flew up here, otherwise you can
bet I'd be in that store tomorrow. Until then, trying to find a solution
online is the next best thing.

Sandra - While I sympathize with your predicament, as the others have
told you your symptoms are normally caused by hardware issues. Naturally
since none of us can see your computer this is not a definitive
diagnosis, but the conclusion that the others (and I) have come to is
based on many years of doing professional tech support. So of course you
need to take the advice you receive as a "best guess" by people who
don't have hands-on with the machine.

You cannot fix hardware problems with software and there is no getting
around it. Since you obviously can get to the Internet if you have a
fast connection you can download Knoppix, a Linux distro that runs from
CD. Create your bootable Knoppix CD (may need third-party burning
software in Vista - you do in XP) and boot your machine with it. If the
machine exhibits the same symptoms in Linux, then you know for sure the
issues are caused by hardware.

Or restore the computer to factory condition by whichever method Acer
has provided. If the problems are solved, be very cautious about the
things you install. Install only one thing at a time and test after each
installation. If the problems are not solved, this also lets you know
that there is faulty hardware.


Malke

 

[Sandra]

Hi Rick,

Do you really think it's possible for a laptop to overheat after 10 minutes?
I ask that question in all sincerity because I just don't have that much
experience with them. I know that if there's a lot dust or pet hair around
it's easy to clog vents and intakes, but the laptop hasn't been exposed to
either. When not in use, it's tucked away in a computer bag. We also have a
7-year-old PC in the same room running XP - have never had a moment's problem.

It's also odd that, on a good day, I can run it for 5 or 6 hours without a
problem. The fan comes on as needed and works fine. If it's actually an
overheating problem, wouldn't it be more consistent than that (i.e., always
shutting down after a short period of time)?

The reason I'm leaning toward a software problem is that I'm encountering
more and more people (as I begin asking questions) that have the same problem
with Vista. Not all have laptops.

I would take it in for service, but as I mentioned to Mike, we're living in
a fly-in community (no roads and 1 store) until June. Until then, my only
hope is to try and find a solution online.

Thanks for your help!

 

[Rick Rogers]

Hi Sandra,

If it's an intermittent electrical short or open, then the cpu fan will
sometimes operate for a time, sometimes not at all. Most modern motherboards
have a failsafe switch built in that shuts the system off if an overheating
condition exists. This is to prevent damage to the very heat-sensitive
processors commonly used. Laptops, to conserve power, generally only run the
fans when heat nears the limit, and it doesn't take long for the cpu to
reach this point. Yours may be failing to kick on when needed, it could be a
sensor, capacitor, crack in the solder trace, etc. In any case, if this is
what is happening, it's a hardware issue.

If Vista is indeed shutting the system down intentionally, it should show
something in the Event Viewer's system log. There are scattered reports of
Vista being the cause of shutdowns, but keep in mind that users generally
blame the operating system regardless of what the problem really is. The
only time I've seen the operating system (any, not just Vista but any flavor
of Windows or Linux) intentionally causing a shutdown of the system is when
it is infected with a virus that does it by design.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

 

[Hobo]

I have a new (3 month old) Acer laptop, factory installed with Vista Home
Premium. Since the day I bought it, the computer keeps shutting down at
random - power off, black screen, no auto restart. It's rarely online, and I
do not download stuff off the net, not even music. This highly frustrating
event is random - sometimes after 10 minutes of use, sometimes after a couple
of weeks without problem.

Have added a couple of legit programs (Photoshop, MSN Messenger), but this
has been happening since day one, well before I added any software.

To get it to restart, I have to use safe mode, do a system restore, then
when it restarts and gets to the desktop - blam, shuts down again. Wait at
least two hours, then cross my fingers and try again.

I called Microsoft and their not-too-helpful answer was to restore factory
settings. Not much use when the problem has been happening since the day I
bought the computer.

So - does anyone have any suggestions? I see a Mac on my not-too-distant
horizon, but figured I'd give this forum a shot first.

Thank you.

