Last updated: October 14, 2023
We have become accustomed to using our computers on a daily basis for the most mundane tasks: checking emails, checking the news or the weather, playing games, listening to music or watching movies. It sometimes happens that our PC suddenly turns off while performing any of these tasks, which can be frustrating if this is repeated.
This guide will walk you through some troubleshooting steps that may help you resolve this issue.
The steps are presented in order. Start with the first one, see if it helps, then move on to the next one if it doesn't.
1 # Check the PC power connection
Make sure the PC is properly powered by checking the connections of the electrical outlets. Make sure you are using a working electrical outlet. You can test another device, such as a lamp, with the same plug to make sure it is reliable.
Also, make sure that the electrical connections to and from the PC are correct, that all plugs are firmly seated, and that no cables are twisted or damaged.
2 # Check the ventilation of the computer
Computers heat up when they are in use, and their internal parts must be cooled and kept at a certain temperature to function optimally.
If the computer overheats, it may shut down to prevent damage to its components. In the worst case, components can also melt or be burnt out if the computer is kept running at an elevated temperature.
In order to know how hot the components of your PC are, watch this tutorial: Take the temperature of each component of your PC.
Then for check if your computer fans are still running, do the following:
- Look for any vents your computer may have: on the back, side, or bottom.
- When the computer is on, place your hand in front of the ventilation holes and check for air escaping them.
Depending on your results, you will have three possibilities:
- There is no breath of air - It may mean that the fans are not working and the computer is not cooled. Please contact the product manufacturer for further assistance.
- Airflow is weak - Computer fans can become clogged, slowing them down and preventing them from blowing enough air to properly cool internal components. To remedy this problem, clean the exterior and interior of the computer and lubricate the fans.
- Airflow seems normal - It could mean that the computer problem is software related. There are several different software solutions that can be attempted to resolve the issue.
3 # Check for updates
Windows Updates often fix many operating system hardware and software errors in order to make Windows 10 stable and error free.
In order to solve the problem of a PC that turns off suddenly, you should check for Windows updates and make sure the latest drivers have been installed for all devices.
To do this, follow these steps:
- Open the menu Start and go on the cogwheel of Settings.
- Click on " Update and security ».
- The Windows Update page lists the updates that are waiting to be restarted, or those that are available for download, or just nothing at all, which means that Windows 10 is up to date.
- Windows Update is up to date: nothing can be done.
- An update requires a restart of the PC to install (which will be done automatically the next time the computer is shut down).
4 # Check the hard disk status
Another thing to check is your hard drive. If your hard drive is corrupted or has damaged sectors, you will likely encounter a wide variety of issues. Most of the time the system does not start, but it can cause sudden shutdowns.
For this purpose, you can use third-party tools and scan the disk (like CrystalDiskInfo). For more details, I invite you to read this tutorial: How to check the health of a hard drive in Windows?
5 # Check if your PC is not infected with virus
Your computer may be infected with a virus Or another malware designed to shut down your computer under certain conditions.
If your computer seems to shut down while running a certain program at specific times of the day, it may be infected.
If you think your computer may be infected with a virus, read this tutorial to clean and protect yourself: How do I remove all viruses from my Windows PC?
6 # Check your computer hardware
Any component faulty hardware from your PC can cause stop unexpected from the latter without warning.
If you've recently added new hardware, remove it from the computer to make sure it's not the problem.
If you have not recently installed any new hardware on the computer, the best solution is to unplug non-essential equipment. For example, remove your modem, DVD drive, network card, sound card, and any other expansion cards that are not necessary for your computer to operate.
Running the computer without these cards can help diagnose your problem.
