Computer turning off/restarting randomly

Nate1190 · 06-04-2009, 09:11 PM

For the past week or so my computer has been turning off randomly without warning or going through the shutdown process. I also contacted gateway support and they keep telling me to do a full factory recovery but I cant do that without purchasing a disc and I still think it is the computer and not the software. I have a Gateway LX6810-01 with windows vista and I got it in February of this year. I haven't made any changes to my hardware and I haven't added or changed any settings or programs recently. Can anyone help me with this problem?

**manic** · 06-05-2009, 12:19 AM

What are your temps like? Might be getting hot. Is there a hardware
monitor page in bios? There you can look at idle temps, not ideal
but can give you a idea.
Also what kind of voltage are you running, a weak or bad power supply
can cause it to shut down radically as well. If you have no malware
or virus's I doubt a system restore will help, gateway is just trying to
get you off the phone. If its under warranty I would be more aggressive
with them and tell them to fix it.
If you try to replace anything you void the warranty.

Nate1190 · 06-05-2009, 02:05 PM

I checked the temperature in the menu thing right after it turned off and this is what is showed...

CPU Temperature 29°C/84°F
System Temperature 39°C/102°F

I don't know what to check for the voltage so if you explain how to show that I will. And thanks for the quick response.

**manic** · 06-05-2009, 02:22 PM

Go into bios and check hardware monitor, should post temps, and
voltages, if bios has that page...Temps look ok, but I dont know how
you can see temps after it shuts off.

Nate1190 · 06-05-2009, 02:49 PM

After my computer turns off I can turn it back on and go to the bios thing and it tells me the temps.

I'm not sure if this is what you were talking about but this is what I wrote down

CPU Core : 1.184V
+1.1V : 1.120V
+3.30V : 3.328V
+5.00V : 5.053V
+12.0V : 11.968V
+5VSB : 5.053V
VBAT : 3.168V

**manic** · 06-05-2009, 02:55 PM

That is not bad for idle voltages. Next step would be to check ram.
Do a google for memtest, free download, you need to test one stick
at a time, let it run for at least 1 hour. If it were me I would be hounding
gateway...You dont want to void warranty.

Nate1190 · 06-05-2009, 03:40 PM

Would Memtest do anything to void my warranty?

Nate1190 · 06-05-2009, 05:12 PM

Ok, I ran memtest but my computer turned off about 45mins into it.

GuruGal · 07-03-2009, 06:27 AM

Nate, on my Gateway LX6810-10 I too am having the same random shut down problem. I purchased mine in March 2009 and now suddenly it shuts down on it own.

Also, try the memory under Control Panel the Admin Tools then Memory Diagnostics test. That way you don't have to worry about memtest crashing on you or voiding your warranty.

If I find a solution, I will let you know.

06-04-2009, 09:11 PM	#1 (permalink)
Nate1190 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 5 OS: Windows Vista	Computer turning off/restarting randomly For the past week or so my computer has been turning off randomly without warning or going through the shutdown process. I also contacted gateway support and they keep telling me to do a full factory recovery but I cant do that without purchasing a disc and I still think it is the computer and not the software. I have a Gateway LX6810-01 with windows vista and I got it in February of this year. I haven't made any changes to my hardware and I haven't added or changed any settings or programs recently. Can anyone help me with this problem?

06-05-2009, 12:19 AM	#2 (permalink)
manic Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 5,238 OS: xp	Re: Computer turning off/restarting randomly What are your temps like? Might be getting hot. Is there a hardware monitor page in bios? There you can look at idle temps, not ideal but can give you a idea. Also what kind of voltage are you running, a weak or bad power supply can cause it to shut down radically as well. If you have no malware or virus's I doubt a system restore will help, gateway is just trying to get you off the phone. If its under warranty I would be more aggressive with them and tell them to fix it. If you try to replace anything you void the warranty. __________________

06-05-2009, 02:05 PM	#3 (permalink)
Nate1190 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 5 OS: Windows Vista	Re: Computer turning off/restarting randomly I checked the temperature in the menu thing right after it turned off and this is what is showed... CPU Temperature 29°C/84°F System Temperature 39°C/102°F I don't know what to check for the voltage so if you explain how to show that I will. And thanks for the quick response. Last edited by Nate1190; 06-05-2009 at 02:08 PM.

06-05-2009, 02:22 PM	#4 (permalink)
manic Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 5,238 OS: xp	Re: Computer turning off/restarting randomly Go into bios and check hardware monitor, should post temps, and voltages, if bios has that page...Temps look ok, but I dont know how you can see temps after it shuts off. __________________

06-05-2009, 02:49 PM	#5 (permalink)
Nate1190 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 5 OS: Windows Vista	Re: Computer turning off/restarting randomly After my computer turns off I can turn it back on and go to the bios thing and it tells me the temps. I'm not sure if this is what you were talking about but this is what I wrote down CPU Core : 1.184V +1.1V : 1.120V +3.30V : 3.328V +5.00V : 5.053V +12.0V : 11.968V +5VSB : 5.053V VBAT : 3.168V

06-05-2009, 02:55 PM	#6 (permalink)
manic Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 5,238 OS: xp	Re: Computer turning off/restarting randomly That is not bad for idle voltages. Next step would be to check ram. Do a google for memtest, free download, you need to test one stick at a time, let it run for at least 1 hour. If it were me I would be hounding gateway...You dont want to void warranty. __________________

06-05-2009, 03:40 PM	#7 (permalink)
Nate1190 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 5 OS: Windows Vista	Re: Computer turning off/restarting randomly Would Memtest do anything to void my warranty?

06-05-2009, 05:12 PM	#8 (permalink)
Nate1190 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 5 OS: Windows Vista	Re: Computer turning off/restarting randomly Ok, I ran memtest but my computer turned off about 45mins into it.

07-03-2009, 06:27 AM	#9 (permalink)
GuruGal Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 1 OS: Windows Vista 64-bit	Re: Computer turning off/restarting randomly Nate, on my Gateway LX6810-10 I too am having the same random shut down problem. I purchased mine in March 2009 and now suddenly it shuts down on it own. Also, try the memory under Control Panel the Admin Tools then Memory Diagnostics test. That way you don't have to worry about memtest crashing on you or voiding your warranty. If I find a solution, I will let you know.