Laptop turns off & on again at random

Discussion in 'Hardware' started by KATHEMMI, Oct 13, 2009.

  1. KATHEMMI

    KATHEMMI Private E-2

    My daughters laptop (Fujitsu) randomly turns itself off & then back on again a few seconds later, picking off where it left off with any websites being viewed still on line & any documents being worked on saved & restarted.
    It happens when being used on her desk or bed, but as it turns on again almost immediately cooling doesn't seem to be the problem.
    There seems to be no regular pattern to the problem.
    I'd hate for this to be an excuse for her not doing her homework, or borrowing my laptop, so any help would be appreciated.
     
  2. plodr

    plodr MajorGeek Super Extraordinaire Moderator Staff Member

    I don't think it is turning off and back on. If that happened, windows would reload and you would not be at the same place everytime. Also if the computer were rebooting (sometimes people say turns off and then on when they mean rebooting), again windows would start to load again.
    I suspect the screen is blacking out. Attach an external monitor and keep both displays working, the laptop and the external. If the laptop screen blacks out, does the external also? If so, the video chip could be failing. If not, then maybe the backlight on the laptop is failing. A backlight display can be fixed. It can be expensive but it can also be cheap if there is a do-it-yourselfer around who can replace the capacitors. If it is the onboard video chip, there is no solution. Once that goes, it isn't like a desktop where you can install a video card and use that.
    A few notebooks do have a replaceable vidoe card but it is very few and I don't remember the brand nor model.
     
  3. Puppywunder58

    Puppywunder58 Master Sergeant

    It happens when being used on her desk or bed, but as it turns on again almost immediately cooling doesn't seem to be the problem.

    I find it interesting that the OP states that there is no problem with overheating while on the bed?
     
  4. plodr

    plodr MajorGeek Super Extraordinaire Moderator Staff Member

    A computer that overheats doesn't turn back on immediately - that's how you rule out a heat issue. If the computer overheated, it takes a while for everything to cool off before the computer is willing to boot up again.
     

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