My PC randomly turns off [Solved!]

[Ziggy]

No dust doesn't mean it's not overheating. I had a Dell Dimension E510 that was always clean and had excellent air flow (due to the case design). About a year after I got it, I had random shut downs. Took me a long time to figure out what was going on (mostly because there's no temp sensors). Eventually found out the NB was overheating causing it to shut off. Still went through all the regular motions, ruling out PSU first, reseating the CPU. Then going on to rule out software, then hard drive. Any way, point of my story, just because there's no dust doesn't automatically mean something isn't overheating.

[Erik_Twice]

^Yeah, that's what I mean. It (the dust) was not the cause. That's why I'm going to try another PSU.

I wouldn't bother until you've booted a live CD to eliminate software problems.

It's not software based. It shuts down instantly sometimes, way before any kind of software can be booted.

[Ziggy]

So here's a good question for overheating. If it shuts off and you immediately turn it back on, will it sometimes shut right off again? Or not even allow you to turn it back on?

[Erik_Twice]

So here's a good question for overheating. If it shuts off and you immediately turn it back on, will it sometimes shut right off again? Or not even allow you to turn it back on?

It allows me but shuts down pretty fast, at the first screen. Other times it lets me get to windows or halfway the booting process before turning off.

The more I wait, the more time I get before it turns off.

[Hobie-wan]

So here's a good question for overheating. If it shuts off and you immediately turn it back on, will it sometimes shut right off again? Or not even allow you to turn it back on?

It allows me but shuts down pretty fast, at the first screen. Other times it lets me get to windows or halfway the booting process before turning off.

The more I wait, the more time I get before it turns off.

Almost certainly overheating or flaky power supply then.

[Erik_Twice]

I changed the PSU and the problem persists. So it's probably RAM or something like that.

My dad is taking it to be repaired so it's not my problem for now. I expect they don't wipe my hardrive.

[Ziggy]

Could've just downloaded memtest for free.

[msimplay]

Yeah My Pc was pretty stable it turned off and on a couple of times and then burst into flames cheap power supply

[Erik_Twice]

Could've just downloaded memtest for free.

Don't worry, this was free too

It seems they just cleaned it and it worked. Probably something was stuck in a fan because I cleaned it myself.

I needed a new power supply anyways, the other one was too close to my system's needs.

[Breetai]

Boot a linux live CD, that will tell you whether it's your software or your hardware. Run memtest86+ and mprime on the live CD to stress the hardware. If that doesn't crash it, it's probably a virus. Otherwise bad PS or RAM.

Agreed, as this is my preferred solution.

I usually download and install KNOPPIX Linux to a flash USB drive (1GB or above memory stick is enough) when Windows is toast, since it recognizes any FAT32/NTSC (Windows) drives without having to do anything at all. That way, I can easily transfer anything I want to back up to an external hard drive in case I decide to reformat my internal hard drive.

If the stress test Hatta mentioned crashes the computer, then your computer really is screwed. As above, usually replacing the RAM or something will be the way to go. A diagnostics test may tell you what is wrong. It can be done from the bios. Windows has this built in from the bios screen.

Glad you got it fixed, anyway.