Laptop keeps shutting off at random times.

REmaster · 06-22-2006, 01:36 AM

Lately my computer has been shutting off at random moments. When it does shut off, I try and hit te power button again only for it to get to either get to the startup screen and freeze (before eventually shutting off), or it gets to my desktop and shuts off again. Usually if I leave it alone for a min or two it'll start back up again. This doesn't happen every day, but on the days it does happen it usually happens 1-5 times a day!

There is no warning or anything before it shuts off. You could be doing anything like watching a video clip or listening to music and it'll shut off instantly. However, it's usually when I'm either visiting web sites or watching videos when it will shut off. Thankfully this doesn't happen when I'm playing video games or emulators. This also usually doesn't happen when it's unplugged and sitting on my lap however everywhere else it happens.

Virus scans don't show any viruses or malware that may be causing it. So I doubt it may be a virus related thing though I did post a hijackthis log on gamefaqs just in case. This is also beginning to happen more frequently. Does anyone have any idea what may be wrong?

Drew_ · 06-22-2006, 06:11 AM

Sounds like it's overheating. Try cleaing the fan and using it on a flat surface instead of your lap.

**laboye** · 06-22-2006, 01:21 PM

That does sound like overheating. Indeed, check that internal fan. See if it is moving and check for dust and objects that may be slowing it down. Meanwhile, give us the computer's brand and model#. We'll try to get this solved ASAP.

REmaster · 06-22-2006, 06:18 PM

Yea I kinda thought that might be the case. I'm not exactly sure how to clean out the fan though. The laptop is a gateway notebook pentium 4 processor 532. (if any of this sounds like the wrong information, it's because I'm not exactly computer savvy). The model number is 7325GZ.

I started using it on a flatter surface and no problems so far. But then again there have been days where there wasn't any problems and many problems the next day.

Also I noticed that my Game Boy Advance emulator (VisualBoyAdvance) seems to be slowing down within mins of playtime and it becomes very laggy. None of my other emulators do this however nor do any of the disc games I bought have that problem. So I am also wondering if this emulator is just crappy or could be a cause from the overheating problem.

**Terrister** · 06-22-2006, 06:39 PM

Here are some laptop cleaning tips.
http://mobileoffice.about.com/od/usi...leanlaptop.htm

**TheMatt** · 06-22-2006, 09:02 PM

Download MobleMeter and post the CPU and Hard disk temps.
http://www.geocities.co.jp/SiliconValley-Oakland/8259/

REmaster · 06-22-2006, 11:49 PM

I just cleaned out the fan vents and a few other things with a can of compressed air. So far there have been no problems, and I think it may have been improved since my GBA emulator no longer seems to lag. Also the computer has been a lot less noisy and the fan sounds a little more "fluid". Thanks for the tips all.

Also I downloaded and ran that mobile thing and here are the results:

Frequency: 31.0 ghz

Temperature: 51 C (it used to be 68)

charge rate: 0.00w

Hdd: 47.0

**laboye** · 06-24-2006, 11:23 AM

No Problem! Good thing it was just that. Something more serious may have been more costly and harder to fix...

**TheMatt** · 06-24-2006, 03:30 PM

68 degrees would definatley give the CPU good reason to force a shutdown. 51 is good now.

**laboye** · 06-25-2006, 12:18 PM

Ya, actually I just noticed that 68 degrees in parenthases! That is quite a damn good reason to terminate power...

Now, I would like to know if this is an isolated incident, or a design flaw. I have been noticing that people have a lot of these problems with Acer laptops...

Very interesting...

leo959 · 09-13-2009, 06:05 PM

I HAVE a dv9033cl hp laptop and I'm having the same problems CAN ANYONE HELP ME?

