PC problem

Hey everyone,

I haven't posted on here for a very very long time. However I have a very strange computer problem that I can't seem to really figure out. My computer is randomly shutting down. It doesn't restart, just bam the computer shuts down.

Seems easy to try and diagnose. First I thought it was maybe over heating issue. Opened the case.. cleaned off what little dust was there.. went into bios and let run for an 1hr.. no turn off. Normally it will restart within 15 minutes.

So last night started up my computer and left it at the windows log in screen for maybe 30-40 minutes and nothing happened. I put in my password and started opening programs like iTunes and firefox and then bam it turned off. So I'm thinking power supply issue so to kinda test that I left my computer on all night long. I was logged in and the only thing up was windows desktop. I just woke up and it hadn't restarted. So I scratched power supply issues off the list. And pretty much any other hardware related issue.

It seems to only shut down when I start becoming active on the computer. I woke up and opened firefox and iTunes and bam computer shut down. So I was starting to make a connection that maybe iTunes was doing somethng weird. But the next time I rebooted I didn't open iTunes and the computer still shut down. booted up the computer.. didnt open firefox and just opened up some random stuff including explorer. nothing happened.. open itunes... nothing happened.. listening to musc.. nothing.. open up control panel and start looking for something.. and bam computer shut down.

Sooo its official.. I have no idea what could be happening.

I have:
Windows vista SP2 32 bit
2 8800 GTX
4 gigs of patriot ram
X-fi
EVGA 680i
1.5 terabtye seagate and a 500 gig seagate.
Q6600 quad core

So what do you guys think is going on here. I dont think hardware but then don't know

 

Thanks for the fast response. I booted into safe mode opened up event viewer and looked around. I couldnt remember the exact times of when the computer shut down. I was in safe mode for about 15 or so minutes and was just opening random programs.. the same thing I had been doing before.. and nothing really happened. It didn't shut down or anything. I am currently in the process of testing the memory 1 stick at a time. Will post back with the results when they are done.

The only security I have installed is AVG free. I am very computer savvy and typically fix my own problems. but this one just has me stumped.

If you need any more info just ask.

Thanks

 

OK I just finished both RAM tests. I ran each stick of RAM through 2 passes and I had zero errors. Each stick took about an hr to run 2 tests. Is this looking like some sort of messed up software issue or a hardware problem. I just can't figure out if its a software problem or a hardware problem. At least to me?? sooo confused.

Thanks for all the help.. O yea I havent overclocked anything

 

Just an update I thought it might be a software problem.. so I reformatted the computer and installed 64 bit vista finally. Everything seemed to be working fine and then it just turned off again.. So its got to be some sort of hardware issue.

Suggestions on where I should start??

 

alright I'll give those a try and see what happens. Although I do know that the fans stay on.. it was the first thing that I figured i should check. Although I cant really check the video card fans.. but i'll give it a shot.

The power supply is going to be tough.. mainly because I dont have an extra one. And I'll have to buy some more artic silver.. and possibly a new fan.. Cause I just have a stock one.

Thanks for the help

 

Hi I had similar problems when I setup my pc I was confused for over a month then found that swapping the Psu fixed it all straight away so if you can find a Psu to test with your PC I would advise that before taking your GFX card and other fans apart.
GL!
Feak