My girlfriend’s laptop keeps shutting off randomly, so she took it to Best Buy to have them run a diagnostic on it. They say it is a software problem, but everything I read about similar problems points to a hardware issue. The computer is loaded with Windows XP. Would a problem in the OS cause the computer to completely shut down? Sometimes, the computer shuts down completely. Other times, the console lights will be on, but the screen is black and none of the keys or commands work. Has anyone ever experienced something like this? Thanks in advance.
Back up anything critical and reload windows/use restore disk set/restore partition if provided.
If it still does it after that…its a hardware problem.
BB loves to dodge warranty problems by claiming software problem. In one case I saw one where they claimed reloading windows…a $129 charge. Fixed the problem…they also replaced the hard drive :rolleyes:
A handful of times, my laptop has shut down completely and instantly - no warning whatsoever.
It so happened, those times I was using it quite literally on my lap and I had reason to believe it had overheated - the fan vents may not have had enough air circulation.
Could the laptop in question be overheating?
Yes, it sounds like overheating - can you hear any fans?
Overheating was my first thought as well. Mine does it when I play Civilization III or spend too much time on Flash games. Stupid thing has air intakes on the bottom exactly where it sits on my right leg.
I’d guess overheating too. I passed my last laptop off to my parents because it’s so bad about it. It’s an HP with a 17 inch widescreen, but with it’s tendency to overheat, it’s more desktop than laptop. As long as it’s used on a desk, it’s fine, but it’ll heat up within fifteen minutes on a lap.
-Lil
yep, like all the other dopers suggested overheating sounds like the most likely reason. I also have a HP that will overheat fairly quickly. Especially if I’m doing something fairly graphic intensive. There are cooling lap things that you can get to help keep them running, but I’m not sure how practical they are for everyday use.
How does it start back up? Does it seem to have gone into hibernation or as if the power was interrupted?
All of my random shutoff problems have occurred due to overheating. I’ll be surfing the web and doing a paper and the anti-virus will be running, and I haven’t cleaned the vents in awhile, and foof!
Get one of those compressed air cans, and blow it through the vents to clear out the dust. It will probably fix things. And make sure all the vents have a clear airflow when you use the thing.
I’d try that first, before I worried about a software issue.
Randomly shuts off?
Is this a ‘windows is shutting down’?
Does the unit come back up right afterwards?
Does it ‘power down’ complete with lights going off and fan no longer spinning?