06-22-2006, 01:36 AM	#1 (permalink)
REmaster Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 4 OS: Windows XP SP2	Laptop keeps shutting off at random times. Lately my computer has been shutting off at random moments. When it does shut off, I try and hit te power button again only for it to get to either get to the startup screen and freeze (before eventually shutting off), or it gets to my desktop and shuts off again. Usually if I leave it alone for a min or two it'll start back up again. This doesn't happen every day, but on the days it does happen it usually happens 1-5 times a day! There is no warning or anything before it shuts off. You could be doing anything like watching a video clip or listening to music and it'll shut off instantly. However, it's usually when I'm either visiting web sites or watching videos when it will shut off. Thankfully this doesn't happen when I'm playing video games or emulators. This also usually doesn't happen when it's unplugged and sitting on my lap however everywhere else it happens. Virus scans don't show any viruses or malware that may be causing it. So I doubt it may be a virus related thing though I did post a hijackthis log on gamefaqs just in case. This is also beginning to happen more frequently. Does anyone have any idea what may be wrong?

06-22-2006, 01:21 PM	#3 (permalink)
laboye TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Hollywood, FL Posts: 1,246 OS: Windows xp Pro/Vista Beta 2/Ubuntu 6.06 LTS My System	That does sound like overheating. Indeed, check that internal fan. See if it is moving and check for dust and objects that may be slowing it down. Meanwhile, give us the computer's brand and model#. We'll try to get this solved ASAP. __________________ Repair Windows XP Guide --- Resolutions Crazy Computer that I'm saving up for::Antec P180 Case;PC Pwr&Cooling 1kW Quad SLI PSU;Asus P5N32-SLI SE Deluxe;Intel Core2 XE X6800;Corsair TWIN2XP2048 2GB PC2-6400 DDR2 RAM;2xAsus GeForce 7950 GX2;BFG PhysX Accel.;IBM DVD-RAM/Plextor DVD±RW;Seagate 750GB HD 7200RPM;WDX 150GB 10000RPM;Vigor Monsoon TEC Cooler

06-22-2006, 06:39 PM	#5 (permalink)
Terrister Moderator Hardware Forum Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: West Georgia, USA Posts: 7,098 OS: Xp	Here are some laptop cleaning tips. http://mobileoffice.about.com/od/usi...leanlaptop.htm __________________

06-22-2006, 09:02 PM	#6 (permalink)
TheMatt TSF Enthusiast Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 13,701 OS: Win 3.1, 98, NT 4.0, XP Debian 4.0, Kubuntu 6.06 My System Blog Entries: 3	Download MobleMeter and post the CPU and Hard disk temps. http://www.geocities.co.jp/SiliconValley-Oakland/8259/ __________________ - Matt M - KB1OSC - Folding@Home 85015 [url="http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/"] If TSF has helped you, please consider donating. If I have stopped responding to a thread, feel free to send me a PM with a link to the thread. It is advisable to subscribe to threads so you will receive updates when replies are posted. You can subscribe to threads from the "Thread Tools" Menu. »Memtest86 »Prime95 »UBCD »SpeedFan »NHC Personal »Everest »Sandra »PC Wizard »RivaTuner »ATi Tool Click here for Useful Articles and Guides

06-22-2006, 11:49 PM	#7 (permalink)
REmaster Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 4 OS: Windows XP SP2	I just cleaned out the fan vents and a few other things with a can of compressed air. So far there have been no problems, and I think it may have been improved since my GBA emulator no longer seems to lag. Also the computer has been a lot less noisy and the fan sounds a little more "fluid". Thanks for the tips all. Also I downloaded and ran that mobile thing and here are the results: Frequency: 31.0 ghz Temperature: 51 C (it used to be 68) charge rate: 0.00w Hdd: 47.0 Last edited by REmaster; 06-22-2006 at 11:53 PM. Reason: wanted to add more info

06-22-2006, 06:11 AM	#2 (permalink)
Drew_ Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: London, England Posts: 51 OS: Windows Vista Home Premium/Windows 7 Ultimate My System	Sounds like it's overheating. Try cleaing the fan and using it on a flat surface instead of your lap.