Hmmmm, sounds like the problem my wife was having. Late in
the evening she would be using her laptop while propped up
in bed and frequently her computer would shut down at odd
intervals. When she finally told me she was having problems
I discovered that it was overheating because the air events
under it (a Dell) were being blocked part of the time
because it was laying against a blanket. Made her a small
light weight tray to sit the computer on and the problem was
solved.

I think you have a random overheating problem as well.

Hobo

 

[Sandra]

Hi Malke,

Thank you! I don't know if these suggestions will work, but at least it's
gives me some constructive options.

All my files are backed up, so I'm going to go through a process of
elimination. I'll restore to factory settings first. Everything added to the
machine is supposedly Vista compatible (right down to the mouse), including a
brand-new version of Adobe Suite, so if I reinstall they shouldn't create a
problem.

I'll also create the Knoppix CD. If the factory reset doesn't work, I'll see
what happens running Knoppix.

Since the laptop sometimes runs for a couple of weeks without problem, it
might take a month or so to narrow the problem down. But I do appreciate the
help, and if I get it figured out I'll post back and let you know.

Thanks,
Sandra

 

[Sandra]

Hi Rick,

That definitely answers my question. I figured that since it can sometimes
run all day without overheating, that wasn't the issue. But a short would
explain it.

Malke offered a couple of suggestions to help narrow it down, and I'm going
to give them a try (Knoppix and returning to factory settings).

I do have one last question - while shutdowns are often random, I've noticed
that they occur more often when there's been even a tiny change to the
system. For instance, I bought a new Nexxtech mouse and tried using it.
Shortly after, the laptop shut down. I did a system restore, and switched to
a Vista-compatible Microsoft mouse.

The same thing happened when I plugged in a Kodak digital camera and an
Iomega external storage drive. Within a few minutes, the machine goes dead,
and I'm back to the system-restore routine.

Would incompatible drivers shut a machine down like that (I'm talking
complete power-down, black screen), or does this still sound like an
overheating issue?

Again, thanks for taking the time to help out with this. If I get it figured
out, I'll post back and let you know.

Sandra


So here's what I'm wondering - if a peripheral is not compatible with Vista,
will the resulting problems

Again, thanks for taking the time to try and help with this.

 

[Malke]

Hi Rick,

That definitely answers my question. I figured that since it can sometimes
run all day without overheating, that wasn't the issue. But a short would
explain it.

Malke offered a couple of suggestions to help narrow it down, and I'm going
to give them a try (Knoppix and returning to factory settings).

I do have one last question - while shutdowns are often random, I've noticed
that they occur more often when there's been even a tiny change to the
system. For instance, I bought a new Nexxtech mouse and tried using it.
Shortly after, the laptop shut down. I did a system restore, and switched to
a Vista-compatible Microsoft mouse.

The same thing happened when I plugged in a Kodak digital camera and an
Iomega external storage drive. Within a few minutes, the machine goes dead,
and I'm back to the system-restore routine.

Would incompatible drivers shut a machine down like that (I'm talking
complete power-down, black screen), or does this still sound like an
overheating issue?

Hi, Sandra - I'm sure Rick will come back with some more thoughts but to
answer your question about plugging in peripherals: usually bad drivers
will cause the computer to blue screen and give a Stop Error rather than
just shutting the computer down. Also, software problems such as bad
drivers will usually (understand that I'm generalizing here) not be so
random. It really does sound like an electrical problem as Rick described.


Malke

 

[Sandra]

Thank you, Malke. If it turns out to be an electrical problem, I won't know
for sure until we fly back to civilization in June and can get to a repair
place, but your answers are definitely helping to test (and possibly
eliminate) software problems before then.

I've just finished restoring factory defaults, so I'll see how it goes from
here!

Thanks,
Sandra

 

[mysterie79]

Been there, done that with several laptops overheating so I know how that
goes. However I don't think that's your problem. I have a 2 day old laptop
and I am having the same problems. I have not downloaded a single thing to
this machine so that is also not the problem. It just freezes up, turns off
and reboots at random... sometimes when it's been on for 2 mins, other times
when it's been on for 2 hours or more.

