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A Computer Issue (need help)

Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2010 8:46 pm
by ovhs_sousaman
Any super computer geeks out there? I'm having an issue with my computer. Basically, I'll be running something or other, then, my computer will suddenly and instantly shut down. Not everything does this, however. Running netflix instant streaming will not cause the crash on its own. However, If I am streaming on netflix and running a GBA emulator or perhaps an online game, the crash will occur after a while. Games also cause this crash. I have had this crash happen while playing Portal, Team Fortress 2, and basically every Steam game I have. The variety of causes seems to me to point to that my computer is simply crashing due to the amount of processing power it is using. It hasn't always done this, this problem is a fairly recent development (ie, I used to play Team Fortress 2 for hours at a time). I was wondering what your thoughts might be and if you know any way to fix this.

Re: A Computer Issue (need help)

Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2010 1:45 pm
by cymtech
whens the last time you cleaned your computer? could be overheating....

Re: A Computer Issue (need help)

Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2010 3:14 pm
by Hostrauser
Without a crash log it will be impossible to diagnose, but my first three guesses...

1. You reach a stage in each program that causes a driver/dll conflict somewhere and the system doesn't know how to handle it. Download a driver sweeper to scan your system for shipwrecks of old/uninstalled/duplicate drivers. Phyxion makes a good program called (go figure) Driver Sweeper.

2. You have a power source that's going bad.

3. You have a memory chip that's going bad.

Re: A Computer Issue (need help)

Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2010 3:43 pm
by dmcoach
I don't mean this to be offensive, are you running a legitimate version of Windows?

I have a buddy that had a bootleg version, and it would automatically shut down after running a certain amount of time.

*shrugs*

Re: A Computer Issue (need help)

Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2010 7:25 pm
by bassoonuba
Sounds like an overheating issue to me. New-ish computers are designed to protect themselves so they turn off "unexpectedly" when their temperature stays in the "danger zone" for too long.

If you have never cleaned the fans and/or exhaust ports on the computer, that is a good place to start. Get a can of air from Staples and have at it.

Re: A Computer Issue (need help)

Posted: Sat Sep 11, 2010 2:49 pm
by ovhs_sousaman
Sorry, I didn't post sooner. I asked a computer geek friend of mine for help. It was an overheating problem. I cleaned the dust out with the air can, and I got this pad to put my laptop on that has fans in it to keep the computer cool. It's working normally. Thanks for answering, though.

And yes, I'm using a legitimate version of windows.

Re: A Computer Issue (need help)

Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2010 1:15 am
by cymtech
Most of the time.... It's something simple.

No crash logs needed.