06-22-2006, 06:18 PM	#4 (permalink)
REmaster Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 4 OS: Windows XP SP2	Yea I kinda thought that might be the case. I'm not exactly sure how to clean out the fan though. The laptop is a gateway notebook pentium 4 processor 532. (if any of this sounds like the wrong information, it's because I'm not exactly computer savvy). The model number is 7325GZ. I started using it on a flatter surface and no problems so far. But then again there have been days where there wasn't any problems and many problems the next day. Also I noticed that my Game Boy Advance emulator (VisualBoyAdvance) seems to be slowing down within mins of playtime and it becomes very laggy. None of my other emulators do this however nor do any of the disc games I bought have that problem. So I am also wondering if this emulator is just crappy or could be a cause from the overheating problem.

06-24-2006, 11:23 AM	#8 (permalink)
laboye TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Hollywood, FL Posts: 1,246 OS: Windows xp Pro/Vista Beta 2/Ubuntu 6.06 LTS My System	No Problem! Good thing it was just that. Something more serious may have been more costly and harder to fix... __________________ Repair Windows XP Guide --- Resolutions Crazy Computer that I'm saving up for::Antec P180 Case;PC Pwr&Cooling 1kW Quad SLI PSU;Asus P5N32-SLI SE Deluxe;Intel Core2 XE X6800;Corsair TWIN2XP2048 2GB PC2-6400 DDR2 RAM;2xAsus GeForce 7950 GX2;BFG PhysX Accel.;IBM DVD-RAM/Plextor DVD±RW;Seagate 750GB HD 7200RPM;WDX 150GB 10000RPM;Vigor Monsoon TEC Cooler

06-24-2006, 03:30 PM	#9 (permalink)
TheMatt TSF Enthusiast Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 13,701 OS: Win 3.1, 98, NT 4.0, XP Debian 4.0, Kubuntu 6.06 My System Blog Entries: 3	68 degrees would definatley give the CPU good reason to force a shutdown. 51 is good now. __________________ - Matt M - KB1OSC - Folding@Home 85015 [url="http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/"] If TSF has helped you, please consider donating. If I have stopped responding to a thread, feel free to send me a PM with a link to the thread. It is advisable to subscribe to threads so you will receive updates when replies are posted. You can subscribe to threads from the "Thread Tools" Menu. »Memtest86 »Prime95 »UBCD »SpeedFan »NHC Personal »Everest »Sandra »PC Wizard »RivaTuner »ATi Tool Click here for Useful Articles and Guides

06-25-2006, 12:18 PM	#10 (permalink)
laboye TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Hollywood, FL Posts: 1,246 OS: Windows xp Pro/Vista Beta 2/Ubuntu 6.06 LTS My System	Ya, actually I just noticed that 68 degrees in parenthases! That is quite a damn good reason to terminate power... Now, I would like to know if this is an isolated incident, or a design flaw. I have been noticing that people have a lot of these problems with Acer laptops... Very interesting... __________________ Repair Windows XP Guide --- Resolutions Crazy Computer that I'm saving up for::Antec P180 Case;PC Pwr&Cooling 1kW Quad SLI PSU;Asus P5N32-SLI SE Deluxe;Intel Core2 XE X6800;Corsair TWIN2XP2048 2GB PC2-6400 DDR2 RAM;2xAsus GeForce 7950 GX2;BFG PhysX Accel.;IBM DVD-RAM/Plextor DVD±RW;Seagate 750GB HD 7200RPM;WDX 150GB 10000RPM;Vigor Monsoon TEC Cooler

09-13-2009, 06:05 PM	#11 (permalink)
leo959 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 1 OS: xp	Re: Laptop keeps shutting off at random times. I HAVE a dv9033cl hp laptop and I'm having the same problems CAN ANYONE HELP ME?