Member Avatar for Smalls

This started about a week ago. I'll be doing something and for no reason i can think of it will turn off. Except maybe from being to hot which doesn't make that much sense as it runs b/t 120-180 and very very rarely 190-200. But anyway it will turn off as in the screen goes black and the power goes off, sort of like crashing. Then i turn it back on and there isn't a message like you would get from a crash, and it runs just fine.

I will be glad to overcome this it gets quite annoying
Thank ahead of time for any help

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by jingda

Dani AI

Generated

Thread shows a classic laptop sudden-power-off pattern: instant black screen and no Windows crash message. later confirmed recurring dust build-up; earlier replies from and pointed toward cooling and power-delivery causes. Below is a short, prioritized diagnostic-and-fix workflow that builds on those observations without unnecessary teardown.

Quick, non-invasive checks (do these first)

  • Check Windows System logs around the time of the event. Look for "Kernel-Power" Event ID 41 or other Critical/Error entries that coincide with the shutdown.
  • Prevent automatic reboot on failure so a BSOD will be visible: System Properties > Advanced > Startup and Recovery > Settings -> uncheck "Automatically restart" and enable writing of debugging info (small memory dump).
  • Run memory and disk checks: Windows Memory Diagnostic (or MemTest86 bootable) and a SMART look at the HDD/SSD. Intermittent RAM or drive faults can cause abrupt stops.
  • Isolate the power path: test on AC with the battery removed, then on battery only. If behavior changes, the adapter or battery is suspect. A multimeter can confirm adapter DC output—only if familiar with basic measurements.
  • Verify temperature units and thresholds: confirm the monitor is reporting Celsius or Fahrenheit. Use C = (F - 32) * 5 / 9 to convert. Sustained core temps above roughly 90 C often trigger thermal shutdown on mobile CPUs.

Deeper hardware steps (if comfortable)

  • Remove power and battery first. Follow the service manual for the model. Use short bursts of canned air through intake and exhaust, hold fan blades still when blowing, and avoid touching electronics.
  • Inspect the fan for bearing noise, check fins for compacted dust, and only re-seat heatsink or reapply thermal compound if experienced: clean old paste with isopropyl alcohol and apply a thin, even layer when reinstalling. Warranty considerations apply.

When to get professional help

  • Burning smell, visible damage, persistent shutdowns after cleaning, or lack of skill/confidence in opening the chassis: seek authorised service. The steps above prioritize safety and aim to confirm whether the root cause is thermal, battery/adapter, or a failing component.

Recommended Answers

All 11 Replies

Member Avatar for BradPitbull

This started about a week ago. I'll be doing something and for no reason i can think of it will turn off. Except maybe from being to hot which doesn't make that much sense as it runs b/t 120-180 and very very rarely 190-200. But anyway it will turn off as in the screen goes black and the power goes off, sort of like crashing. Then i turn it back on and there isn't a message like you would get from a crash, and it runs just fine.

I will be glad to overcome this it gets quite annoying
Thank ahead of time for any help

Probably it is the temperature of the processor that makes your computer turn off unexpectedly. One piece of advice that I can give you is to check and clean your motherboard from dusts after that kindly check if your cpu cooler (heat sink) is well seated it happened to me before that my computer turns off without any notice and found out that the temperature went so high due to the heat sink that is not well seated.

Member Avatar for hollowman1

In other words, electric short can cause the problem as well.
Unplug all cable, then clean all the inside.

Member Avatar for jbennet

Overheat or lack of enough power

Member Avatar for Smalls

Its a , if it was a desktop I would feel more than comfortable pokin around the inside, but, haven't really moved in to laptops yet.

Got this thing that tells the temp of intel cpu's called (This link isn't mine), not real sure how accurate it is but at the moment its tellin me i'm about 155-170. So I can see the heat thing being a prob

Questions
Don't these things shutdown at about 210ish?
And, How to get around this?

Member Avatar for jbennet

what are these temps? c or f?

please use C

Member Avatar for cguan_77

if you're using a desktop..make sure that you're heatsink to your processor is properly seated and there's enough thermal compound..and check processor fan also..

Member Avatar for kirk71johnson

I had the same problem with my computer and end up being the power supply was overheating and would just shut off. I took off the cover and put a home fan towards the board not knowing exactly what was gong on until the power supply fan started making loud noises and then the power supply was fried. I tried to turn it back on and the computer started beeping. I looked it up and it was the power supply. Could also be the mother board, but in my case, the power supply. Taking the cover off and pointing a fan towards the motherboard, after making sure the dust is cleaned out, could work in the short term. Also check to make sure all your fans are in working order. See if there are patterns to when it shuts off. In my case when I played a video game it would shut off, but not when I was just using looking around on the web or using an office application. Since I have dual video cards, so the draw on the power supply would be greater for video games than a browser and it would create more heat through the power supply.

Member Avatar for Smalls

3 yrs later replying for archiving purposes

the laptop is an acer extenza 4620z

i eventually broke it down and found a dust bunny that wadded up to about the size of a gumball (monster lil thing)

over all i had to do this same procedure with same results about every 6mo.

i also perceive this as an acer design flaw between the fan and the heat-sink fins as there is very little room for debris to pass through

so if pc blacks out for no good reason at all, check heat-sinks and fans

Member Avatar for jingda

Hi. 3 Years later then replied? Hmm, where have you been all this while. Lol

What you say about your last sentence is true. Mostely likely when your PC shut down for no apparent reason, it may be an overheating issue. Good to see you coming back to daniweb, smalls.

Member Avatar for JolinG

I had the same problem with my computer and end up being the power supply was overheating and would just shut off. I took off the cover and put a home fan towards the board not knowing exactly what was gong on until the power supply fan started making loud noises and then the power supply was fried. I tried to turn it back on and the computer started beeping. I looked it up and it was the power supply. Could also be the mother board, but in my case, the power supply. Taking the cover off and pointing a fan towards the motherboard, after making sure the dust is cleaned out, could work in the short term. Also check to make sure all your fans are in working order. See if there are patterns to when it shuts off. In my case when I played a video game it would shut off, but not when I was just using looking around on the web or using an office application. Since I have dual video cards, so the draw on the power supply would be greater for video games than a browser and it would create more heat through the power supply.

Would you explain more in detail? I got the same problem but seems like I cannot fix it by your method.

Member Avatar for jingda

If you follow the above suggestion and do not work, create a new thread fist. Other volunteer will immediately help you with the problem. If you do not know how to create a new thread, post here.

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