Computer switching off...

[Have Brush Will Travel]

Every now and then my comp just down...sometimes once or twice an hour...it wont let me turn it back on again until I have switched it off at the wall for five minutes

Thoughts?

[idkhow2diy]

By 'down' do you mean it switches off, no lights or fans running, or stops working but with fans / lights?

[kellys_eye]

It may be overheating. If it's been knocked you may have unseated the processor heatsink. Occasionally the heatsink thermal paste looses its adhesion and this too can cause an overheat/shutdown.

It's significant that you have to wait a few minutes, indicating that heat really is the issue.

[Argyll]

I had the exact same problem last year. It turned out my PC was full of dust (nest to dogs baskets) so I hoovered out the inside and it was fine after that.

[joinerjohn]

Yep, sounds like it's overheating. Give it a good clean out.

[Have Brush Will Travel]

By 'down' do you mean it switches off, no lights or fans running, or stops working but with fans / lights?

Completely off...all but a small light on the front that always stays on, unless I turn the machine off at the mains

It's significant that you have to wait a few minutes, indicating that heat really is the issue.

Would it begin to cool that quick?

Ok...thats for the help and advice gents...I will go for the cleaning option first as its the simplest (and cheapest ) and then see how it goes

I'll also check the componants too...I have had a couple of black screen starts mentioning not finding the hard drive..naturally I shat myself the time time it came up as I have had a hard drive fail in the past...luckily I'd backed everything a few days before

But after checking the connections and giving the wires a wobble it was fine

Cheers

[Someone-Else]

I'll also check the componants too...I have had a couple of black screen starts mentioning not finding the hard drive.............
But after checking the connections and giving the wires a wobble it was fine

My old computer used to do that. Like yours, for no reason what so ever on boot up it could not find the HD, but switch off and back on again.......booted no problem. Never did find out why. It was win xp

[idkhow2diy]

Cleaning is the first thing to do but while you are in there power it up (fingers out!) and make sure any fans you see are actually spinning up. The PSU (the block the power lead goes into) probably has one, the CPU typically also has a fan - though some CPU cooling is by copper pipe to a fan elsewhere. The graphics card (if there is a separate one) may also have a small fan (up to a pair of large fans if you have gaming PC) and there may be one or more additional fans in the case itself.

If it still does plays up after that many PCs have stuff in the BIOS that will monitor the temperature of various bits, and even the speed of the fans. So if de-fluffing is not a cure let us know the type etc and we'll probably be able to tell you what to press to monitor the temperatures.

Oh, one other point. Even if it's fluff-free it still needs airflow, so if the computer case is up against stuff that prohibits air flow move it away. My wife fried a NAS by stacking magazines against the back...

[Someone-Else]

My wife fried a NAS by stacking magazines against the back...

Sorry, what is a NAS ?

[idkhow2diy]

Sorry, what is a NAS ?

Oops - Network Attached Storage - basically a hard disk attached to your house network that anything can use as storage.

[Someone-Else]

Sorry, what is a NAS ?

Oops - Network Attached Storage - basically a hard disk attached to your house network that anything can use as storage.

[Have Brush Will Travel]

Cleaning is the first thing to do but while you are in there power it up (fingers out!) and make sure any fans you see are actually spinning up. The PSU (the block the power lead goes into) probably has one, the CPU typically also has a fan - though some CPU cooling is by copper pipe to a fan elsewhere. The graphics card (if there is a separate one) may also have a small fan (up to a pair of large fans if you have gaming PC) and there may be one or more additional fans in the case itself.

If it still does plays up after that many PCs have stuff in the BIOS that will monitor the temperature of various bits, and even the speed of the fans. So if de-fluffing is not a cure let us know the type etc and we'll probably be able to tell you what to press to monitor the temperatures.

Oh, one other point. Even if it's fluff-free it still needs airflow, so if the computer case is up against stuff that prohibits air flow move it away. My wife fried a NAS by stacking magazines against the back...

Bit late about keeping my fingers out...'oh whats this?'....ZZZZZZZZZZZZuuzzzzzzzz!!!!

Ive actually had the side off for a couple of weeks because I got fed up with undoing the screws all the time...all fans are working though.

I should have mentioned ive done it a few times just after I turned it on..

[kellys_eye]

Internal temperatures vary a LOT during use - processor intensive programs tend to consume a lot more power therefore create a lot more heat. A typical intensive action is simply watching Youtube videos! though gaming and rendering images in software is often highly heat-making too.

If your PC is starting to miss-boot it is likely a sign that some power supply capacitors are starting to dry out. This is a very common problem and can usually only be fixed by motherboard replacement (not many people have the skill sets to replace the individual parts).

Make sure you keep regular backups of important stuff and prepare to upgrade the whole shebang....

[Have Brush Will Travel]

Internal temperatures vary a LOT during use - processor intensive programs tend to consume a lot more power therefore create a lot more heat. A typical intensive action is simply watching Youtube videos! though gaming and rendering images in software is often highly heat-making too.

If your PC is starting to miss-boot it is likely a sign that some power supply capacitors are starting to dry out. This is a very common problem and can usually only be fixed by motherboard replacement (not many people have the skill sets to replace the individual parts).

Make sure you keep regular backups of important stuff and prepare to upgrade the whole shebang....

Its good news week!!!..........lol

Ok, ok cheers mate, I was planning on a new one sooner..might be sooner tn later now!...

[Razor]

Overheating is one cause but going by your posts and temps I'd be looking very closely at the power supply..................