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My computer keeps shutting off, what is causing this?

I don't have my computer on more than 10 minutes, and it shuts off, as if someone literally hit the power button. Then I have to get under it and flip the switch in the back off then back on, then hit the power button to turn it back on? Could this be a virus? Dirty?

8 Answers

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    It is either your computer is getting hot or not enough power is being sent to your computer by the power supply.

    Check your temperatures. Check your case fans if they are still doing fine. Intake and exhaust fans should be working. Check the CPU fan. Maybe you need a new one or its to dirty. Check your hard drive maybe its too hot when turned on. Check every hardware.

    Try disconnecting some of your equipment such as dvd drive, and try to turn it on. If your computer is still turning off, try disconnecting more equipment which are not essential. But when your computer does not anymore turn off then it means that you do not have enough power being sent by your power supply so buy a new one.

  • 1 decade ago

    people may tell you it's virus (doubtful), motherboard (possible), power supply or a bad card but if you have a desktop computer with a soft touch power button, chances are that there's a problem with the switch itself that there are times that it contacts the pins from inside the switch. if you have experience with electronics and computers, opening up the case and isolating the problem to the switch might do the trick since it's the troubleshooting step that's less the hassle than anything else hardware-related. So , how do you test? Before testing the switch, turn on your pc and go to the bios by press and tapping F2 or DEL on the keyboard as soon as you pressed to power button. Leave it in the bios for as long as you want to test it. If it doesnt shuts off, then it might be Windows related. But if it does shut off then do this. Open up the computer case. Turn on the computer while the case is open, as soon as it turns on, pull out the cable that connects the power switch from the board then leave it on for as long as you want to test it. If the PC still shuts off, then you may have to isolate by removing all cards (modem, sound card, etc etc) until you pinpoint the problem. Again, you can only do this if you have experience with computer hardware/electronics.. If none, then DO NOT attempt to do so coz you might hurt yourself or even damage the computer.

  • 1 decade ago

    could be a virus or poor air circulation. try cleaning the inside out as dust has prob accumulated on the parts such as the heat sink (huge hunk of metal with a fan on it) which can cause it not to cool as well which makes it over heat and shut off. but it could vary well be that your hardware motherboard , cpu , videocard ,etc could be going bad. i had a computer with a dieing motherboard with this problem. switched out the motherboard and problem solved

  • John K
    Lv 5
    1 decade ago

    Poor air circulation through the fan could be a possiblity, but it sounds like the power supply is going bad.

    Source(s): Personal Experience
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  • Anonymous
    4 years ago

    the two a deadly disease that your anti-virus utility won't be able to stumble on, has entered your laptop and is battling the laptop from loading OR your means furnish desires changing through fact the fan appears like that is not working to ultimate of that is skills, This feels like the case, try taking the means furnish out of your laptop , it truly is located on the superb and could want unscrewing, it truly is a metallic container do not open the container as their isn't something you're able to do of their, earlier you get rid of this container get colored tape and wrap a chew of this on each and every cord that's connecting on your motherboard, CD compartment and so on, that way if this technique does not paintings you may continually replace the container and understand the place each and all the wires circulate ! as quickly as the means furnish has been bumped off, circulate to a working laptop or laptop shop and get a similar means furnish which will greater healthful and sustain the means of your laptop, you need to continually get a means furnish unit from yet another laptop yet you may adventure loss of means on your laptop through fact the fan is suffering ! Insert the hot means furnish unit into your laptop jointly as finding on the wiring on your old container and matching the wires up ! it might paintings if that isn't the case then I advise a clean laptop or deliver this particular one to a working laptop or laptop shop !

  • 1 decade ago

    Processor over heats Clean or replace the fan.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    getting hot >check fans and clean with canned air if working

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    my laptop did something like that and I had a virus. you might want to run a scan on your computer. good luck!

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