pc switches off without warning

hi, not sure if this is the right place for this message but here goes. two days ago i started transcoding a video file with nero, which i have done for over a year now, and computer just switched itself off. tried a second time and the same happened. then it happened when i was just browsing internet but restarted this time. another occassion i was running ad aware and spybot and it just switched off again. i had to unplug from wall to switch it back on but it never said that windows shutdown unexpectedly and had to check drive which it would normally do if power was lost. i just tried to use nero again and it has done the same thing. can anyone help, thankyou in advance grace.

Check your Event Viewer via Administrative Tools.

Open the System as well as Application tabs and look for red X errors that coincide with your problem. Details here:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308427




Also if your blue screen is showing a memory dump do the following:



Go to start | search (type in) .dmp
Note the location of your .dmp files.
If no .dmp files check for minidump.
Remember this location and the path that leads to it.

Then:

1) Download and install the

Debugging Tools from Microsoft

All you need do is download and install this. Make no attempt to start or run it.

2) Download and install this

debugwiz

This is a DOS based batch file that will command the above Microsoft Tools.

3) Open the Wiz & Browse to, or paste in the path to, your .dmp file.

4) After the Wiz creates a Text document attach it back to this thread.


If you are looking for links on how to interpret this data for yourself try here first:

http://www.wd-3.com/archive/registercontext.htm

thanks for your reply, i have checked event viewer and there is no red crosses that coincide with the computer switching off. also i do not get a blue screen. the computer switches off completely. should i still do the dump thing. thanks grace

If you find any dump logs in your search .dmp then yes please post them.

Otherwise it sounds more like a hardware issue. Perhaps heat. Have you ever cleaned the PC and checked the fans?

thanks for the advice again, there was no dumps so i'm checking the fans and gonna clean out the casing. is it easy to replace the fan if that is what it is. thanks again in advance. grace

hi, you were spot on, it is a fan that isn't working. it is the cpu fan, it is not spinning and i've tried hoovering inside but still no joy. could you tell me how to replace this please as i'm not very confident with the inards of the computer. thankyou so much for your help. grace

Most CPU fans are in a combination with a heat sink.

What will fit your computer depends on your motherboard and or CPU make and model.

Do you know the make and model of your computer?

Or the motherboard?

Or the CPU?

I advise not using this computer until you fix the fan as the CPU could easily burn out. Most motherboards have an auto shut down when the heat reaches a certain level but I would still not risk burning out your CPU.

Replacing the fan/heatsink is fairly simple but you/we need to ID it.

What does it say on the top of the fan? Is it Intel? Does it indicate the socket type?

thankyou so much for your help, didn't want to use computer while the fan wasn't working so i checked with store who made the comp for me and i have put a newfan and heatsink in and the temperature is at a steady 38 so i would consider it fixed. now i'l try nero and see if it works ok. once again thankyou so much for your help. grace

No problem.

Let us know if all is well.

once lost an AMD Althon 1800, 4 years ago, when they were really expensive, didn't put the h/s and fan on properly, it all popped off during a fragfest on Q2, ouch!, result CPU char-broiled, mobo fried...!

Just a tip for all peeps, especially those inexperienced with hardware, if changing it, make sure its fixed on properly, or better still, take it to a shop and have it done - that way you have a bit of comeback if it does fall off.