# PC Power Problem

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-power-problem/350986>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 2, 2006, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-power-problem/350986 "2006-04-02T22:46:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\
**Post date:** [April 2, 2006, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-power-problem/350986/1 "2006-04-02T22:46:26Z")

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My 3 year old desktop Wintel PC (running Windows XP) has suddenly started shutting itself off.

I thought it might be screensaver related (thinking that it was happening after several minutes of inactivity, when the screensaver would kick in)-- but it’s happening now in the middle of using it.

I’ve checked all the power options, and nothing has changed – it’s not set to go into hibernation spontaneously.

The vents appear to be clean & clear.

Power is fine, in that everything else connected to that outlet keeps running.

Any ideas? If I opened it up, is there anything I should look for?

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**Author:** ![John\_T.Conklin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_t.conklin/32/3307_2.png) [@John\_T.Conklin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_T.Conklin)\
**Post date:** [April 2, 2006, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-power-problem/350986/2 "2006-04-02T23:27:54Z")

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> [@jsc1953](#):
>
> If I opened it up, is there anything I should look for?

Dust.

I experienced similar problems on one of my PCs. Dust had filled the space between the fins of the CPU heatsink, and it was shutting itself down due to overheating.

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**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\
**Post date:** [April 3, 2006, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pc-power-problem/350986/3 "2006-04-03T04:16:37Z")

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You may have been right – I opened it up, and it was \*gross \*in there.

Up & running for 5 hours now…thanks!