A computer question

[trinityvixen]

I'm calling HP tonight anyway, but I'm getting pissed at my computer randomly shutting itself off. Anyone know of something not hardware-related that might be at fault?

Basically, the problem is that my laptop will, without warning, completely shut down. I can start it up again without incident, though the latest settings in whatever program I've been using aren't saved (winamp, for example, had an earlier playlist on restart than it did before the abrupt shut down). I've trolled a few forums with this question on line, but most people seem to think it's just a hardware/fan/cooling-related problem. When I was at home, I used some canned air my mother has to clean the input area--it was hella dusty. I got back Sunday and have opened and closed my computer since, without repeated incident.

Until I got home tonight, and it not only shut down randomly, it didn't appear to completely shut down. When my computer goes to sleep or shuts down, the lights on the front and sides go out. This time, when it shut itself off, the 'sound-muted' button still glowed, as did the AC power button. They remained on for a few seconds, maybe ten, then went out, too. Anyone have an idea as to why this is?

In related news (it also has to do with a computer), I've made the switch to Mozilla. We'll see how it goes. It seems, at the outset, to be rather like my Safari browser on my mac at work, which is fine--less confusion for me switching between the two. What's nicest about it is how it's completely usurped IE. That shouldn't be a good thing, but IE is so dangerous with spyware and the like, that anything that replaces it is a friend to me. Plus, the icon is really cute.

Comments

[trinityvixen.livejournal.com]

I checked the power options already, that's all fine. No 'turn off hard disks' ever selected. As for how it shuts down, it really just dies, as if someone had yanked the power cord out and there was no battery in the computer (which there isn't at present). It's not 'windows is shutting down' happy shut down; it's electrical death shut down. I'm wondering if the AC adapter connection is loose.

[hslayer.livejournal.com]

If it just dies instantly, that's almost got to be hardware. If it was just the AC adapter connection, it'd run off battery, and you should get low battery warnings before it dies. I fear it might be something worse. In any event, as it's likely hardware and non-obvious in the specifics, you'll probably need to get it checked out.

[arcane-the-sage.livejournal.com]

Actually my first thought on this is perhaps thermal in nature. I've seen a few laptops shut down if they're getting too warm. Have you checked to see that the machine is cooling properly?

[hslayer.livejournal.com]

It might be. She does mention that specifically.

Dayle, it probably has a tiny little fan over the CPU, somewhere near one of the vent openings. Any chance you remember hearing it spin up, and haven't since it started having problems?
Does it get noticeably hotter than usual? Typically if it's heat-related you can detect the excess heat externally.

[trinityvixen.livejournal.com]

I believe it is pretty hot, actually. That was my first concern. I've heard the fan working, though, so I didn't believe that it was totally broken.

I'm not sure if it's 'hotter than usual' because my HP has always run pretty warm, but, unless I'm imagining it because it seems like a likely situation, yeah, it's a little warmer than usual.