Computer shuts down spontaneously???

Ok i am running a win xp, 160 hd, 3200 athalon. The problem is that my computer shuts down spontaneously when it's being used. Whether i'm writing a cd, or playing and on or offline game.. I think it may be some sort of setting. Can any of you help me where to start...... ? It's driving me crazy..




Thanks for all your help in advance....

Lolli

 

>> Re: Computer shuts down spontaneously <<

The two most typical reasons for this behavior are "overheating" and/or some type of "power supply" problem. Below are listed some of the most common causes of random shutdowns where the computer spontaneously turns off, especially if your BIOS is set to shutdown on an alarm condition:

- Overheating CPU
- Overheating video card
- Faulty power or inadequate power supply or loose wire connections.
- Faulty motherboard

Suggestions:
(1) Right-click My Computer then choose Properties.
(2) On the Properties window Advanced tab, click Settings under Startup and Recovery.
(3) Clear the Automatically restart check box under System failure, and then click OK.

The next time the error occurs, you computer will not reboot; but will instead show a detailed "error message" on a blue screen which should remain on the screen, giving you a better idea about the specific cause(s) of these random shutdowns. Record the information on the screen and post back.

Additional Notes: Check the inside of your computer case for accumulated dust which can affect how well the computer's fan operates; and thus cause your PC to overheat. Check for loose wire connections and swap the power supply; which may be failing when it gets hot. Install some temperature monitoring software to be sure you are not getting extreme temperatures in there. You might also want to install a program like SpeedFan that will tell you the temperature and fan speeds. If it's running hot then you might need a CPU fan. I also recommend EVEREST Free Edition to check the specs (both of these are available as freeware).

Good Luck!