My computer keeps shutting down, help!

[bad pc]

Heat, bad powersupply, bad motherboard.

Heat, don't know but i can hear the fan running..Bad powersupply, maybe but i have it plugged stright into a 110 outlet..Bad motherboard, don't know. how can i test this???

[Cajunheat]

Bad, even if you can hear a fan spinning it still can be a heat problem. How old is this computer? Do you ever blow out the insides with compressed air? Dried up thermal paste, a clogged up heatsink, bad airflow in the case, or a dead or dying fan can all cause a heat problem. Most BIOS have a area that shows temp readings and power readings, how to access this is dependent on your motherboard so you might have to research how to do this if you don't know how. Generally in newer CPU's you need to keep the temps below 60 degree Celsius. If it is your powersupply, again you can check your BIOS to get a basic idea if the power is in spec but the best why is to use a voltmeter. The easiest way to check the powersupply is to change it out with a known good one. Unless you have specialize electronic equipment the only way to diagnose a motherboard problem is to eliminate the possibility of everything else then trade it out.

[Kathy_14760]

I have 3 computers on the same desk and all plugged it to the same surge protector and only one keeps shutting down all the time I have not added or deleted any thing new on or off the computer it does it on any program even if i'm not using it , it will just shut down and not restart if it helps it has windows 7 on it it started it about a month ago and i'm at my wits end please help if you can thank you

[JPMiller]

You can try WhoCrashed...
Its a place to start anyway...

without more info... ( like what can be gotten by using Speccy)... Its most likely either heat or a power supply issue..
Heat can be ruled out reasonably easily by removing the side and using a box/house fan to blow cool air over the interior while running.... If it stops shutting off that's the likely culprit.
I always tell people to take the side of the computer case off and blow out the interior with canned air and a paint brush
Just turn it off, unplug the power and take the 2 left side screws out of the back, and/or any lever mechanism that might hold it on.
then gently loosen dust and dirt from within with a paint brush and a vacuum or compressed air.
(best to hold fan blades with something like a pencil to keep them from spinning up too fast)

If its not heat, the power supply may be failing.
It either needs to be cleaned with canned air or replaced...
Make sure the fan inside is spinning when on, If not it's probably overheating...

[Kathy_14760]

I have cleaned it and do this at least 1 time a month and i have one side panel off all the time ( just haven't put it back on since cleaning it ) I will try the fan blowing on it, could it be the power cord thank you the help

[Kathy_14760]

it can just be sitting there on and just shut down and nobody is using it

[JPMiller]

I'm not talking about the power cord, I'm talking about the computers internal power supply...
It is a box most likely at the upper back corner of the tower that has all the power cables coming from it...
If that is going bad it will do what you are describing...
Heat is unlikely if its not under any load and you've cleaned it out and tried the fan blowing over it.

[Kathy_14760]

ok thank you i have another power box so i will try that i will let you know if it works

[JPMiller]

"another" may not be any better...
WHAT other power supply do you have?
name brand, wattage, and what it says under the +12V amps section of the sticker...

[Gabe19]

it does the same thing to my computer also there is no way to fix it you have to get a new lap top or get a circuit breaker switch and reeboot the system but somtimes that will not work it worked to me though

[stroyal]

it does the same thing to my computer also there is no way to fix it you have to get a new lap top or get a circuit breaker switch and reeboot the system but somtimes that will not work it worked to me though

[Kathy_14760]

I got a fan and hooked to to the side of the computer with one side off and so far (knock on wood) it seams to be working .

[stroyal]

I got a fan and hooked to to the side of the computer with one side off and so far (knock on wood) it seams to be working .

There you go, that fan test is one of the best diagnosis tool for overheating there is.

You can diagnose case cooling and CPU cooling at the same time.

If your case and CPU goes down by the same amount, maybe you only need better case cooling.
If the case stays the same and the CPU goes down (just a little or non), then the CPU cooler is the problem.

Also if the case temp is the same as the room temp, or close to it, the CPU cooler is lacking.

The coolest you can get the case is room temp.

[Kathy_14760]

ok ty very much

[Kathy_14760]

my is a desk top not a lap top

[stroyal]

my is a desk top not a lap top

We know.
What made you think, we thought it was a laptop?

[Kathy_14760]

some one said there was nothing to do for it but to replace the lap top

[stroyal]

some one said there was nothing to do for it but to replace the lap top

Oh ya, I forgot about that Idiot, you saw my comment.

There was nothing useful in that post.

[Kathy_14760]

yes i did and i got a fan running and it has helped so i'm going to go get a better fan for it and replace the old one inside ty for all your help this is a great site i love it

[stroyal]

Don't forget there are 2 elements to a cool PC, case cooling, and CPU cooling.
Addressing this should be done in the following order.

If you have temperature monitoring you should check the case/motherboard temp now with the big fan running. (noting the room temp also)

This temp will represent the best you can get the case cooling.
Then you should do what ever it takes to get your case temps to that temp with the case closed up.
All temps should be taken, with consideration to room temp.( if the room temp goes up 10f, the CPU will go up, pretty close to 10f)

1. change any fan guards to this type, 92mm Fan Grilles at SVC.com.
Most cases have guards with tiny holes, that stop MORE than 50% air flow.
Front fans, because they are behind the front cover, should have no guards whatsoever.
Also some front covers have no inlets, so you may have to modify that.

2. If this dose not reach the target temp, then and only then consider faster or bigger case fans.
Just changing the Guards usually does the trick.

3. Once the case is at it's lowest possible temp, and you still need to lower the CPU temp more, then consider a better CPU cooler.
The CPU cooler is only as good as the case air it is running in.

Of course case modes are going to involve cutting/sawing/drilling.
How much you want to get into that, is up to you.