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    Constant shutdowns

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by Sentient_6, May 11, 2008.

  1. Sentient_6

    Sentient_6 Notebook Consultant

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    Hey all,

    My computer has been shutting down sporadically recently. It seems to happen most often when I'm either gaming or have just gotten back from leaving it idle to find it shut down. I'm thinking of doing a reinstall since I haven't done one yet since I got this computer. Not to mention there's only 3GB left on the first hard-drive, so I could use to clear some of that up. I'm also thinking of installing XP, but finding all those drivers could be a pain in the ass.

    Any suggestions?
     
    Sentient_6, May 11, 2008
    #1
  2. timtravel42

    timtravel42 Notebook Virtuoso

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    why do you want to go to XP?
    reinstall Vista and you should be fine
    If you need discs for a vista clean install, see the thread in my sig
     
    timtravel42, May 11, 2008
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  3. Gregory

    Gregory disassemble?

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    It might simply be overheating. In the "best sotware..." thread there is some software that will measure how hot your computer is. Install it and see if you are running too hot. Make sure to try it when you are running games because your computer is working harder at those times.
     
    Gregory, May 11, 2008
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  4. alekkh

    alekkh Notebook Evangelist

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    Sometimes solution for such problems is incredibly simple - cleaning up the fan vents. Either with partial disassembly or by blowing compressed air.
     
    alekkh, May 11, 2008
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  5. Wirelessman

    Wirelessman Monkeymod

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    Are you sure that it is off? My laptop looks off but it is on sleep/hybernation mode, I must press the power button to bring it back on.
     
    Wirelessman, May 12, 2008
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  6. Thomas

    Thomas McLovin

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    Thats a good question^^.
     
    Thomas, May 12, 2008
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  7. Wirelessman

    Wirelessman Monkeymod

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    You are still up? Me I can't keep my eyes open, I think I'll hit the bag now.
     
    Wirelessman, May 12, 2008
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  8. Thomas

    Thomas McLovin

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    Well, I've been distro hopping, on top of just making my own Linux distro :)
     
    Thomas, May 12, 2008
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  9. Wirelessman

    Wirelessman Monkeymod

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    You own distro linux, man, you must be very brilliant.
     
    Wirelessman, May 12, 2008
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  10. Thomas

    Thomas McLovin

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    Not really, just I know how to use Synaptic and how to make an iso of a system ;)
     
    Thomas, May 12, 2008
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  11. Wirelessman

    Wirelessman Monkeymod

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    Good for you, well I'll go to bed now, enjoy my reps!
     
    Wirelessman, May 12, 2008
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  12. Sentient_6

    Sentient_6 Notebook Consultant

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    I'm thinking it's something of a RAM and HD issue. My primary HD is nearly full (3 GBs left). And being as it happens more often when I'm playing a game I'm assuming that means there's not enough RAM to go around (essentially) and it just shuts down to clear it up.
     
    Sentient_6, May 12, 2008
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  13. Wirelessman

    Wirelessman Monkeymod

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    What is your OS?
     
    Wirelessman, May 12, 2008
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  14. Bog

    Bog Losing it...

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    The computer won't just shut off if it has inadequate HD space; it will usually get a blue screen. Follow the advice of others in this thread by cleaning out the laptop for dust. Other things you can do:

    - clean out your HD ;) (Use CCleaner or Disk Cleanup, delete restore points, etc.)
    - update your video drivers
     
    Bog, May 12, 2008
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  15. Sentient_6

    Sentient_6 Notebook Consultant

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    Vista Ultimate


    I thought it was more of a RAM problem, not a HD problem. I plan on re-formatting my computer and installing Vista Ultimate again in just a few days. I may even start tonight if I get bored enough.
     
    Sentient_6, May 12, 2008
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  16. Carrot Muncher

    Carrot Muncher Notebook Evangelist

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    Have a look in task manager and see how much ram your using also look at the how many processes your running and see if there is anything which you dont need and can turn off via msconfig/services.
     
    Carrot Muncher, May 13, 2008
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  17. Wirelessman

    Wirelessman Monkeymod

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    Are you using readyboost?
     
    Wirelessman, May 13, 2008
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  18. Sentient_6

    Sentient_6 Notebook Consultant

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    No, I disabled that a bit ago. It hasn't happened while in idle anymore, just when I've been gaming.
     
    Sentient_6, May 13, 2008
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  19. Wirelessman

    Wirelessman Monkeymod

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    **WARNING**

    All said below is probably completely wrong, but I'm just making an extra effort to help you out.

    The readyboost can add 4G of flash memory to the system (without using the mem in the HDD), so if you use it and you still suffer problems, then I would say is for sure the HDD, or try to decrease the cache memory in the HDD. All this is for the sake to discard the HDD from the issue equation.
     
    Wirelessman, May 13, 2008
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  20. J.R. Nelson

    J.R. Nelson Minister of Awesome

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    If it's only happening while gaming, I would be pretty surprised if it wasn't either a., an issue with video drivers of some sort or b., heat. Does it only shutdown during a specific game, or during any of a specific number? Have you updated your video drivers lately? Have you cleaned out all of the fans and such lately?
     
    J.R. Nelson, May 13, 2008
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  21. Wirelessman

    Wirelessman Monkeymod

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    I agree that gaming is a factor, especially overheat, but memory is a factor too, whether the usage is in the different flashes, or in the RAM.
     
    Wirelessman, May 13, 2008
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  22. Sentient_6

    Sentient_6 Notebook Consultant

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    It happens sooner rather than later in Crysis, but takes awhile in Half-Life 2. Heat could definitely be an issue that I overlooked. I have not used my cooling pad in a couple months now and have not cleaned out the fans at all. I'll clean out the fans later tonight after I move and start using the cooling pad again.
     
    Sentient_6, May 14, 2008
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  23. Carrot Muncher

    Carrot Muncher Notebook Evangelist

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    Carrot Muncher, May 15, 2008
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  24. Wirelessman

    Wirelessman Monkeymod

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    Cleaning maintenace is also a must.
     
    Wirelessman, May 15, 2008
    #24