Laptop shutting down suddenly
Discussion
My daughter's Windows 11 Dell laptop keeps shutting down suddenly every 20-30 minutes. All works fine then without warning the whole things just dies - black screen. A press on the power button starts it up and it works fine until it happens again.
It happens whether it is plugged in or using the battery
I ran a Windows memory check and all was ok
It's not hot to the touch or any sign of overheating
She's not doing anything very intensive. It's all Word for essays or online homework. Hardly taxing the processor.
What else can I check? Or will I just be chasing my tail for ever trying to track down the fault, so should go buy a secondhand MacBook instead?
It happens whether it is plugged in or using the battery
I ran a Windows memory check and all was ok
It's not hot to the touch or any sign of overheating
She's not doing anything very intensive. It's all Word for essays or online homework. Hardly taxing the processor.
What else can I check? Or will I just be chasing my tail for ever trying to track down the fault, so should go buy a secondhand MacBook instead?
Overheating would be my bet.
You say “no sign of overheating”, but what do you mean? Have you run a software CPU temperature monitor on it?
If the CPU is getting too hot due to poor airflow, you won’t be able to feel that.
I’d open it up and check all the air pathways, cooling fins etc for dust and fluff. Use a can of compressed air to blow it out.
You say “no sign of overheating”, but what do you mean? Have you run a software CPU temperature monitor on it?
If the CPU is getting too hot due to poor airflow, you won’t be able to feel that.
I’d open it up and check all the air pathways, cooling fins etc for dust and fluff. Use a can of compressed air to blow it out.
"No sign of overheating" was me running a hand over the bottom of the laptop after it had been in use for a few hours. Barely even warm.
It's being used on a wooden desk, not a soft surface, so airflow should be alright.
I'll giving the vents a blast with some compressed air and see what blows out.
It's being used on a wooden desk, not a soft surface, so airflow should be alright.
I'll giving the vents a blast with some compressed air and see what blows out.
boyse7en said:
"No sign of overheating" was me running a hand over the bottom of the laptop after it had been in use for a few hours. Barely even warm.
That does not tell you whether the core of the CPU is getting too hot. You won't be able to feel that from the outside of the case.Open up the laptop and blow all the dust and fluff out of the air channels and the vents at the back/sides of the case. Even if it doesn't solve the problem, this is something that's worth doing every once in a while.
boyse7en said:
I'll giving the vents a blast with some compressed air and see what blows out.
You need to actually open up the case and clean it out. Simply blowing air in through the vents might actually make it worse by blowing the fluff and dust further in.boyse7en said:
What else can I check? Or will I just be chasing my tail for ever trying to track down the fault, so should go buy a secondhand MacBook instead?
Just on this part.A never ending multi-hour Win10 upgrade *many* years ago was the trigger for me to move us all to the iOS ecosystem. Macs aren’t perfect…..my 2014 model finally got replaced last Black Friday, but they ownership experience has been streets ahead of my previous windows one.
But it will cost ya….macs aren’t cheap. If you do jump, the latest Airs are decent value, go via Very to get a new customer 20% WELCOME discount (if that still works)….& use TopCashBack for a bit more back too
The question is if Windows is doing the shutdown or the BIOS itself.
If it's Windows, you can user powercfg to look at the reasons for shutdown: https://superuser.com/questions/1258473/display-al...
It's more likely thermal, dust inside causing the thing to shut off to protect itself. Or RAM. Or some wear and tear from being handled.
Does it usually sit on a solid surface or is it rather on a bed or something? That also impacts airflow and encourages the sucking up of dust and stuff.
I'd say it's not the drive as it would not go blank.
If it's Windows, you can user powercfg to look at the reasons for shutdown: https://superuser.com/questions/1258473/display-al...
It's more likely thermal, dust inside causing the thing to shut off to protect itself. Or RAM. Or some wear and tear from being handled.
Does it usually sit on a solid surface or is it rather on a bed or something? That also impacts airflow and encourages the sucking up of dust and stuff.
I'd say it's not the drive as it would not go blank.
"You need to actually open up the case and clean it out. Simply blowing air in through the vents might actually make it worse by blowing the fluff and dust further in."
Fair point. I'll try opening the case. I had to do similar years ago for a Playstation.
"Have you tried hitting F12 at bootup and running dell diagnostics?"
No. I'll give it a go, but strongly suspect that i won't understand what it says. But no harm in trying
"Anything in the windows event log?"
No idea. I'll Google to find out how to find it. But as above, I strongly suspect that i won't understand what it says.
"Does it usually sit on a solid surface or is it rather on a bed or something?"
It's either on her desk or the kitchen table. Not used on the bed. It's only for homework stuff. If she wants TikTok/Youtube/Snapchat she uses her phone.
Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll have a go at all of them and see if it cures it.
Fair point. I'll try opening the case. I had to do similar years ago for a Playstation.
"Have you tried hitting F12 at bootup and running dell diagnostics?"
No. I'll give it a go, but strongly suspect that i won't understand what it says. But no harm in trying
"Anything in the windows event log?"
No idea. I'll Google to find out how to find it. But as above, I strongly suspect that i won't understand what it says.
"Does it usually sit on a solid surface or is it rather on a bed or something?"
It's either on her desk or the kitchen table. Not used on the bed. It's only for homework stuff. If she wants TikTok/Youtube/Snapchat she uses her phone.
Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll have a go at all of them and see if it cures it.
I’ve seen Louis Rossman off youtube diagnose stuff like this, and its turned out to be a cheap component on the motherboard that has burnt out. But to get there has taken hours of investigative work and needed specialised tools to de solder / resolder components.
Honestly in the OP’s shoes, I would update the bios, do a few basic checks to rule out the obvious stuff and then just write off the laptop.
Honestly in the OP’s shoes, I would update the bios, do a few basic checks to rule out the obvious stuff and then just write off the laptop.
Edited by wyson on Friday 14th February 10:11
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