Sudden computer shutdown. The computer turns off during the game: what to do

For any personal computer user, the situation when the computer suddenly breaks down is always sad (although what is not an excuse to drink coffee or chat with a friend at work). Yesterday, the PC that was working properly today categorically refuses to carry out user commands or does not turn on at all. And sometimes such an unpleasant situation arises when the computer turns on, the user has tuned in and has already begun his work, but after a while the monitor goes out and the computer turns off. What to do in this case and what is the reason for this “behavior” of the PC?

There can be quite a few reasons for malfunctions. IT Pro specialists know that one of the main reasons for a sudden computer shutdown can be a completely or partially faulty power supply. Based on our experience, this particular malfunction comes first when dealing with such a problem. It can be diagnosed by simply replacing the power supply with another known working PSU (power supply). In this case, it is better if the power of the new power supply is not lower than the power of the existing one. It is also necessary to pay attention to the fact that the number and type of connectors on the power supply used for diagnostics correspond to the connectors on the old one. Otherwise, you may have to additionally look for adapters. In order to replace the power supply, you need to open the system unit, in most cases, unscrew two screws on the back of one of the side covers and slide this cover back. On the back of the system unit, the power supply is held in place by four screws, unscrew them and carefully pull out the wires leading from the power supply to the devices. As a rule, one hour of uninterrupted operation will be enough to understand that the power supply is the real cause of problems in your computer.

Although problems with the power supply are the most common, diagnosing them at home (in organizations there are usually no problems with this) is often difficult due to the difficulties associated with finding a power supply for such diagnostics. So first, make sure you have a working electrical outlet, surge protector, or uninterruptible power supply. Check that you haven’t simply pulled out some wire, the machine has turned off, or you accidentally pressed a button on the surge protector. More than once we have encountered the fact that there is simply no voltage on the wire that goes to the system unit. A malfunction is another common reason for a computer to shut down unexpectedly.

The computer turning off after some time of operation may also be due to overheating of the processor or video card. The cooler responsible for cooling the processor may not work at full capacity due to the same “overload” with dust, which prevents the normal flow of heat, or because it has exhausted its working life and requires replacement with a new one. In any case, it is recommended to keep the equipment clean and be sure to thoroughly vacuum the inside of the system unit.

But sanitary methods for removing dust are unlikely to help if the motherboard (capacitors, etc.) fails. Here, expenses cannot be avoided, since this technical problem can only be solved by replacing faulty parts or having them repaired in a service center. This malfunction occurs frequently, but you will not be able to determine it yourself at home. A trip to the service center is required.

Another common cause of problems is faulty RAM sticks. Moreover, if there are malfunctions of this equipment, even if the computer turns on, its resources will not be enough for stable operation. The reasons for the failure of RAM strips can be different. Most often, if this kind of problem occurs, it will not be possible to solve it without replacing the memory sticks with new ones. Therefore, for diagnostics, find a stick of a similar type DDR, DDR2, DDR3 and replace the stick in your computer with it.

Sometimes users do not consider it necessary to turn off the computer correctly (command: Start - Shutdown), but turn it off simply by unplugging the cord from the outlet. This leads to the operating system crashing and the PC stops working normally. Therefore, you don’t need to waste time to turn off your computer correctly.

In addition, viruses can cause such a failure. In this case, it is already necessary to perform anti-virus treatment of the computer or even completely reinstall the operating system.

Greetings to all! In this article I will tell you why the computer turns off by itself. Often, diagnostic measures and PC repair involve searching for an answer to a fundamental question: why does the computer turn off on its own? This is a fairly common problem with current PCs.

This article will discuss common precedents for turning off a PC on its own and methods for solving them.

The computer turns off by itself while playing

Some people, when their computer turns off by itself, in such cases begin to blame the video card. However, it should be noted that in this case it should be considered only after completing the check of two components of the computer. As a rule, a faulty video card causes problems, but not shutdown.

Most likely the power supply has failed.

If your PC systematically turns off during the game, then the power supply may be to blame. There are two possible reasons. The first is that a video game puts a strain on the video card, as a result of which the power supply, which is not designed for such a huge load, simply cannot withstand it.

Because of this, the system unit is overloaded. For what other reasons can a computer turn off? On this topic! If you are interested, you can find out, and also.

