Computer crashes by powering off

Hi my computer is has randomly done this a couple of times now. It just shuts off... (no windows log off) and doesn't seem to have noticed when I power it back up. It doesn't seem overly warm to the touch. I don't know why this is, but this was the problem with my old computer a year and 2 months ago (no Dell warranty on this now) which had a final crash with the blue-screen-of-death. The last one my husband said the power supply box in the back was fried. We've got a year old power strip for it. I don't want a repeat incident with this... any hunches?

Thanks!

 

Yes I have a hunch we need more information!

Failing power supply and memory are the usual causes of sudden unexplained shutdowns.

Post details of your pc (laptop?) and any software or hardware changes you have made recently.

Studio T

 

I have a Dell dimension E310. The only changes made was uninstalling a 1310 HP printer that croaked. I did install a 1610 HP printer, but not for several days later and the first crash occurred in between those occasions. No other new software or hardware. No other issues since I've owned this machine and it has run pretty solid for over a year.

Anything else?

 

OK so it's nothing you've have introduced, and presumably you haven't taken out the Dell extended warranty for 2 or 3 years?

Do you live in an area subject to significant power line fluctuations?

The next step really depends on what you are prepared to do yourselves an at what stage you would want to call in a technician. You could remove the power lead, open up the case and clean up the tower internally. This would include the power supply.

Secondly you could remove plugged in component boards, rub the contacts over with newspaper and replace them firmly.

If this doesn't cure it then you could move on to checking the memory. I think the spec implies these have to be fitted in pairs.

Studio T