My computer randomly shut down
 

So I've been leaving my cpu on for a few days and today it randomly shut down at around 7 AM. I booted it up again and it shut down again. I booted it a second time and it appears to be working fine. How can I find out why it shut down? I don't think that it overheated because I left my window open all night and my room is quite cold. The fans aren't ejecting air that's super hot either.

If you're using Windows XP Profesionnal, click Start -> All Programs -> Administrative Tools -> Event Viewer. Then, look through both Application and System logs, to see whether it's a specific program or system error causing the computer to shut down.

Check out your components in another computer if you can - I had a bad stick of ram one time that kept doing the weirdest shit in the world: artifacts, crazy random shit, shutting down automatically.

If you have an ABIT motherboard, you could make it give you a signal before it shuts down.

10-to-1 it's the CPU overheating if you aren't seeing any messages in Windows.

Next time you're at the computer and it shuts off, boot it back up and go into BIOS immediately (DEL/F1/whatever key). Some BIOSes have a display about the CPU temperature. Take not of it and report back.

If it's in the 60s+, likely that's your problem. Get a better CPU fan, more case fans, and/or make sure everything is just plugged in in the first place.

I had the same problem Mucknuggle. I think SirVG is right.
All I did was to clean the fan and it ran normally again.

Yes, cleaning the inside of your computer is the best idea. I'd suggest using a compressed air spray-can. They can work miracles.

If it isn't the CPU, it is quite likely the power supply is dying. Then again, random shut downs could be anything, but if you check your CPU temps and they aren't bad, I'd investigate the PSU.

Can I check the CPU temps from Windows? Also, is it safe to use a vacuum cleaner inside the machine? I think that I'm out of compressed air.

Certain programs will check the CPU temps from Windows, but generally it's doing it the same way BIOS does.

And using a vaccumm in a computer is a no-no. There's a bit of static charge by using one which has the potential to fry something. (So I've been told by people in the computer industry.)

Sir VG is right, it's best not to use a vacuum cleaner inside a computer. The best method is to use compressed air, but I've been told that a handheld cleaner that blows air works too.

Have you checked to see if its a program causing the crash?

I'm thinking it's not a software issue due to the fact that the whole computer shuts off instantly and he's not mentioning anything of consistancy. And even if there was software that is shutting off the computer (some software does this, like TMPGEnc) it doesn't instantly POOF the computer. It will give you some time to override.

That's why I'm betting hardware and my #1 speculation is CPU overheating because I've seen it happen myself.

I didn't notice anything in the event viewer, so it probably overheated somehow.

Use Everest home edition to check all your various temperatures. (http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4181.html)

Install it, run it, then click computer, then select sensor, and it should give you a run down of the various temperatures.

LOL. My cpu temp was 86 degrees Celsius. I opened up the case and the fans were filled with dust. I didn't have any compressed air, so I took a chance and vacuumed everything. The fan runs much quieter now.

The cpu is currently at 33 Celsius and the two SATA HDD are at 45 Celsius.

I hate to say so, but...

I TOLD YA SO. :tpg:

There was so much dust that it was clogging the CPU fan and my Radeon 9800 my mobo something or other. That was too funny. I'm glad that it's running cool now. My Sonata case is actually quiet for once - I can't notice the fan when I'm playing music anymore. It's been a LONG time since that has happened.

That's fucking unbelievable.

Dude, that is so unbelievably hot.

Are you running a stock fan? I've noticed that my Zalman gathers much less dust than my stock intel did.

What? 86 degrees Celcius? God Damn....Isn't the CPU Threshold Temp like 85C or 90C? Damn....

EDIT: Or if you're like me with a Prescott Core Computer, Those are supposed to get HOT. Like Obscenely Hot.

It depends on the processor itself; older CPUs generally have a much higher maximum temperature threshold. Although running at such high temperatures will definitely cut the CPUs lifespan.

You could try and maintain a positive case pressure (more air being pulled in than pushed out) which should stop dirty air being pulled into the case through small gaps.

Another thing is to use air filters on the intake fans, if you aren't already. Just be sure to clean them regularly, otherwise it kinda defeats the purpose of having intake fans.