Problems with the processor itself.

This is one of the common reasons. Or more precisely, its peak temperature. This is also due to the increased load - during the game the demands on the power of a given computer component increase. As a result, the temperature increases. If the cooling system on the central processor socket is unsatisfactory or of poor quality, then protection is activated, i.e. The PC instantly turns off.

The symptoms listed do not necessarily relate to video games. This can also happen P When watching movies or activating “heavy” software products, all this entails a high load on the CPU.

The computer reboots on its own

This case is somewhat more complicated. In addition to the above factors, there are other system components that can cause the PC to not work properly. These include the motherboard or RAM (random access memory) of the computer.

Problems arising with RAM.

Symptoms of failed RAM vary. It includes system freezes, software and video game slowdowns, and even the notorious PC overload. I recently told you about it, and I also said, be sure to read it.

However, it is necessary to check the OP first, since it is not difficult and the process itself will take less time than diagnosing the motherboard.

Problems associated with a faulty motherboard.

When you are convinced that everything is fine with the RAM, we recommend focusing on the motherboard. Only a specialist can handle this procedure; an ignorant person will not do anything useful. Despite this, we will try to talk about certain measures in the corresponding chapter. However, now we suggest you look into the symptoms, which will help you establish that when activated, the PC turns off due to incorrect operation of the motherboard.

The first factor is that the operational life of the motherboard is coming to an end. In this case, its repair is impractical, since it will be easier to buy a new one. If the PC is not that old, then just buy a replacement.
The second factor is minor cracks in the soldering of the board. There are already 2 options here - this defect will either go away on its own (after a certain period of time), or you will need to purchase a new board.
The third factor is incorrect operation of the capacitors on the motherboard. This can be cured by changing the capacitors by resoldering.
Fourth factor - If the PC turns off while the operating system is loading, then the chipset on the board may be overheating. This can be easily checked using a multimeter.

The PC restarts for other reasons

In reality, there are many reasons, and if you do not have the knowledge and testing skills, then seek help from a knowledgeable specialist.

In addition to the above problems, independent shutdown occurs for the following reasons:

The wiring is faulty.
The extension cord has failed.
Dust has accumulated in the system unit.
Changes in electrical voltage.
Reduced voltage in the electrical network.

It is also better to take this into account; besides, checking the listed reasons will not take much of your time. It should be noted that factors can also be of a programmatic nature. For example, if your PC turns off every two hours, it is probably infected with viruses.

How to find out why your PC turns off spontaneously

Let's consider checking the factors that caused the computer to permanently shut down. You can check what is failing by replacing the system node that is under suspicion. However, first we recommend cleaning your computer from accumulated dust.

In order to remove the processor from the list of possible causes, you need to change the thermal paste and conduct a test using special software products, for example, S&M. But the best way to find out the processor heating temperature is through the BIOS.

RAM is checked using the MemTest86 program. If critical errors occur, you can think about a malfunction of the OP.

The power supply is checked with a multimeter. Of course, only specialists have access to it. Do not get into equipment operating under high electrical voltage without special skills! This is the golden rule that must always be followed.

The motherboard can be easily checked visually; look for swollen capacitors on it. But it is unlikely that you will be able to find microcracks and chips. If it's all about them, then feel free to throw away the board.

All procedures are replaced by one single test - eliminating the suspected element and replacing it with one that works 100%. Although not everyone can afford this method, it works and is easy to implement. This is especially true for the motherboard, the symptoms of which are so diverse that you can replace half the system components of the computer before you get to it.

I hope such a huge article was useful to you and you found out why the computer turns off by itself during a game or just like that. I suggest you subscribe to new blog articles and receive them by email. To do this, enter your email at the end of the article. Don’t forget to ask questions in the comments, and I won’t refuse your wishes. I wish everyone peace and health in their families!

With UV. Evgeny Kryzhanovsky

Often, diagnosing computer malfunctions consists of searching for answers to one seemingly simple question - why does the computer turn off by itself? This problem is quite widespread among modern PCs.

In our article, we will look at the most typical cases of spontaneous PC shutdown and try to describe the method for solving each individual problem.

The computer turns off automatically during the game

Often, users immediately begin to look for the source of the problem in the video card, but note that a faulty video card should be considered as a probable cause of shutdown only after checking 2 other computer components. Usually, when the video card is to blame, the symptoms look different, and the computer does not turn off itself, but simply freezes , or artifacts appear on his monitor.

