My computer keeps shutting down on it's own. Is it a virus? And if it isn't how do I stop it?

Question

If I'm running a program (Games, Microsoft Word...) It'll cut off on me. Why is it doing this?

Everyone around me is thinkinjg it's a root file. I think it is too, but is there a way to see which one it is?

Answer 1

First, try to bot into Safe Mode. Turn your system completely off, then tap the "f8" key while booting up. Choose the operating system and boot into "Safe Mode with Networking". Choose Administrator and see if it will boot into Windows.

If you can boot into safe mode, do these things:

HOW TO DO A COMPLETE MAINTENANCE AND CLEANUP OF YOUR PC

1. First thing clean up your Temp and Temporary Internet Files directory.
a) Start ->All Programs -> Accessories ->System Tools -> Disk Cleanup.

2. Clean up your startup by running MSConfig (Start Menu > Run > MSConfig)
b) Put the checkmark in "Diagnostic Startup", click "Apply", then "OK" then
reboot. DON'T FORGET TO SET THIS BACK TO NORMAL STARTUP WHEN YOU'RE DONE!

3. Check your Harddisk for errors and try to de fragment the system (atleast the primary partition.

c) Go to Start -> All Programs -> Accessories ->System Tools -> Disk
Defragmenter. Click the C: drive and then click defragment. This may take a long time.

4. Do a thorough Spyware and virus check and clean them up.
d) You can get a very good free ware program at http://www.lavasoft.com

e) If you don't have a virus scanner, you can get a free remote scan over the internet Symantec's Norton Antivirus from this link: http://www.symantec.com/techsupp/home_homeoffice/index_virus.html/techsupp/home_homeoffice/index_virus.html
Click the "Run Scan" button and follow the prompts.

5. If possible reassign your virtual memory to a partition which has enough space.

f) Right click "My Computer" ->Properties ->Advanced ->Performance "Settings" ->Advanced ->Virtual Memory "Change" Click the drive you want to change to, making sure it is a permanent drive, not temporary storage. Put the dot in the "Custom Size" spot, then type in the amount in mb's. Assign about half as much as the size of your actual physical RAM. Then click "SET" and "apply", "ok" etc. until you close the system properties.

* If this doesn't help, you may need to reinstall from scratch NOT RESTORE. That means you will need a Windows XP disk and the serial number.

Answer 2

Think its a virus in the computer, 'coz no computer shuts down on its own while running some program. If its not a virus, then you can try this:
Start-> all programs-> accessories -> systems tools-> system restore-> choose restore to an earlier date/time-> next -> you will get calendar choose the date on which your computer was working fine -> next-> next ..... it will restart your computer, then choose normal mode and then see whether its working or not.
Maybe this will help you.

Answer 3

There may be many reasons for this problem. I can give you a link that deals with hard drive problems. Some RAM/hard drive problems can be easily fixed yourself by using easily available tools. I found the info at http://fixit.in useful

Answer 4

Get a good antivirus program. Here you have some free options:
http://askcomputerexpert.ws43.com/download/security.htm

Answer 5

if it is't a bug, and i'm sure you have an up to date scanner. then run check disk and it will fix minor problems.