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Kittypuss
regular
Reg'd: Wed
Posts: 181
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Hello
My laptop has taken to spontaneously switching itself off. At first I thought it was due to a battery failure, so took battery out for a few days and ran it solely on power cable.
Tried that again today but laptop still spontaneously switched itself off.
Can anyone give me any pointers as to what is going on? It has all relevant windows (XP) updates, I keep it virus free, cleaned up etc. etc.
Thanks in advance.
Kate
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Aren't computers wonderful... when they work!
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greysts
regular
Reg'd: Thu
Posts: 17740
Loc: Colchester
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Normally the first thing to look for is overheating. Is the vent clear to allow good air circulation around the processor?
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Do you know that we're all in line for succession to the throne? Really?
Well, if forty-eight million, two hundred thousand, seven hundred and one people died I'd be Queen.
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Kittypuss
regular
Reg'd: Wed
Posts: 181
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Thank you for your reply!
Funny you should say that - after doing some research on the internet, it seems that's the only possible reason. However I didn't think that being on all day - being situated on a dining room table in a well aired room would cause that problem.
It hasn't recurred since but at least having an awareness of that sort of thing recurring will make me remember to switch the laptop off when not in use! Kind of a good housekeeping kind of approach that I will need to stick to 
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Aren't computers wonderful... when they work!
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greysts
regular
Reg'd: Thu
Posts: 17740
Loc: Colchester
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Could do if the sun comes round and starts shining through the window onto the laptop.
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Do you know that we're all in line for succession to the throne? Really?
Well, if forty-eight million, two hundred thousand, seven hundred and one people died I'd be Queen.
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Kittypuss
regular
Reg'd: Wed
Posts: 181
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Granted, if my darkened room saw any sun at this time of the year!
The thing switched itself off again last night - it had been left on during the evening (only) and I arrived back after a couple of hours, started to work on it - and <poof>! off it went.
So it wasn't the sun doing this - it must be overheating in some way - sitting on a dining table in the dark!
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Aren't computers wonderful... when they work!
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greysts
regular
Reg'd: Thu
Posts: 17740
Loc: Colchester
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Does the table have any sort of covering on it that might have loose fibres that get sucked into the air intake of the cooling vent? It could even be simple dust build up. Get yourself one of those compressed air cans and give it a good blow through, so to speak.
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Do you know that we're all in line for succession to the throne? Really?
Well, if forty-eight million, two hundred thousand, seven hundred and one people died I'd be Queen.
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Kittypuss
regular
Reg'd: Wed
Posts: 181
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It's a varnished table. So perhaps the varnish is overheating and causing stickiness so laptop defends itself by switching off. Not sure what sort of can you are talking about - can you explain further?
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Aren't computers wonderful... when they work!
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greysts
regular
Reg'd: Thu
Posts: 17740
Loc: Colchester
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You can buy an aerosol can full of compressed air like this which can be used like a vacuum cleaner in reverse to blow out any accumulated debris.
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Do you know that we're all in line for succession to the throne? Really?
Well, if forty-eight million, two hundred thousand, seven hundred and one people died I'd be Queen.
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Fusion
regular
Reg'd: Mon
Posts: 3244
Loc: Darlington UK
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Take four objects such as pencils and place under each corner of the laptop.
Use it normally and see if it switches itself off.
The raised position will allow better airflow under your machine and prevent over heating.
A surefire solution would be something like this:
Your laptop sits on top and it has duel fans which use a USB port for power.
If you still have a problem, another solution may be needed.
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Kittypuss
regular
Reg'd: Wed
Posts: 181
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Hi
Thanks to both Fusion and Greysts, the solution is - in theory - found. The fan was clearly logged with dust - my partner gave it a good "blow" and a lot of dust flew into the hemisphere! Lo and behold the high pitched fan noise suddenly died down (which I'd thought was rather loud but thought it was a feature of my laptop!!) and laptop no longer overheating. So will probably invest in one of those high pressure air canisters at some point!
Thanks again
K 
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Aren't computers wonderful... when they work!
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