The symptoms described above apply not only to computer games. Any running “heavy” application or voluminous video causes a strong increase in the load on both the processor and the power supply.

The computer turns on and immediately turns off

This is where things can get a little more complicated. Along with the reasons described above, malfunctions of other computer components may also manifest themselves. So, if your computer immediately turns off when you turn it on, the first thing you should pay attention to is the RAM or motherboard. Here it is recommended to carry out diagnostics from simple to complex, and it’s worth starting with RAM.

PC turns off for other reasons

In addition to the reasons described above, there are many other problems that can lead to spontaneous shutdown of the PC. And if you do not have sufficient experience and skills in testing computer equipment, then it is better not to risk it and call a specialist, or use the help of friends who are more competent in such matters.
Here we present a number of probable reasons that can lead to the computer turning off on its own:

dust accumulated in the system unit;
faulty extension cord, uninterruptible power supply or wiring;
voltage surges or low voltage in the electrical network.

All these factors should also not be ignored - especially since checking them will not take much of your time. It is worth noting that in addition to these reasons, there may be software reasons. For example, if your PC turns off periodically, then it is likely that it is infected with viruses and requires a full scan using anti-virus programs.

Methods for checking a computer that turns off spontaneously for malfunctions

So, now having a certain list of “suspicions,” let’s take a more detailed look at checking each of the probable reasons for the spontaneous shutdown of the PC. Of course, you can check what exactly failed by simply replacing the component that is most suspected. But first, we still recommend cleaning the computer system unit from dust, of which a lot can accumulate there.

In order to exclude the processor from the list of suspicions, you will need to replace the thermal paste and test it using testing programs. For example, it is better to check the processor temperature through the BIOS system.

RAM can be checked for faults in the MemTest86 program. If critical errors are detected as a result of the check, then most likely there is a malfunction.

The easiest way to diagnose a power supply is with a multimeter, but this procedure should only be carried out by a trained person. Never climb into live equipment without proper training!

It is usually not difficult to check the motherboard - all faulty capacitors look slightly swollen. If the problem is microcracks, then it will not be as easy to detect it. Then you can either try to thoroughly vacuum the board, or throw it away with a clear conscience and buy a new one.

Thus, by checking or replacing each “suspicious” component one by one, we will most likely come to a solution to the problem of spontaneous shutdown of the computer. This method, on the one hand, is highly effective, but on the other hand, it is not accessible to everyone due to the lack of appropriate skills. However, we hope that the tips given here will be useful and help solve your problem.

It happens that we hear from friends and acquaintances: the computer turns off on its own, what should I do? This problem happens to almost everyone, whether you are a beginner or an expert. In this article, we will discuss the reasons that cause your computer to randomly shut down or restart. The situation is simply terrible - you work and work and suddenly your computer turns off and all your work is lost. Sound familiar? So,

Why does my computer turn off on its own?

There could be a whole bunch of reasons (and a cart), but let’s look at the most common ones:

