Computer shutting itself off
- Thread starter Bonefrag
- Start date
- Joined
- Feb 7, 2012
- Messages
- 582
is it shutting it self off straight away or after a while. while your playing games etc etc.
Troubleshooting 101:
1) Before working on a problem with any computer back up important files you want saved on another device such as a external hd or a thumb drive(s). Pictures, resumes etc etc
2) CHECK TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS PLUGGED IN RIGHT AND THAT THERE ARE NO SHORTAGES OR MISSING CONNECTORS THAT MAY HAVE BROKEN OFF! This may seem herpderp but this is one of the most overlooked things when troubleshooting something like this. There was a News Station (could've been my local one lol) that purposely loosened the seta cable to the hd and they went into like 3 different stores: Fry's, Best Buy (Geek Squad) and a privately owned PC repair shop saying the computer wouldn't boot up.
- Fry's found the problem in 3 hours (waiting time)
- PC repair found the problem in 2 minutes
- Best Buy (Geek Squad) didn't even open the computer! They plugged it in, didn't start and said the hd was fried and tried to up-sell the person a whole new computer! Talk about herpderp lol
3) If your computer "crashes" listen to see if the psu (power supply unit) shuts off first or if the hd turns off or if the hd is skipping. If it's the psu then it's probably dying but if the hd then it's going bad as well if it's skipping, sounds like Nascar vroooom...... vroooom.
4) If you can't tell then here's a trick I learned at ITT-Tech:
- Unplug and take your psu out of the case along with any wires connected to the psu.
- Unbend a paperclip into a U
- Stick one of the paper clip ends into a BLACK connector on the mb cable and stick the other end into a GREEN connector. This makes a circuit.
- Plug in your psu to the wall (DO NOT TOUCH THE PAPERCLIP OR WIRES) and let it run and see if it stops/ dies around the usual time your comp crashes.
- If it's not the psu then put your hd into another computer and see if it crashes. If so then you have a bad hd.
When all else fails... take it into a PC repair store.
1) Before working on a problem with any computer back up important files you want saved on another device such as a external hd or a thumb drive(s). Pictures, resumes etc etc
2) CHECK TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS PLUGGED IN RIGHT AND THAT THERE ARE NO SHORTAGES OR MISSING CONNECTORS THAT MAY HAVE BROKEN OFF! This may seem herpderp but this is one of the most overlooked things when troubleshooting something like this. There was a News Station (could've been my local one lol) that purposely loosened the seta cable to the hd and they went into like 3 different stores: Fry's, Best Buy (Geek Squad) and a privately owned PC repair shop saying the computer wouldn't boot up.
- Fry's found the problem in 3 hours (waiting time)
- PC repair found the problem in 2 minutes
- Best Buy (Geek Squad) didn't even open the computer! They plugged it in, didn't start and said the hd was fried and tried to up-sell the person a whole new computer! Talk about herpderp lol
3) If your computer "crashes" listen to see if the psu (power supply unit) shuts off first or if the hd turns off or if the hd is skipping. If it's the psu then it's probably dying but if the hd then it's going bad as well if it's skipping, sounds like Nascar vroooom...... vroooom.
4) If you can't tell then here's a trick I learned at ITT-Tech:
- Unplug and take your psu out of the case along with any wires connected to the psu.
- Unbend a paperclip into a U
- Stick one of the paper clip ends into a BLACK connector on the mb cable and stick the other end into a GREEN connector. This makes a circuit.
- Plug in your psu to the wall (DO NOT TOUCH THE PAPERCLIP OR WIRES) and let it run and see if it stops/ dies around the usual time your comp crashes.
- If it's not the psu then put your hd into another computer and see if it crashes. If so then you have a bad hd.
When all else fails... take it into a PC repair store.
Troubleshooting is a work in progress and will require trying a few things to help rule out the issue at hand. I would suggest disconnecting the power cord and open the side of the tower. Look inside at the capacitors on your motherboard and if they are not flat on top and are slightly bubbled out or show dry stains of maybe a leaking capacitor that is bad and is showing that the motherboard is failing. If the capacitors look good then I would try a different power supply if you have one laying around that is the same or larger wattage. Also if you've recently added any new hardware such as another hard drive or a new video card, it is possible you didn't think to see what size power supply you need to power all of the hardware inside your computer. Pulling more power than the PSU can provide will also be a cause for issues. The power supply does come to mind when a computer just shuts off on itself but just like Erebos said, make sure all physical connections are secure. Post back with any updates.
I don't think anything is wrong with the hard drive or the motherboard. Logically, it could be the power supply due to my new video card however, the video card has been working fine for months when playing MW3. Only recently has it starting this...so it's strange. We'll see.
Take out your video card and try it, if that doesn't work then it could possibly be your power supply. I had a similar issue with a bad one, plugged in, turned it on and well lights came on fans spinned for maybe two seconds then everything died. Contact the retailer of the power supply if it's still under warranty and rma it 