I've been doing alot of searching online and have found many, many people
complaining about the same problems and it's all being blamed on Windows
Vista. I haven't found the solution yet, hoping it can be fixed with an
update, or else I'll be heading back into the store to see what they have to
say. So only help I can give you is to search around online and see what
others are doing. Good luck.

Mary

 

[bpilati]

I find it surprising that an MVP would immediately assume that Vista is being
blamed, and even if it was, ought to work to provide logical support for a
solution. I have the same problem on an HP desktop. I have replaced the
power supply, motherboard & processor, and cpu fans. It still happens just
like before. I have searched for software solutions. Now people come here
to find solutions to problems they can't find anywhere else. I'm not
convinced it isn't a software (maybe Vista) problem. I surfed the Internet
and seen people have the same problem with no solutions, and it mostly
appears to be Vista computers. I don't think you're here to defend Vista are
you?

 

[Rick Rogers]

The poster specifically wrote that she thought the shutdowns were due to the
operating system. A friend agreeing with her husband seemed sufficient
evidence to blame the OS.

However, she's wrong. If she were right, we'd all be having this problem.
We're not (and by "we", I'm talking about hundreds of thousands of Vista
users). It's not a Vista issue any more than it's a linux issue.

It has nothing to do with defending Vista or any other installed OS, it has
everything to do with redirecting the poster to a useful solution, ei: the
hardware. As I already mentioned, the vast majority of spontaneous shutdown
issues have nothing to do with the OS (it wouldn't matter if it were
windows, linux, or solaris) and everything to do with the hardware and the
protection mechanisms built into the components. The solution to her issue
is there in the hardware.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

 

[Steeelers]

I find it surprising that an MVP would immediately assume thatVistais being
blamed, and even if it was, ought to work to provide logical support for a
solution.  I have the same problem on an HP desktop.  I have replacedthe
power supply, motherboard & processor, and cpu fans.  It still happens just
like before.  I have searched for software solutions.  Now people come here
to find solutions to problems they can't find anywhere else.  I'm not
convinced it isn't a software (maybeVista) problem.  I surfed the Internet
and seen people have the same problem with no solutions, and it mostly
appears to beVistacomputers.  I don't think you're here to defendVistaare
you?







- Show quoted text -

There nothing wrong with Vista . It more like user's are the problem .
I been from day one when xp came out a fan of it . Now I am a fan of
Vista . Bottom line learn to understand it before complaining about
it . And I believe me I don't care much for MS but Vista isn't or
shouldn't be blame for everything .

 

[Kirby Blaize]

The poster specifically wrote that she thought the shutdowns were due to the
operating system. A friend agreeing with her husband seemed sufficient
evidence to blame the OS.

However, she's wrong. If she were right, we'd all be having this problem.
We're not (and by "we", I'm talking about hundreds of thousands of Vista
users). It's not a Vista issue any more than it's a linux issue.

It has nothing to do with defending Vista or any other installed OS, it has
everything to do with redirecting the poster to a useful solution, ei: the
hardware. As I already mentioned, the vast majority of spontaneous shutdown
issues have nothing to do with the OS (it wouldn't matter if it were
windows, linux, or solaris) and everything to do with the hardware and the
protection mechanisms built into the components. The solution to her issue
is there in the hardware.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

 

[Kirby Blaize]

i agree to your response Rick
i also have vista home and experience the same random shut downs, it’s not a
virus for shore I all update my Norton 09 and scan the system. No restart or
any thing and on reboot different massages from group policy to incorrect
password (which I do not have a password set) keep appearing. Vista runs fine
and it not over heating the 3 fans keeps it as cool as an AC so it has to be
hardware or software. Some friends suggested that windows defender goes it
some times when there is another antivirus but I turned it off and it still
dose it some times a matter of fact this is the longest time it’s been on
since it started. Rebooting with different OS dose not work I have tried I
with vista ultimate and still. And it never completes loading a backup.
Well later if any of you can help me it will be fine I don’t want to give up
on vista just yet.
Kirby.