Cooler(fan) got dusty. Dust is the most common cause of computer instability. This is especially related to dust on the cooler; it is covered with a large layer of dust and does not give as many revolutions as before. Since the cooler is not large, even a small layer of dust on the cooler is a significant load. Remove the cooler and wipe it with a cotton swab, or better yet, lubricate it with special oil for computer coolers;
Radiator. A radiator is a small partition between the cooler and the processor. The radiator is made of a special metal that allows you to cool the processor well. The cooler cools the radiator, and the radiator cools the processor. If there is dust in the radiator, this will interfere with the normal cooling of the processor, the motherboard gives a signal about overheating, and the computer turns off or reboots to relieve the load and prevent overheating or combustion. To fix the problem, simply clean the radiator from dust;
Old or dried out thermal paste. Thermal paste is applied between the heatsink and the processor; sometimes the thermal paste is not of very high quality or it has lost its useful properties. This may be due to a long period of operation (thermal paste needs to be replaced once a year). Simply remove the heatsink and apply new thermal paste to the processor and this will restore cold temperature conductivity to the processor.
Air does not circulate well inside the computer. This manifests itself especially often in summer or warm seasons. Perhaps it’s time to replace some components, they have simply expired, but you have money problems. But at the same time, you want to work as comfortably as possible, you can do everything simpler and cheaper, install an additional fan on the case, and replace old coolers on the processor, video card, power supply, this will improve air circulation and significantly reduce shutdowns and reboots, and maybe you will stay for a long time you will forget about these problems. As a last resort, remove the case and place the computer in a safe place (so that no children or animals have access there), then try working on the computer. This will reduce the heating of components, but will increase dust getting inside the system unit, so you will have to clean it more often;
A large number of open source programs. You have turned on and opened many programs, and each of them uses a certain amount of resources. This especially happens on older models. Turn off some programs, the problem may disappear;
Malfunction in the computer power supply. The power supply can also directly influence the shutdown or reboot of the computer. The power supply often fails due to poor quality, voltage drops in the network, or sudden and incorrect shutdown (not through Windows). Typically, the service life of a power supply is from 3 to 5 years, after which problems may begin. When a power supply fails, it is usually accompanied by symptoms such as: turning off at different times regardless of the load on it, it does not turn on at all, or it does not reach the operating system before loading. Let’s also not rule out dust; before buying a new power supply, or taking the old one in for repair, remove your power supply and clean its insides from dust with a soft brush;
Motherboard or RAM problem. If your PC turns off while playing or using software, this may indicate a faulty RAM or motherboard. In this case, you need to take the computer to a service center; you are unlikely to cope with the breakdown yourself. But before you take your PC to a service center, clean the motherboard from dust, and make sure that all the connectors on the motherboard are inserted tightly and do not come loose;
Network problem. This is a problem associated with electricity or voltage that for some reason does not reach or does not fully reach the computer parts. This happens due to a breakdown in the network cable that supplies power from the outlet to your PC, or a breakdown in the extension cord in which your PC is connected. In such a situation, you need to check for contact with a special device, or borrow components from friends or acquaintances. And we carry out testing using the plug-and-play method, we remove our own, and we install what we took from a friend and see how the PC behaves. This way we identify a non-working or faulty PC part;
Virus on your system. Sometimes a virus or a special program causes such problems. Remember what you installed on your computer before the problem appeared and uninstall that program. Also check all timers and programs, maybe a certain program contains a timer that turns off your PC. Review the power settings, run the RAM and all disks through. If you cannot get rid of the virus, reinstall the operating system, but first format your hard drives.
Video card problem. Overheating or failure of the video card is also a common phenomenon. This usually shows up in high quality games or movies. The PC freezes, turns off, reboots, etc. To fix the problem, also remove the video card and clean it from dust. If it has a cooler, it also needs to be cleaned and preferably lubricated with special oil. You should also not forget about the radiator of the video card; it also needs to be thoroughly cleaned.

So we have given you the main reasons for the failure of your computer, keep an eye on the equipment and it will work for you for a long time.

Does your laptop turn off on its own? This is an alarm bell that indicates that there are some problems with the laptop. Indeed, in most cases, the laptop turns off on its own due to overheating protection. This prevents the possibility of damage to the device or its components.

Although there are other reasons why a laptop turns itself off. Therefore, the most common problems, as well as ways to solve them, are discussed below.

The tips given are universal and suitable for any laptop - Asus, Acer, Lenovo, Sony Vaio, Samsung, HP Pavilion. After all, a similar problem happens to everyone.

One of the classic reasons. The laptop turns off on its own because it heats up quickly due to its compact size. Especially if you load it with games or heavy programs. And even more so if you use the laptop on the sofa, bed or while sitting in a chair.

The fact is that it has special holes through which air circulates. This is how the laptop is cooled. And if you put it on a blanket or thick tablecloth, the holes will be blocked and the air circulation will be disrupted. The cooling system cannot cope with its job, so at critical moments the laptop turns off spontaneously. As mentioned above, this triggers overheating protection.

Typical signs that your laptop is overheating:

does not turn on immediately after switching off (it takes time for the components to cool down - then it will start);
automatically turns off under heavy load - during a game, encoding files or when running several programs at the same time (the greater the load on the processor, the faster it heats up);
the case is too hot (you will feel this by the buttons on the keyboard - it will be impossible to touch them).

