OK. This is driving me insane.

My laptop shuts down all the time. It started to do it sometimes when I would be playing games, then it would happen when I would stream video for more than 10-15 minutes... Now it shuts down (well, the screen goes black, then after about 10 seconds the audio stops, then after about a minute the machine powers down) all the time.
Watching dvds
Running Virus scan
backing up my blackberry
installing programs

if i restart the machine right away and try to resume what i was doing, it usually shuts down pretty quick

if i wait a while, and just use firefox/itunes, nothing too serious... it usually doesn't shut down

only when i'm doing things like video watching (particularly streaming) or game playing

I ran avg and it told me that there is no threats.

I have no Idea what to do...

any takers....?

OK. So, my computer was off all night and I started it up and started Core Temp. Temps was around 66-67C. The max is listed at 85C. After browsing the internet for a while, the core temps raised to about 70-71C. When I started watching some Youtube videos, the temp started rising until one hit 85, and when it did, the computer shut down like it normally does.

So it would seem like it is a temp issue....

My question is, what do I do now? It's a laptop. I can't just go get a new fan, can I?

Would it be better to bring it back to the store (it's under warranty) and tell them about the issue?

Hello, I am a newbie here and well to laptops as well. So I followed and monitered the temp as suggested here and my temps reached 90. So my laptop is not under warranty anymore....is this something that can be fixed and where would I go? I have a Gateway. Thanks in advance. ;)

stormyfb,

Appears from your description the CPU is over heating and entering into a thermal shutdown situation.

The question is why this is happening now and not when the machine was originally purchased.

There could be a number of reasons.
1. The heat sink could not be firmly clamping to the CPU.
2. The cooling fan may not be operating at optimum RPM and efficiency.
3. The inside of the case could be filled with dust, etc. obstructing air flow.
4. Etc, Etc......
BTW: When the machine shuts down abruptly and abnormally, on re-boot up, the machine should do a Chkdsk on the hard drive which is normal.
Suggest if you do not have the expertize to disassemble the machine and determine the cause of the issue that you send the laptop to a reputable shop for repair.
Regards,
Rick P.

Your Laptop turns off by itself?
I want to share my experience about it because I found it instructive and economical. If your laptop is more than 3 years old then it may work for you.
I have a Compaq Presario 2500 Laptop which runs Win XP SP3. It was bought in 2004 for the equivalent of U$1.500. Currently it costs U$500 or less. It runs fast and it is reliable because it is well optimized and maintained. I upgraded to bigger RAM & HD three years ago, and I have some high capacity portable HD. It has almost everything I want and I think I do not need a new one for now.
Two months ago, it begun to turn off by itself. It was configured to turn off the screen after 10 minutes and the hard disk after half hour but never to turn the main power off. Then I googled the issue for answers and I looked in Compaq website for my laptop model. I found two possible causes: software and/or hardware.
About software I Closed all running programs and I went to: control panel, then System, then to device manager tab. Once there, I went to System Devices and I uninstall the drivers for all ACPI devices listed. These were:
ACPI Fixed Feature Button
ACPI Lid
ACPI Power Button
ACPI Thermal Zone
Once uninstalled them, I rebooted my lap top; after the booting it reinstalled the four ACPI drivers by itself. Once done, it didn’t turn off again but I noted the top case laptop was hot. Regardless it was usually hot, I have my doubts about it and then I decided to call Compaq Service. They told me to do the same thing that I have done before with the ACPI drivers; checking if the fans were working (yep they were working) and if the top case was still hot, I had to change the HEAT SINK because it was damaged or dirty, it costs U$300 plus U$200 labour or installation.
The heat sink is an internal device which manages and controls the temperature of the CPU module and main board. It is a fundamental part of the system and it fails when is clogged and/or dirty in excess because their sensors cannot read properly the temperature and the fans cannot work, making the laptop turns off by itself due to overheating.
At this point, even having the money I prefer to buy a new one instead of paying this amount to get it fixed. Therefore I decided to do it myself: I will clean it, because I knew it was a matter of time to get totally broken due to the fluff accumulated inside in the past years.
I downloaded the service guide and user’s manual for my laptop model. I read all the steps and documentation to uninstall the heat sink, I copy-pasted the right info and I printed it. I was ready!
Let’s make one break: if you are tired, stoned, drunk or in a hurry don’t do it. I’m not a saint because I like to party hard with all excesses involved but your mind must be clear for this job. You must read and make a plan before, and the most important you must have organized a place where you are going to work. Every screw is different, regardless whether we see the same size; therefore arrange your screws properly when you are disassembling your laptop; remembering and writing where these belong to. Make it precise !!
The steps to disassemble my laptop to get to the heat sink were:
Disconnect the power
Get off the battery
Get off the hard disk: easy, 2 minutes
Uninstall Keyboard cover: tricky, 7 minutes
Uninstall Keyboard: easy, 5 minutes
Uninstall Switchboard PCA: tricky, 10 minutes
Uninstall CD-DVD drive: easy, 5 minutes
Uninstall Display assembly: tricky, 20 minutes
Uninstall Top case: tricky and difficult, 30 minutes
Uninstall the heat sink: tricky and difficult, 15 minutes
To uninstall the heat sink I have first to unscrew in precise sequence four screws as it was described in the Compaq service guide; then I had to pull up the whole heat sink which was attached through several pins to the CPU module cover.
Once uninstalled, it has 2 fans and 6 copper pipes that were connected from the fans (3 each one) to the CPU module cover. I begun the cleaning therapy, first with Victorinox Tweezers I pulled out all the fluff that was already stuck around the fan bearings. It was incredible; no exaggerating it was like 5 cubic centimetres of fluff, dust and even small insects. All that rubbish was clogging the heat sink and overheating my laptop.
Then, I took cotton buds to clean the two fans; after I went to a service station and I used an air gun to push out the dirt leftover on the heat sink pins and the ducts (be careful with the fans!!). After two hours I begun cleaning it was like new. I went back to home.
Taking advantage of this situation I cleaned as much as I can; how come? Cleaning and dusting all parts exposed and disassembled, but with extreme care. Be careful of touching metal with metal and humid rags.
Next step: assemble the laptop. Installing the heat sink is tricky; you must guide through the pins. Once the pins were on the right position on top of the CPU Module, I pushed the heat sink down. I screwed them in precise sequence as indicated, and the heat sink was installed.
After, I assembled every part with the precise screws as I had organized before. Please tight the screws gently. It took me like ninety minutes assembling my laptop.
Now the fire test: turn it on; I did it and it was working! Then I tried all buttons and services to check if they were ok.
Now my laptop NEVER is hot and it works as a charm. I hope this experience worth for you supposing your laptop has similar symptoms.

Thanks,

you right about it HL, but first I asked and I made sure on a clean white rag that it was only air.
But you right because before when I tried in other 3 servo-stations they told me and I checked it that is was not pure air.
Please take care about this issue whoever want to clean something with an unknown air-gun.