Computer keeps shutting down, randomly.

Anubis · **Posted:** September 20th, 2007, 2:04 pm

Okay, so it's not completely random. It's when I'm playing a game. Any game, that's right - even runescape, and I know my computer can handle that because I've done well over 48 hours straight on it before, but now, i can't even last 5 minutes.

After it shuts down, I have to unplug and replug it in... which causes me to think it's the power supply... >.>
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Teh Specs -
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OS: Windows XP: MCE
Processor: Pentium 4 3.06 GHz
RAM: 1024mb
Graphics Card: ATI Radeon x550
Graphics Driver: ati2dvag.dll
- Version: 6.14.0010.6719
- Date: 22/08/07
DirectX Version: 9.0c
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Help, I can't explain how badly I'm craving a game of Civ4 right now. XD

Adbot · **Posted:** September 20th, 2007, 2:04 pm

Steven · **Posted:** September 20th, 2007, 2:28 pm

I'm sorry, but maybe it is time to say goodbye to an old friend.

Either that or you could take it to a Computer Brokers store, (Computer shop) and see if they know what is wrong.

Anubis · **Posted:** September 20th, 2007, 2:34 pm

It's not even two years old, I got it early summer last year.

MattVortex · **Posted:** September 20th, 2007, 2:34 pm

Laptop or Desktop?

Other computer specs?

Anubis · **Posted:** September 20th, 2007, 2:56 pm

Desktop.
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OS: Windows XP: MCE
Processor: Pentium 4 3.06 GHz
RAM: 1024mb
Graphics Card: ATI Radeon x550
Graphics Driver: ati2dvag.dll
- Version: 6.14.0010.6719
- Date: 22/08/07
DirectX Version: 9.0c
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Need anything else?

Shane · **Posted:** September 20th, 2007, 3:33 pm

Have you added any new hardware recently?

Also you say it's only when playing a game. If it's after about 5 minutes it could be a wide variety of things. The first thing that came into my mind was a heat problem since you said only during games. Maybe there's something wrong with your fan/heatsink.

See what your fans and temps are at. If you need a monitor you can use this: http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php

Could also be bad ram if you've recently added some. Also a power supply shouldn't go bad within a year unless it was a really cheap one they used.

What brand is the machine?

Adbot · **Posted:** September 20th, 2007, 3:33 pm

MattVortex · **Posted:** September 20th, 2007, 3:38 pm

Have you installed any new software recently?

Have you installed any new hardware recently (this includes things like new usb flash drives, ipods etc)

What antivirus do you have?

Do you have a backup hard drive and an OS installation disk handy?

How long has the problem being going on?

How old is the system (when did you last install windows, or if you haven't, when did you get the computer)?

Anubis · **Posted:** September 20th, 2007, 3:57 pm

MattVortex wrote:

Have you installed any new software recently?

Civ4 was the last thing I installed, before that I do not remember. :s

Quote:

Have you installed any new hardware recently (this includes things like new usb flash drives, ipods etc)

I haven't installed any, no. I can't (with the exception of external) because of a warranty I want to keep.

Quote:

What antivirus do you have?

AVG Free

Quote:

Do you have a backup hard drive and an OS installation disk handy?

Because I got this computer bought for me, it was bought from a shop. I can reset windows if need be, but I'll need to back everything up first.

Quote:

How long has the problem being going on?

It's only really become as serious as 5 minutes per game recently, before that I could maybe have up to 3 hours playing a game (Sims 2 comes to mind, building a house and then having my computer shut off ***** me off immensely)

Quote:

How old is the system (when did you last install windows, or if you haven't, when did you get the computer)?

The *computer* is about 1 and a half years old. I've reset it about 30 times since then down to driver issues but I haven't had to in the last couple of months.

Tal Ormanda · **Posted:** September 20th, 2007, 4:39 pm

Randomly shuts down...I think of bad power supply.

Jaden · **Posted:** September 20th, 2007, 6:50 pm

Your computer is probably very dirty and dusty inside of it. My mom's computer had the very same symptoms and I opened up the computer and used an air pressure hose with a low pressure to clean the dust out. Try it man! Hope this helped.

Edit: Oh and after I cleaned it, it worked like a charm; no more random shut downs. And it would be very convenient to clean your computer every 7-12 months.

jrdgames · **Posted:** September 30th, 2007, 12:08 pm

Anubis wrote:

Quote:

Have you installed any new hardware recently (this includes things like new usb flash drives, ipods etc)

I haven't installed any, no. I can't (with the exception of external) because of a warranty I want to keep.

What is this warranty you speak of? If its parts, labor or service then you should probably backup your data and try to use your warranty.

If you can open your case without voiding a warranty then you should do so and clean out the dust and make sure the fans can spin freely.(make sure to turn of your computer before servicing but leave the power connected to your pc and the wall for grounding and don't do this on a carpet or while wearing socks, sweater things like that or while one of your little siblings are rubbing a balloon in your hair.)

If your pc still crashes then I would try setting it up with the case off and a fan blowing on it and then start it up and try to game, if it doesn't crash then you know it is a heat problem.