The solution to this problem is simple: use the laptop only on the table. Or on another flat surface. And if you buy a cooling pad, it’s absolutely great. After all, you can sit with her on the sofa, bed, or chair. In addition, it has a slight slope (convenient to work) and is equipped with additional fans that will help cool the laptop.

But this only works if overheating occurred due to impaired air circulation. If the reason is different (dust, thermal paste), then the solution will be different.

Dust clogged

Another reason why a laptop turns itself off during operation is dust. This is perhaps the most common problem. And the most common one is that users rarely clean their laptops, as a result of which they are constantly dusty. If the laptop starts to turn off by itself, in 90% of cases the reason is dust.

By the way, this problem is very closely related to the previous one. After all, dust accumulates everywhere: on the processor, video card and in the cooling system. And if you use your laptop on a fleecy blanket, then it will become clogged even faster.

As a result, the cooling system does not cope with its task:

air circulation is disrupted (in advanced cases, the dust layer is 5-10 mm);
the fan is humming loudly;
The laptop starts to overheat, slow down, and freeze.

And after a while the laptop turns off by itself. And this again triggers the overheating protection.

These two reasons are the most common. If you clean the laptop from dust and make sure that the temperature is normal, then in most cases the problem will be solved. But there are also others.

Laptop suddenly turns off while running on battery

If the laptop turns off by itself without overheating, then first of all you should check the condition of the battery. To do this, connect your laptop to the network and work on it for a couple of hours. If it no longer turns off, then the problem is in the battery.

The fact is that the battery usually lasts for 2-3 years. While laptops last 5-7 years. This is a common thing: batteries always fail quickly.

Typical signs of their malfunction are:

incorrect determination of charge level;
instant shutdown of the laptop when the power cord is pulled out (here the battery is already completely inoperative);
“absence” of a battery (the laptop cannot detect it, believing that there is no battery at all).

Virus infection

Another reason why a laptop turns off on its own is viruses. There are quite a lot of them today, but on this list there is such an infection as miners. They are used for mining (earning) bitcoins, a popular virtual currency today. This is a rather insidious virus that loads the processor and video card at 100%. This is necessary to mine (earn) bitcoins.

As a result, even on a desktop, your laptop will get very hot, slow down and freeze. And if you open the task manager, there will be a high CPU (central processing unit) load. Even if you didn’t turn on any heavy programs.

Therefore, if the laptop constantly turns off by itself, it makes sense to check it for viruses. To do this, install any antivirus (Kaspersky, Avast, Avira), and at the same time scan your Windows system with a special utility to remove malware.

Motherboard failure

Another reason that the laptop turns off unexpectedly is a breakdown of the motherboard (motherboard). This is the main component on which other components are installed (video card, RAM, processor), so even microcracks can lead to unexpected consequences.

Typical motherboard failures:

mechanical impact (the laptop was accidentally dropped, hit with a heavy object, etc.);
pouring water, tea, coffee;
incorrect actions (disassembly and incorrect assembly).

There may also be problems with USB ports, the cooling system (overheating of bridges), and the video adapter.

Experts will help you solve this problem. After diagnostics, they will tell you why the laptop suddenly turns off, and if the reason was in the motherboard, they will offer you to repair or replace it.

The laptop often turns off by itself: other reasons

If the laptop turns off by itself and the temperature is normal, then the reason sometimes lies in the drivers. Because of them, there are many problems, including spontaneous shutdown of the device. It is not possible to check them manually, so it is better to use a special program that will determine the relevance and performance of the drivers. And if necessary, it will offer to update them.

Another reason why a laptop turns off by itself is the BIOS. Errors in the firmware can lead to the device shutting down. If you have installed new firmware and it is unstable, it is recommended to roll back it to the previous one. In some cases, resetting the BIOS settings helps.

There are two more reasons why the laptop turns off on its own. They are quite rare, but do happen sometimes. The first is a problem with the power supply. Due to constant voltage fluctuations, the laptop often turns off on its own. And the second is problems with RAM. It’s easiest to change it here (after all, it’s inexpensive), although you can give the laptop for diagnostics - perhaps it will be repaired.

That's all. Listed above are the main reasons when the laptop turns itself off while working or starting a game. Therefore, if you encounter this problem, go through the list and try to fix the problem yourself. The main thing here is to determine why the laptop turns itself off. And then all that remains is to fix the problem - yourself or by turning to a specialist for help.