posted
twice in the past 2 hours my computer has randomly shutoff while i was in a program. i have had to wait several minutes before it lets me power on again. everything inside is factory installed and nothing has been changed as far as hardware is concerned. so why does my computer decide to suck all of the sudden?
Posts: 1572 | Registered: Jan 2004
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posted
Go to Control Panel > Power Options and see if it's set to power down after a certain amount of inactivity.
I doubt that's it, but it could be. Does it have a standby, suspend, or hibernate mode?
Other than that, I don't know what to tell you. When it powers itself off next time, flip the power switch in the back off and on, then push the power button on front and see if that helps.
posted
i disabled all that crap as soon as i pulled it from the box when i first got it in like august of last year
Posts: 1572 | Registered: Jan 2004
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posted
this can also be a heat issue... if something is used heavily and a lot of power flows through it, it can expand. this occasionally causes poorly engineered products to lose a connection somewhere and die untill it cools down, contracts, and reconnects.
If you feel comfortable tweaking thigns, try unplugging and re-pluging any power cables in the computer (while its turned off of course).
Posts: 187 | Registered: Jan 2005
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posted
This happened to me all the time last year and it was because I had a broken fan (or one that had become totally inefficient), which was basically causing the computer to overheat and then automatically shut down. It sounds like the same thing is happening to you.
My advice to you: have this checked out before your computer gives out all together.
Posts: 8473 | Registered: Apr 2003
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posted
You may want to open up the computer and blow all the dust out of it. Those Sonys are insanely cramped inside (Bad cabling mostly) so they overheat when they get really dusty. To me it sounds like a heat problem. Just pray it isn't a power supply problem. Sony like to use hardware only they can supply. A replacement supply will cost you 140 dollars if it's out of waranty. Also, make sure it's in a well ventilated spot. If you have a desk that has a cubby-hole for the computer, the cramped space in there will force the computer to recycle hot air, increasing heat on the inside. If its a relatively new computer (IE, last year or so), you have a prescott CPU core, which is notorious for excessive heat and voltage use. Yeah, dust it out and make sure all the fans are turning properly. If it still has the same problem then, well... [Brooklyn accent] I knows people whos might be interested in your situation. [/Brooklyn accent]
[ January 22, 2005, 12:18 AM: Message edited by: Boris ]
Posts: 3003 | Registered: Oct 2004
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posted
Yah, it would be cool (pun!) if it was only a heat issue - and with a Sony, no surprise. (Tiny cases, poor wiring, non-standard wierd components... we've covered it all.)
I second the recomendation for dusting and a fan check - take off your case, sit it somewhere where you can see/feel/hear it and let her run. If you can't get a "for sure" diagnosis, there are a couple of apps that'll warm your PC up like chocolate fondu - that way you can nail down to heat for sure. (Or, conversley, rule heat out.) Try googling Prime 95 - it's a CPU stresser that'll keep your P4 burning.
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tech support tells me it may be a short in my cheap $10 surge protector. suggested a differnt socket in the same strip. so im giving htat a try. so far no problems.
Posts: 1572 | Registered: Jan 2004
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posted
I think there might be a short in their cheap $10 an hour tech support, personally I've never ever ever ever ever seen a surge protector cause a computer problem (With the major exception of the ones one campus which were all wired by minimum wage student employees).
Posts: 3003 | Registered: Oct 2004
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I've never ever ever ever ever seen a surge protector cause a computer problem (With the major exception of the ones one campus which were all wired by minimum wage student employees).
