Computer randomly shuts down?

So I bought a Gateway with Intel Core 2 Quad processor with Vista.

I was checking emails today and all of a sudden I heard the fan (at least I think it is the fan) kick on and the computer restarted. This happened the other day but the computer was idle, so I didn't think much of it. The computer showed no warning of restarting. I mean the computer wasn't doing much of anything.

Any idea of what might be causing this other than it being Microsoft?

Jam it back in, in the dark.

I had the exact same problem, and I found out that it was the motherboard going bad. If so, you'll turn it on at some point and it won't start up at all.

It happened whether the computer was idle or up at peak activity. Sounds pretty similar to what I had.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Motherboard? It's a brand new computer. What should I do?

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Your computer hates you just that much.

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Since its a new computer, just call Gateway and have them fix it under warrantee.

Should you decide not to mess with corporate hooligans, here is my advice:

Spoiler:

Sounds like your processor is overheating.
To test if this is definitely the case, do the following:

Download Speedfan, install it, configure it with logging enabled, and have it run in the background at all times. When the computer decides to shut down, you should hopefully have a log of the temperature of your processor in the SpeedFan installation directory up until the last second of operation. When your computer is all rebooted, go into the installation directory, and search for a dated .csv file. This should be the log. If you restarted SpeedFan before going into the directory, the log file should have an "-0001" at the end of the file name.

Anyways, check this file at the very end to see if there is any significant jump in temperature at the end.

If this is indeed the case, demand that Gateway send you a bigger fucking fan for the CPU.

I was speaking idiomatically.

It happens unfortunately. Alienware and Dell, for example, sometimes send out things that are Dead on Arrival. You might've just struck unluckily and got the bad draw. If packrat's fix doesn't help, I'd definitely address the warranty. Sorry bud =(

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Random Restarts nine times out of ten are a case of BSOD in XP (and vista) as the computer automaticly restarts after it crashes (It's unlike previous windows OS' where one could somewhat recover from a BSOD if the cercumstances were correct.)

That out of the way, I have to agree that this does seem to be a case of overheat.

FELIPE NO

BSOD? I haven't seen that in forever...

But since the A/C in my apartment is working now, I'm gonna watch it and use that program. My apartment has been at a nice 85 - 88 the past few weeks. If it starts acting up again though, I'll take it back to Best Buy and demand they fix it.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Post event logs in .EVT format for us to analyze.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

It is most likely the computer overheating.

I checked the core temperatures and I found that 2 of the cores are at 50 C and the other two are at 45~48 C. I'm sure when then apartment heats up in the day it gets even hotter. I'll post logs in a day or so to see if that is the case. either my fans are super quiet or they don't work.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

When it restarts, if you get the temperatures at the start up screen and its sitting in the "danger" zone which you can check in the BIOS, then its going to be overheating

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Usually this is a heat issue. Make sure the fan outlet is not blocked. Also, if you're in warranty, I would call tech support (as painful as that may be).

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?