PC keeps shutting down

caty95 · 04-14-2009, 02:04 PM

Hello,

I'm having this really frustrating problem that I couldn't fix and hope you guys can help me out.

I have Alienware Aurora m9700 laptop with windows xp. the problem is my laptop keeps shutting down immediately without any notice even while loading windows when I first start it up, and sometimes I'm lucky to start windows but then I have this error screen "STOP: 0x0000009C (0x00000004, 0x00000000, 0xb2000000, 0x00020151)
"MACHINE_CHECK_EXCEPTION" "

I cleaned the fans and made sure there's not dust, still I'm having the problem. I think the SLI is causing the problem (as some IT shop told me).

I contacted alienware and they advised me to clean dust and run "stress prime 2004" and set it to Large In-place FFTs and start the test. as I did after struggling with the start up thing, I was able to download it and run it but only for 5 sec!!!

Please guys help me out. what should I do?

**TriggerFinger** · 04-14-2009, 02:39 PM

Can you boot into Safe Mode? How about Last Known Good configuration? Does it also keep on shutting down if you just boot into BIOS setup?

caty95 · 04-14-2009, 02:51 PM

I can't go to safe mode and if I did it shuts down.

yes most the times it shut down when I boot to bios setup but sometimes it doesn't.

DawnEtech14 · 04-14-2009, 02:53 PM

Try taking the battery out, and just plugging in the powercord. Sometimes when a battery goes bad it will cause the computer to shut down, or not start up at all. If this works it's time to get a new battery, but until then you can still use it without the battery in.

**TriggerFinger** · 04-14-2009, 02:57 PM

In addition to what was advised about taking out the battery, remove the hard drive and boot from the CD/DVD drive. Use Memtest86+ so you can also diagnose the RAM. D/load Memtest86+ (get the CD image see Memtest86+ link on my sig) and make yourself a bootable diagnostic disc. Follow the instructions on the link on my sig HOW TO BURN AN ISO FILE. Pop that CD in your cd/dvd drive and boot from that device.

caty95 · 04-14-2009, 03:11 PM

I removed the battery and booted bios to check if my system will boot from CD/DVD drive and I was shocked when I saw there's no booting from HDD!!!!! and then shut down again.

**TriggerFinger** · 04-14-2009, 03:25 PM

If you have removed the HDD, do not put it back in yet. If you have the Memtest86+ CD then boot from it again. If it keeps on shutting down, remove all installed RAM and use a good working one.

caty95 · 04-14-2009, 03:26 PM

I didn't remove it I just removed the battery and checked the bios

**TriggerFinger** · 04-14-2009, 03:31 PM

Remove it and please follow what is being suggested.

caty95 · 04-14-2009, 03:35 PM

ok, creating a bootable CD now. will inform you with the updates. Thanks

caty95 · 04-14-2009, 04:17 PM

still shutting down :(

**TriggerFinger** · 04-14-2009, 04:34 PM

Still shutting down with HDD removed? If that is the case try using a good/working RAM (just in case the one is installed is faulty). Once the RAM is replaced with a good one, try to boot from CD drive again using the Memtest86+ CD.

caty95 · 04-14-2009, 04:39 PM

I should say that first time it worked for bout 6 mins before shutting down and the second time lasted for about 2 mins. (just thought this might help)

I'll try your advice as soon as I get a good RAM and let you know with the outcomes.

caty95 · 04-23-2009, 12:01 AM

hello again. got new updates but unfortunately bad news.

before getting the new RAM I cleaned the VGA cards (were so dusty) and the system worked well with no shutting downs. The HW monitor gave me the best temp. reading (according to what alienware said). BUT then I got a new problem, I get a black screen on boot (no access to BIOS or windows). tried to unplug the AC and pressing the power for 30sec or more and I also changed the RAM and still have the same problem.

I decided to get a new laptop but I just want to know what's wrong and what went wrong? is there a way to fix it?

**TriggerFinger** · 04-23-2009, 03:36 AM

You have nothing on the screen when you power ON but do you hear the computer start/boot? If yes, try with an external monitor.

caty95 · 04-23-2009, 04:23 AM

I can see the lights are on, the fans not working and the optical drive blinks and I can hear it working.

I tried external monitor but nothing happened.

**TriggerFinger** · 04-23-2009, 04:36 AM

Check the Users Manual on right key combination to toggle between LCD and external screens (some laptops use Fn+F4 or Fn+F7).

caty95 · 04-23-2009, 05:30 AM

I did that, still nothing. the external screen give a massage "no signal detected".

