# Can anyone help me fix my computer ? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 27, 2003, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-help-me-fix-my-computer/221246 "2003-12-27T12:52:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dragongirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b38774/32.png) [@dragongirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dragongirl)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2003, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-help-me-fix-my-computer/221246/1 "2003-12-27T12:52:17Z")
A few days ago the computer was acting weird, I went to restart it and when it restarted, it told me I had to reinstall windows. I took it to a computer guy yesterday and he fixed it for me. Last night, I hooked it up again, it seemed fine. The screen saver went on and then a little while later, the computer shut down by itself. I restarted it. The same thing happened, but this time when I moved the mouse, the computer turned on, but I didn’t have to log in or anything, my desktop was already there. When I’m working on the computer, it’s fine. I would call the guy back, but he’s not around on weekends. What’s going on here ? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Papermache\_Prince](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f05b48/32.png) [@Papermache\_Prince](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Papermache_Prince)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2003, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-help-me-fix-my-computer/221246/2 "2003-12-27T13:03:21Z")
You might check the Power Saver settings. On Windows 98, which I use (still), right click on the desktop, then on properties, then screensaver, then Energy Saver settings. It’s possible that the settings were changed so the computer shuts down after three minutes of non-use. You should be able to change them to a better setting for your use. You can also change the settings by clicking on the Power Management icon in the Control Panel. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2003, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-help-me-fix-my-computer/221246/3 "2003-12-27T13:03:43Z")
What version of Windows do you have, and is this a desktop or a laptop comptuer? ---
**Author:** ![ccwaterback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@ccwaterback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ccwaterback)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2003, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-help-me-fix-my-computer/221246/4 "2003-12-27T13:16:46Z")
Maybe totally unrelated but … My laptop shuts down when it overheats. When that happens, I get out the vacuum and clean the vents on the bottom and the side of my laptop. Works great until the vents get blocked again. ---
**Author:** ![dragongirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b38774/32.png) [@dragongirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dragongirl)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2003, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-help-me-fix-my-computer/221246/5 "2003-12-27T13:41:47Z")
It’s windows 98 and it’s a desktop computer. ---
**Author:** ![rsa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@rsa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsa)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2003, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-help-me-fix-my-computer/221246/6 "2003-12-27T17:47:19Z")
Did you do as **Papermache Prince** suggested? If the computer came on simply by moving the mouse, you must be in power saving mode. ---
**Author:** ![Early\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Early\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Early_Out)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2003, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-help-me-fix-my-computer/221246/7 "2003-12-27T19:26:49Z")
Depending upon the computer, some PCs will go into a power-saving mode and not even moving the mouse will wake it up. Sometimes, you have to hit a key (any key) to bring it back to life. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Matrix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/34f0e0/32.png) [@Red\_Matrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Matrix)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2003, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-help-me-fix-my-computer/221246/8 "2003-12-27T20:38:59Z")
I agree with **Papermache**. ---
**Author:** ![dragongirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b38774/32.png) [@dragongirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dragongirl)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2003, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-anyone-help-me-fix-my-computer/221246/9 "2003-12-27T22:38:09Z")
Yes, I got it fixed. It was the power saver thing. Thank you so much for helping me out.