Wikiposts
Search
Computer/Internet Issues & Troubleshooting Anyone with questions about the terribly complex world of computers or the internet should try here. NOT FOR REPORTING ISSUES WITH PPRuNe FORUMS! Please use the subforum "PPRuNe Problems or Queries."

PC closing down....help

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 19th Apr 2011, 18:38
  #1 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: glasgow
Posts: 386
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
PC closing down....help

Twice this evening my PC has closed itself down and then restarted.
Could this be a sign of something failing?
Could it have been a been a momentary blip in the electricity supply?
renfrew is offline  
Old 19th Apr 2011, 19:05
  #2 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: East sussex
Posts: 624
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Did your pc display any screen error message before, I presume re-booting?

Edited to say...Had the same prob on a lappie.....Memory chip fault.
dazdaz1 is offline  
Old 19th Apr 2011, 19:13
  #3 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Earth
Posts: 3,663
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Self-installing Windows Updates followed by a reboot ?
mixture is offline  
Old 19th Apr 2011, 19:16
  #4 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: glasgow
Posts: 386
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
A screen did come up with some choices but the reboot then started before I did anything.

Not a windows update.I am familiar with them.

Last edited by renfrew; 19th Apr 2011 at 19:18. Reason: more info
renfrew is offline  
Old 19th Apr 2011, 19:27
  #5 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Out in the sticks in DE56
Age: 85
Posts: 565
Received 7 Likes on 5 Posts
Hottest day of the year so far. Had a look at the fan intake: any dust? If so, off with the case cover and have a look at the CPU. My old pc shut down a couple of summers back - I was astonished to see how much compacted fluff filled the gaps between the fins on the heat sink... and the fan looked as if someone had coated it in felt.
jimtherev is offline  
Old 19th Apr 2011, 19:31
  #6 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Bracknell, Berks, UK
Age: 52
Posts: 1,133
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by renfrew
A screen did come up with some choices but the reboot then started before I did anything.

Not a windows update.I am familiar with them.
You have 2 options to swiftly resolve this:

1) Note down the error message and options, and report it back to us here.

2) Boot into Safe Mode, and try a system restore to prior to your issues occurring.

If your choice of #2 above fails to work, you will probably have to commence anti-malware checking. If so, ask and i'll send you the link to my 'how to' document.

Cheers,
Mike.
Mike-Bracknell is offline  
Old 19th Apr 2011, 19:46
  #7 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: glasgow
Posts: 386
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks Jim and Mike.
I will have a look inside and will come back when it happens again.
renfrew is offline  
Old 19th Apr 2011, 20:20
  #8 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Wild Wild West
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Had the Blue Screen of Death on two of our computers recently. Both running Vista.

You might try BlueScreenView, a free program from NirSoft - freeware utilities: password recovery, system utilities, desktop utilities This analyses the minidump made when the system crashes and points to possible causes. In my case, it pointed to Avast, which combined with a Vista update might have been the cause. Upgraded Avast to the latest version, and (touch wood) no issues since.
Seat65B is offline  
Old 20th Apr 2011, 06:48
  #9 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Lincolnshire
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
I had that whilst in NZ with the laptop I took, after doing it 5-6 times throughout the week it failed to to start completely and was diagnosed as a motherboard fault - luckily as I couldn't back it up being away from home I could buy a casing for the hard drive and use it as an external.
deltapapa is offline  
Old 20th Apr 2011, 08:05
  #10 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Paris, France
Posts: 350
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Twice this evening my PC has closed itself down and then restarted.
Could this be a sign of something failing?
Overheating (fan failure or excessive dust) or a device driver bug are the main causes of unexpected reboots. If the machine does not want to reboot, overheating may be the issue. If it reboots with no problem, it's more likely to be a driver.

Check that all fans are running. Blow out any accumulated dust. Make a note of what you are doing when the machine reboots.

Failures caused by drivers are almost always caused by video drivers, which always contain bugs. Updating the driver may help, although in the case of video drivers you are often just trading one set of serious system-crashing bugs for another.

Sometimes a failing power supply, motherboard, or CPU may cause unexpected reboots.

If the reboots increase in frequency, it's probably hardware. If they do not increase in frequency, it's probably a driver.
AnthonyGA is offline  
Old 20th Apr 2011, 09:19
  #11 (permalink)  
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: May 2002
Location: glasgow
Posts: 386
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thank you.
I opened the case last night and got rid of some dust.
If it happens again I will note what the screen says and come back.
renfrew is offline  

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.