**TriggerFinger** · 04-23-2009, 08:47 AM

Does it shut down immediately after power ON? If not, you mean it remains powered ON but you get no screen in LCD and monitor? If that is the case, it could be a motherboard or a video card failure.

caty95 · 04-23-2009, 05:22 PM

Actually it starts on immediately after I plugin the AC and won't shut down unless I plug it out.

I checked the VGA cards and removed the SLI card to check each VGA card separately, but I still get the black screen on boot.

That leaves the motherboard to blame.

04-14-2009, 02:04 PM	#1 (permalink)
caty95 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 14 OS: win xp sp3	PC keeps shutting down Hello, I'm having this really frustrating problem that I couldn't fix and hope you guys can help me out. I have Alienware Aurora m9700 laptop with windows xp. the problem is my laptop keeps shutting down immediately without any notice even while loading windows when I first start it up, and sometimes I'm lucky to start windows but then I have this error screen "STOP: 0x0000009C (0x00000004, 0x00000000, 0xb2000000, 0x00020151) "MACHINE_CHECK_EXCEPTION" " I cleaned the fans and made sure there's not dust, still I'm having the problem. I think the SLI is causing the problem (as some IT shop told me). I contacted alienware and they advised me to clean dust and run "stress prime 2004" and set it to Large In-place FFTs and start the test. as I did after struggling with the start up thing, I was able to download it and run it but only for 5 sec!!! Please guys help me out. what should I do?

04-14-2009, 02:39 PM	#2 (permalink)
TriggerFinger Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: USA Posts: 11,832 OS: Vista SP1, XP SP3, PCLinuxOS2007	Re: PC keeps shutting down Can you boot into Safe Mode? How about Last Known Good configuration? Does it also keep on shutting down if you just boot into BIOS setup? __________________ DBAN - Memtest86+ - BartPE - Linux LiveCD - ImgBurn - HDD Diags - Disk Copy HOW TO BURN AN ISO FILE

04-14-2009, 02:51 PM	#3 (permalink)
caty95 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 14 OS: win xp sp3	Re: PC keeps shutting down I can't go to safe mode and if I did it shuts down. yes most the times it shut down when I boot to bios setup but sometimes it doesn't.

04-14-2009, 02:53 PM	#4 (permalink)
DawnEtech14 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Newark, Delaware Posts: 11 OS: XP	Re: PC keeps shutting down Try taking the battery out, and just plugging in the powercord. Sometimes when a battery goes bad it will cause the computer to shut down, or not start up at all. If this works it's time to get a new battery, but until then you can still use it without the battery in.

04-14-2009, 02:57 PM	#5 (permalink)
TriggerFinger Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: USA Posts: 11,832 OS: Vista SP1, XP SP3, PCLinuxOS2007	Re: PC keeps shutting down In addition to what was advised about taking out the battery, remove the hard drive and boot from the CD/DVD drive. Use Memtest86+ so you can also diagnose the RAM. D/load Memtest86+ (get the CD image see Memtest86+ link on my sig) and make yourself a bootable diagnostic disc. Follow the instructions on the link on my sig HOW TO BURN AN ISO FILE. Pop that CD in your cd/dvd drive and boot from that device. __________________ DBAN - Memtest86+ - BartPE - Linux LiveCD - ImgBurn - HDD Diags - Disk Copy HOW TO BURN AN ISO FILE

04-14-2009, 03:11 PM	#6 (permalink)
caty95 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 14 OS: win xp sp3	Re: PC keeps shutting down I removed the battery and booted bios to check if my system will boot from CD/DVD drive and I was shocked when I saw there's no booting from HDD!!!!! and then shut down again.

04-14-2009, 03:25 PM	#7 (permalink)
TriggerFinger Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: USA Posts: 11,832 OS: Vista SP1, XP SP3, PCLinuxOS2007	Re: PC keeps shutting down If you have removed the HDD, do not put it back in yet. If you have the Memtest86+ CD then boot from it again. If it keeps on shutting down, remove all installed RAM and use a good working one. __________________ DBAN - Memtest86+ - BartPE - Linux LiveCD - ImgBurn - HDD Diags - Disk Copy HOW TO BURN AN ISO FILE

04-14-2009, 03:26 PM	#8 (permalink)
caty95 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 14 OS: win xp sp3	Re: PC keeps shutting down I didn't remove it I just removed the battery and checked the bios

