Computer shuts down suddenly!

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 26 Apr 2013 6:46 pm

My desktop (a Gateway) has developed a habit, with no notice, of suddenly just going "CLICK" and instantly shutting down (no shut-down routine, it just goes dead and the screen black). I have to reboot the machine to get it to start up again. Usually it will re-start without a problem, but every once in a while it freezes during the startup and then I have to press & hold the power button to shut it down again, then press it yet again to restart and hope the startup goes ok this time.

This sudden shut-down happens about once or twice an evening lately. About every 3 or 4 mornings I wake up and the 'puter has shut itself down at some point during the night and is 'off' by morning.

Anybody know what's going on here and whether there's a fix for it - or am I looking at the early stages of my computer's demise and I'd better back up the hard drive in a hurry?

Thanks,
Jim

Bill McCloskey · Post by **Bill McCloskey** » 26 Apr 2013 6:54 pm

Back up in a hurry

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 27 Apr 2013 2:45 am

Heat could cause this. The CPU has built in thermal detection and if it overheats it will shut itself off. Same way with a bad power supply.

Open the case and clean out the "dust bunnies" inside. The CPU cooler, the fans, etc.

Power it on and see if the CPU cooling fan and all the case fans are running. If one is bad that could be the cause.

I doubt its the hard drive, as that will not cause it to power off. Although you should have everything backed up on some external media or at least all the user data. Remember, "backups are not for IF they will ever be needed but for WHEN they are needed.

The PC tower needs to be located where it can get adequate air flow. A computer desk compartment many times does not allow good air flow. Sitting on the floor, regardless of how clean the house is, invites dust to be sucked into the PC.

Other than this, it will probably take a computer tech to figure out what is happening.

J W Alexander · Post by **J W Alexander** » 28 Apr 2013 3:34 am

I've had this happen a few times myself over the years, different computers though. Each time it was the power supply itself--replacing it with a good quality version solved the problem each time.

In addition to assuring adequate air flow through the case make sure you have some sort of UPS or battery back up too. My guess is most brand name computers have rather cheap power supplies and the constant voltage surges, spikes and such from normal power company supply takes a toll on them. The UPS gives them a fighting change at longer life.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 28 Apr 2013 4:33 am

Thanks guys!

Ole Dantoft · Post by **Ole Dantoft** » 5 May 2013 4:01 pm

+1 to everything Jack Stoner said.

"Sudden death"-errors like this are nearly always caused by hardware problems or simply lack of cooling due to "dust bunnies".

Ole

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 9 May 2013 12:44 pm

Oh boy. Okay, I opened the case and dusted everything I could reach with RadioShack Dust Remover spray (compressed air). Didn't seem to help and two days later I wake up, the CPU has shut itself off overnight (not uncommon lately), but now will not start AT ALL. Dead, dead dead. So... is it easy to change a power supply. Can an ignoramus like me do it easily or do have to pay a tech half of what the computer is worth to put in a new power supply?

Thanks,
Jim
(written from a different computer, obviously...)

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 9 May 2013 9:01 pm

BTW, it's a Gateway....

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 10 May 2013 2:42 am

May or may not be the power supply. could be the motherboard or some other component. There are ways of (somewhat) testing the power supply. But that requires a jumper on the 24 pin power plug (green wire to black)and all that says is whether the power supply turns on, not that all the voltages are OK. The first thing to do is remove the AC power cord that plugs into the power supply for at least 2 minutes - power supplies have a "crowbar" (electronic fuse) circuit and if that has tripped the primary AC power has to be removed for a short period for the crowbar to reset.

The brand of PC doesn't matter too much as most are now using standard power supplies not proprietary, but the type and required power supply wattage does. Is it a full size tower or a "compact" (thinner) type? The full sizes normally will take a standard ATX style power supply. The compact case models usually use a TFX style power supply.

I would bite the bullet and take it to computer shop, if the PC is less than two or three years old. Older than that you are better off putting the $$ in a new PC as repairs will usually cost more than the PC is worth and after the repairs you still have an "old" PC.

Bo Borland · Post by **Bo Borland** » 15 May 2013 3:06 am

Jim , i had the same problem with a 5 or 6 year old PC.. Diagnosed as leaking electrolytic capacitors by posting a photo here ....all of the capacitors on the mother board we leaking and had schmutz coming out the top.. it could have been heat related but i open my pc and vacuum it out a couple times a year..

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 15 May 2013 3:54 am

Had it looked at by a tech. Not the power supply. But the caps were discolored and fried-looking i.e., bad motherboard. Just ordered a new Dell... thanks for the help here guys.