Laptop Problems

[michael4168]

I bought a laptop about 8 months ago and was very pleased with how it performed. Well about a month ago it started shutting itself off without warning. It typically does this when I am surfing the internet and watching a DVD or something streaming online at the same time. My query is why is it doing this all of a sudden? I had it for 7 months, doing the same stuff I always do which is watch movies online or on DVD while browsing the web and maybe hanging out in a chat room.
My only thought is that it gets to hot so it shuts itself off as a security thing. Another question I have is does anyone have any suggestions to rectify the situation?

 

[AnitaBeer]

Do you have SP1? I'm assuming you have vista if it's 8 month old. There's a hotfix in it for issues with vista laptops just shutting down. If you do have it and this is still occuring just go buy a laptop fan to set underneath it so it keeps the laptop cooled off.

Usually it has to do with overheating. I can't find the hotfix for issues that aren't tied to overheating, but if you go to the vista microsoft website and search through technical issues I'm sure you could find it.

I forgot to mention you can go into the computers error log and see what's happening. It could be tied to a driver issue also. Really it's hard to say what the issue is without a bit more info.

 

[sandwichhorror]

That sounds a lot like the fail safe for a processor chip. Normally, if a computer shutdowns randomly on a heavy process for it (may it be a browser or something as simple as a DVD) it's a clear sign something is overheating and is activating the fail safe to not make the hardware blow out. Most likely it's the processor overheating from the lack of a decent heat sink, no thermal paste between the heat sink and processor or a burnt out heat sink. I wouldn't be turning it on as you only cause the chip's bus to be damaged even more if that's true. I would suggest handing it to a professional to install a new one since you are dealing with a laptop.

Or you could take it on a walk. Maybe let it explore a little? Computers need love too you know.

 

[Mystic]

...is it a dell?

 

[skyblue]

...is it a dell?

a dell would have caught fire

 

[Mystic]

a dell would have caught fire

:nod:exactly

 

[Ryder]

My sister's friend Alex. Her computer did the same thing. She got a new one.

 

[bass_man1989]

If it's still under warranty just don't fuck with it, and call the manufacture. They can be pretty picky about what voids a warranty so that's why you shouldn't mess with it too much and they should just replace it or walk you through a fix.

 

[michael4168]

Do you have SP1? I'm assuming you have vista if it's 8 month old. There's a hotfix in it for issues with vista laptops just shutting down. If you do have it and this is still occuring just go buy a laptop fan to set underneath it so it keeps the laptop cooled off.

Usually it has to do with overheating. I can't find the hotfix for issues that aren't tied to overheating, but if you go to the vista microsoft website and search through technical issues I'm sure you could find it.

I forgot to mention you can go into the computers error log and see what's happening. It could be tied to a driver issue also. Really it's hard to say what the issue is without a bit more info.

What kind of info do you need?

 

[AnitaBeer]

Well there is an error log that should give an idea of what's going on. Typically it will say if a video card had an error or if it's a script that had an error.

What I would do is just call the company's tech line that you got it through and let them know. Otherwise. I did have the same issue with mine just shutting off but it had to do with overheating. I just bought a laptop fan and it solved the problem. It has only shut down a couple times and its usually when i forgot to hook up the fan.

The fan also comes in handy if you want to sit with your laptop on your lap cuz your lap won't burn to pieces lol.

However, if you do end up getting one of the fans I recommend getting one that uses power that doesn't come through a port on your computer because that just makes the computer work more. I got one that hooks up through USB and even though it works find I should have got one that uses a different power source.

 

[sierrabravo]

i had the same problem on the second laptop i bought... it was overheating so bad that it was warping the casing... i think the overheat protection was fucked up... glad its gone now