04-14-2009, 03:31 PM	#9 (permalink)
TriggerFinger Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: USA Posts: 11,832 OS: Vista SP1, XP SP3, PCLinuxOS2007	Re: PC keeps shutting down Remove it and please follow what is being suggested. __________________ DBAN - Memtest86+ - BartPE - Linux LiveCD - ImgBurn - HDD Diags - Disk Copy HOW TO BURN AN ISO FILE

04-14-2009, 03:35 PM	#10 (permalink)
caty95 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 14 OS: win xp sp3	Re: PC keeps shutting down ok, creating a bootable CD now. will inform you with the updates. Thanks

04-14-2009, 04:17 PM	#11 (permalink)
caty95 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 14 OS: win xp sp3	Re: PC keeps shutting down still shutting down :(

04-14-2009, 04:34 PM	#12 (permalink)
TriggerFinger Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: USA Posts: 11,832 OS: Vista SP1, XP SP3, PCLinuxOS2007	Re: PC keeps shutting down Still shutting down with HDD removed? If that is the case try using a good/working RAM (just in case the one is installed is faulty). Once the RAM is replaced with a good one, try to boot from CD drive again using the Memtest86+ CD. __________________ DBAN - Memtest86+ - BartPE - Linux LiveCD - ImgBurn - HDD Diags - Disk Copy HOW TO BURN AN ISO FILE

04-14-2009, 04:39 PM	#13 (permalink)
caty95 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 14 OS: win xp sp3	Re: PC keeps shutting down I should say that first time it worked for bout 6 mins before shutting down and the second time lasted for about 2 mins. (just thought this might help) I'll try your advice as soon as I get a good RAM and let you know with the outcomes.

04-23-2009, 12:01 AM	#14 (permalink)
caty95 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 14 OS: win xp sp3	Re: PC keeps shutting down hello again. got new updates but unfortunately bad news. before getting the new RAM I cleaned the VGA cards (were so dusty) and the system worked well with no shutting downs. The HW monitor gave me the best temp. reading (according to what alienware said). BUT then I got a new problem, I get a black screen on boot (no access to BIOS or windows). tried to unplug the AC and pressing the power for 30sec or more and I also changed the RAM and still have the same problem. I decided to get a new laptop but I just want to know what's wrong and what went wrong? is there a way to fix it?

04-23-2009, 03:36 AM	#15 (permalink)
TriggerFinger Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: USA Posts: 11,832 OS: Vista SP1, XP SP3, PCLinuxOS2007	Re: PC keeps shutting down You have nothing on the screen when you power ON but do you hear the computer start/boot? If yes, try with an external monitor. __________________ DBAN - Memtest86+ - BartPE - Linux LiveCD - ImgBurn - HDD Diags - Disk Copy HOW TO BURN AN ISO FILE

04-23-2009, 04:23 AM	#16 (permalink)
caty95 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 14 OS: win xp sp3	Re: PC keeps shutting down I can see the lights are on, the fans not working and the optical drive blinks and I can hear it working. I tried external monitor but nothing happened.

04-23-2009, 04:36 AM	#17 (permalink)
TriggerFinger Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: USA Posts: 11,832 OS: Vista SP1, XP SP3, PCLinuxOS2007	Re: PC keeps shutting down Check the Users Manual on right key combination to toggle between LCD and external screens (some laptops use Fn+F4 or Fn+F7). __________________ DBAN - Memtest86+ - BartPE - Linux LiveCD - ImgBurn - HDD Diags - Disk Copy HOW TO BURN AN ISO FILE

04-23-2009, 05:30 AM	#18 (permalink)
caty95 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 14 OS: win xp sp3	Re: PC keeps shutting down I did that, still nothing. the external screen give a massage "no signal detected".

04-23-2009, 08:47 AM	#19 (permalink)
TriggerFinger Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: USA Posts: 11,832 OS: Vista SP1, XP SP3, PCLinuxOS2007	Re: PC keeps shutting down Does it shut down immediately after power ON? If not, you mean it remains powered ON but you get no screen in LCD and monitor? If that is the case, it could be a motherboard or a video card failure. __________________ DBAN - Memtest86+ - BartPE - Linux LiveCD - ImgBurn - HDD Diags - Disk Copy HOW TO BURN AN ISO FILE

04-23-2009, 05:22 PM	#20 (permalink)
caty95 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 14 OS: win xp sp3	Re: PC keeps shutting down Actually it starts on immediately after I plugin the AC and won't shut down unless I plug it out. I checked the VGA cards and removed the SLI card to check each VGA card separately, but I still get the black screen on boot. That leaves the motherboard to blame.