Random Computer shut down

[Captain2]

I've been having trouble with my computer shutting down with no apparent problem recently, I took it into staples (the only computer repair place in my sad little town) and they thought they found the problem but it seems they were wrong.

I've been checking temperatures and making sure the problem isn't a wallplug or something and everything seems normal so I'm out of ideas



heres my Dxdiag file, I couldn't figure out what was nessicary and what wasn't so I may have cut something out

Spoiler :

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System Information
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Time of this report: 1/9/2010, 14:29:30
Machine name: GREG-PC
Operating System: Windows Vista™ Home Premium (6.0, Build 6002) Service Pack 2 (6002.vistasp2_gdr.090803-2339)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Gateway
System Model: LX4800-01h
BIOS: Default System BIOS
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q8200 @ 2.33GHz (4 CPUs), ~2.3GHz
Memory: 4094MB RAM
Page File: 1381MB used, 6980MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows
DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 7.00.6002.18107 32bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
Display Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 2: No problems found.
Sound Tab 3: No problems found.
Input Tab: No problems found.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
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Direct3D: 0/4 (retail)
DirectDraw: 0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (retail)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (retail)
DirectPlay: 0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow: 0/6 (retail)

---------------
Display Devices
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Card name: NVIDIA GeForce G100
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type: GeForce G100
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_06E6&SUBSYS_9840174B&REV_A1
Display Memory: 2286 MB
Dedicated Memory: 494 MB
Shared Memory: 1791 MB
Current Mode: 1152 x 864 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor: Generic PnP Monitor
Driver Name: nvd3dumx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvd3dum,nvwgf2um,nvwgf2um
Driver Version: 8.16.0011.9107 (English)
DDI Version: 10
BGRA Supported: Yes
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 9/27/2009 16:12:22, 9441384 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: n/a
WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-45A6-11CF-6857-4BB81EC2C535}

 

[Cutlass]

Random shutdowns can be heat. If you've checked heat, and it looks ok, you should still take some canned air and make certain all your heat sinks and fans are clean of dust. A bad power supply, or a power supply that's not well connected can also cause random shutdowns. Open it up and make certain the cables connecting the power supply to the motherboard have a solid connection. If you have and know how to use a power meter, you could try checking power outputs. If you don't, see if there's a utility that the comp will run that checks the output power of the power supply.

 

[Genocidicbunny]

Is it simply shutting down or actually going into a BSOD?

Go to Control Panel > System > Adcanced System Settings.

Click the Startup and Recovery Settings button in the Advanced tab and make sure automatically restart is not checked.

 

[Captain2]

It shuts right down but it appears that automatically restart was checked, would that be a problem?

 

[Genocidicbunny]

It means that if there is a BSOD which could shed some light on the cause, you would not see it. Its a good idea to uncheck it anyways.

 

[ainwood]

It shuts right down but it appears that automatically restart was checked, would that be a problem?

In so far as if its a BSOD, the automatic restart makes it harder to see what the problem is. Unchecking that means that if a BSOD happens, then you get the error message on teh screen, and it can help diagnose what the problem is.

WhoCrashed can help with diagnosing these.

 

[Rub'Rum]

Does it only happen when a video (eg. youtube) is playing, or you're playing a game? The only time this happened to me, it was my sound card acting up.

 

[warpus]

Check system logs

 

[Captain2]

It happens anytime, I can be playing a game for an hour before it goes out or other times simply upon starting one. I've had it happen when I wasn't even looking at a game.

and how could I check the logs?

 

[Genocidicbunny]

just search for Event Viewer from the start menu

 

[Captain2]

alright, found them

now what would I be looking for?

 

[Genocidicbunny]

Errors, especially ones right before your computer shuts down. They should have a nice, visible red circle with an exclamation mark next to them. These are the most critical issues. You may need to wait until your system crashes again.