My laptop shuts itself off

alphacat · 02-12-2013, 19:30

It's happened a couple of times now. This time I wasn't doing anything on it but watching the news report and then it went dark like I had turned it off.
No big deal to restart it. I just push the on button and it comes back up but to the black screen telling me that it didn't shut down the right way.
Is it time to go laptop shopping?

aspartz · 02-12-2013, 20:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by alphacat

It's happened a couple of times now. This time I wasn't doing anything on it but watching the news report and then it went dark like I had turned it off.
No big deal to restart it. I just push the on button and it comes back up but to the black screen telling me that it didn't shut down the right way.
Is it time to go laptop shopping?

It might be overheating. Have you blown the dust out of the cooling vents?

ARS

tryn2hrd · 02-12-2013, 20:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by aspartz

It might be overheating. Have you blown the dust out of the cooling vents?

ARS

Yep he is right seen it many times.

Adjuster · 02-12-2013, 20:30

When it shuts off is it actually shutting down like all lights off and no power? The reason I ask is because my very old laptop is doing the same thing but it is the light of the screen that is finally failing making the screen go black. The laptop is still running but my screen is out. My laptop is well over 10 years old so its expected. I have already had the screen light replaced once about 7 years ago.

/

alphacat · 02-12-2013, 21:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by aspartz

It might be overheating. Have you blown the dust out of the cooling vents?

ARS

Quote:

Originally Posted by tryn2hrd

Yep he is right seen it many times.

I blew the dust out of it. Got lots of dust out of it. I think overheating might have been the cause of my shut downs.

Thanks for the help.

I'll let you know if I have anymore problems with it.

alphacat · 02-12-2013, 22:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adjuster

When it shuts off is it actually shutting down like all lights off and no power? The reason I ask is because my very old laptop is doing the same thing but it is the light of the screen that is finally failing making the screen go black. The laptop is still running but my screen is out. My laptop is well over 10 years old so its expected. I have already had the screen light replaced once about 7 years ago.

/

Yes, the whole thing shuts down not just the screen. When it comes back on I get a black screen telling me that it didn't shut properly, or something like that.
I asks me if I want to start it up in safe mode. I do that and it starts up and works for several days up to a week before shutting down again.
I'm hoping that getting rid of the dust cures my problem.
There was a lot of dust in it. The fan seemed to stay on all of the time but since cleaning it out the fan only runs for a few seconds and shuts off. The fan is quieter now too.
This laptop is about 7 years old and is running Windows Vista.

Mr KV · 02-12-2013, 22:13

My old laptop did that and was also running pretty hot. Just make sure your laptops on a hard flat surface and theres nothing blocking airflow to the vents and you should be good.

alphacat · 02-12-2013, 22:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr KV

My old laptop did that and was also running pretty hot. Just make sure your laptops on a hard flat surface and theres nothing blocking airflow to the vents and you should be good.

Thanks, I already do that. I have it sitting on a foot stool bt have a large plastic cutting board under to help hold up so it gets air under it.

**janice6** · 02-12-2013, 22:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by aspartz

It might be overheating. Have you blown the dust out of the cooling vents?

ARS

This.

Happens to my desktops and laptops over the years. Shuts down more frequently with time . Blow out the heatsinks with compressed air and it's a lint storm.

Mr KV · 02-12-2013, 22:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by alphacat

Thanks, I already do that. I have it sitting on a foot stool bt have a large plastic cutting board under to help hold up so it gets air under it.

I was putting DVD cases under mine lol. Ended up buying a new laptop last year and haven't looked back. I got tired of the old one burning up my thighs also when I would use it on the couch.

Toyman · 02-13-2013, 07:47

You could try looking in the Event Viewer if it happens again.

alphacat · 02-13-2013, 09:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toyman

You could try looking in the Event Viewer if it happens again.

Thanks, I opened that up and it's sort of like looking at a Chinese restaurant lunch menu.
Meaning, I have no idea what I saw...

But I think my laptop is spying on me.

sappy13 · 02-13-2013, 20:21

Def sounds like overheating. Blow out the exhaust fan good using compressed air. If that doesnt help, you could take your keyboard off and blow out the cpu fan.

alphacat · 02-14-2013, 11:55

I want to thank everybody again that offered suggestions on how to fix my laptop. Since I cleaned it out and got lots of dust out of it, it has been working just fine. I can hear the fan kick on every once in a while and then cut off.
The darn thing is working a lot better and seems faster too.

Thanks again!

Shockem841 · 02-14-2013, 16:16

take it outside,smash on ground,make wife clean up,get new laptop!

WiskyT · 02-14-2013, 20:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shockem841

take it outside,smash on ground,make wife clean up,get new laptop!

Good stuff!!

dwhite53 · 02-15-2013, 13:46

My old Gateway started going blank at random, usually inconvenient, times. Went out a bought a new Lenovo.

Well, I was setting up some data collection software on the old Gateway running Linux. Over the next three days put quite a few hours into it before thinking, this hasn't gone blank running Linux.

Booted into Windows and had the problem repeat itself. Never happened under Linux.

You may have a driver conflict. Never figured mine out just did a re-install of XP and still haven't had problems again.

If it hadn't been for going blank I'd not have bought the Lenovo and could have added another gun to the safe.

All the Best,
D. White

alphacat · 02-15-2013, 14:53

Thanks, I's pretty sure it was a dust problem with mine. I haven't had any problems since I cleaned it.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed it's fixed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dwhite53

My old Gateway started going blank at random, usually inconvenient, times. Went out a bought a new Lenovo.

Well, I was setting up some data collection software on the old Gateway running Linux. Over the next three days put quite a few hours into it before thinking, this hasn't gone blank running Linux.

Booted into Windows and had the problem repeat itself. Never happened under Linux.

You may have a driver conflict. Never figured mine out just did a re-install of XP and still haven't had problems again.

If it hadn't been for going blank I'd not have bought the Lenovo and could have added another gun to the safe.

All the Best,
D. White

bill4282 · 02-19-2013, 21:35

Check with your local PC shop. Mine charges $45 to open it up, clean out all the cobwebs and tweak the settings. Do this once a year.

Mr KV · 02-19-2013, 23:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by bill4282

Check with your local PC shop. Mine charges $45 to open it up, clean out all the cobwebs and tweak the settings. Do this once a year.

Save yourself the $45 and do it yourself. It's easy.

alphacat · 02-20-2013, 00:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr KV

Save yourself the $45 and do it yourself. It's easy.

I might do that, there's a video on youtube showing how to take my model laptop apart. Looks easy.
So far mine is doing great after blowing the dust out of it. Best it's worked in over a year.

alphacat · 02-20-2013, 00:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by bill4282

Check with your local PC shop. Mine charges $45 to open it up, clean out all the cobwebs and tweak the settings. Do this once a year.

Good idea, thanks.