Computer randomly turning off?

Hey folks --

So, in the past week or two, my laptop has randomly turned off twice on me. Never happened before.. and the last major change I made to it was installation of Windows 7 (via the upgrade option). The last time it happened (a few minutes ago), I wasn't doing anything particular intense on the computer --- just some web-browsing w/ MSWord open at the same time, and the computer didn't feel even remotely hot.

I tried some searches in this forum and didn't see anything --- has anyone else experience or heard about this problem? I've got some law school exams coming up this Friday, and can't afford a random shutdown mid-exam, for obvious reasons.

Thanks for any advice/suggestions --- if more info from me would be helpful, please let me know.

bt

 

You might want to visit Sony eSupport and pick up relevant W7 drivers for your model and install them.

 

Your running the final build of Windows 7 aren't you?

While your laptop might not feel particularly hot, it could be. Just check your temperatures with HWMonitor to be sure.

And when it does Shut Down, does it shut down properly through Windows, or does it just turn off?

 

Usually when computers randomly turn off, it is either due to heat or power issues. Is this happening on battery or AC power?

 

To answer the above questions:

This has only happened (the two times) on battery power. I checked to make sure the battery was secure after both instances of shutdown, and nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Also, I recognize that shutdowns of this sort are often due to heat issues ---- I don't have HWMonitor (a free app?), but when I said not even remotely hot, I really meant it! I've felt my laptop get hot before... and warm before, and the last time the shutdown happened it was neither. That said, I, of course, can't rule out a heat issue w/o an actual heat monitoring program. If you guys think one is a good idea, i'm certainly game for a download.

The shutdown process happens as it should -- again, nothing out of the ordinary.

..and, unfortunately, Sony isn't supporting W7 on my model of laptop --- despite it being their top-o-the-line notebook at the time of purchasing. So, as far as I know, W7 drivers aren't available through the Sony site.. although I will check again.

For whatever it's worth, it hasn't happened again (and didn't happen during my law school finals, thank goodness).

I'm still puzzled by this, and would definitely like to narrow down the problem.

 

HWMonitor is free google and download it.
If this has only happened recently check if your fan is full of dust maybe you want to vacuum it out.

 

Try switching to Stamina mode and install the latest windows7 driver from Intel's site, select your OS from drop menu and install their latest driver.

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/SearchResult.aspx?lang=eng&ProductFamily=Graphics&ProductLine=Laptop+graphics+controllers&ProductProduct=Mobile+Intel%c2%ae+965+Express+Chipset+Family

This is the switch that I have slightly different from yours probably but it should be there. Avoid using Speed mode till they have an update for your model.

 

Yeah --- I only use stamina mode, and have updated the intel drivers. The random shutdown thing has happened a few additional times (just happened a few minutes ago, and my machine is as cool as cucumber, so I have no idea what's going on).

Perplexing, and quite discouraging.

 

Try running under Safe Mode and see. Also check the events log as what triggered the shutdown.

After it shuts down, can you restarted it normally? or prompts are coming up about Windows shutting off badly?

cheers ...

 

When I restart, the prompts you're referring to come up. I always choose to restart normally, and it immediately starts back up and works fine. It just did it again.

Ok -- I ran the event viewer, and here is what's happening (which has happened 23 times since 11/2):

Event 41, Kernel-Power: The system has rebooted without cleanly shutting down first. This error could be caused if the system stopped responding, crashed, or lost power unexpectedly.

I don't know if any other info would be helpful -- thoughts?

 

Ok -- event log says the problem is:

Event 41, Kernel-Power: The system has rebooted without cleanly shutting down first. This error could be caused if the system stopped responding, crashed, or lost power unexpectedly.

EventData

BugcheckCode 0
BugcheckParameter1 0x0
BugcheckParameter2 0x0
BugcheckParameter3 0x0
BugcheckParameter4 0x0
SleepInProgress true (note that sometimes this is listed as false -- happens in and out of sleep)
PowerButtonTimestamp 0


It's happened 23 times in since Nov 5. As mentioned above, it's happened both while asleep and awake. Every once and a while when I resume my computer from sleep, i'm presented w/ that "improper shutdown" menu -- it's the same issue that I've been describing here. It's clear that the issue has been happened ever since I installed Windows 7 and never happened when I had Vista installed.

The only other problem I"ve been having with Win7 is occasional graphics driver crashes w/ my Intel graphics card. I just reinstalled the driver pursuant to the link given above, and haven't had any crashes since --- but have had the critical kernel-power problem since.

LAME! Since this problem coincided with the install of Win7, it's pretty obvious it's a software (as opposed to hardware) issues. I have no idea how to troubleshoot though --- any ideas? I'd like to not go back to Vista --- but if that's the only gurantee then, well, I think the solution is obvious.

..I've read some things stating that Power Management functions might be to blame. I am running the VAIO power management application in addition to the Win7 one (to turn off the DVD player, etc, when on battery). Could that be to blame?

 

Did you find out the cause? Have same problem but its happened only 4 times since install of W7. Mine happens when system going into hibernation it seems altough another time it was during normal use while idle I think.

 

I never did find the solution. I ended up reverting my computer to factory settings and, lo and behold, it didn't help. The computer continued to randomly shut down when:

- On sleep/hibernate
- When I was typing on it
- When the computer would get jostled (e.g., moved/carried from place to place when in any mode)
- Whenever it felt like it.

It got to the point where it was happening several times in one day. I talked to Sony Support, and they were certain the restore to factory settings would solve the problem. Because it didn't, they believed it was probably a motherboard issue --- which starts to get into the realm of more expensive repairs. Because I was on a tight time-line (in that I had to have a functioning computer for law school, which was about to start up its spring semester), I ended up purchasing a new (and far less expensive) replacement laptop.

The Sony has been sitting on the shelf ever since. Not sure what I'm going to do with it.

If you find a solution to your issue, be sure to let me know!

---- Also, pursuant to my last post, disabling my computer's power management didn't solve the issue either. Nothing worked. Or, rather, nothing I tried worked.

 

I had 5 instances of BSOD with the ID code 43 (same as yours). I think its a W7 issue. You can see my other thread for bug check details.

 

I thought it was a W7 issue as well --- but then I reverted my machine to Vista (and original factory settings), yet the problem persisted.

In any case, it instantly moved the computer into "highly unreliable" territory. A disappointment, to be certain.