Alert! Previous shutdown due to thermal event...what is this?

Question

Help!! My computer shut off by itself & when I restarted it, it said
"Alert! Previous shutdown due to thermal event"
**********What does this mean, what caused this & how do I fix it?**********
[my computer is a Dell Dimension 4600 desktop, windows xp,less than 2 years old]

I never got a BSOD...just a solid black screen...no pets...I will clean it 1st & see what happens...

Answer 1

your processor overheated or a fan is plugged with dirt get a can of air unplug the pc and blow it out then restart while its open to make shure all fans are working

Answer 2

a thermal event means the chip was heating up and it shut down (hopefully) before any critical, permanant damage occured.. a handy feature I say.

#1, turn on the compute rand listen... do you hear fans? there should be 2 fans going, one fan on the inside wall of the case, and one fan on the chip, located on the left side of the case (the biggest panel). I mean, look at your computer fromt he front, put your right ear on the left side panel, and listen... do you hear a fan going that's NOT the fan in the back of the computer? If not, then the fan isn't getting power. Get it repaired asap

#2 too much heat in the room

#3 not enough ciruclation around the computer

#4 was the comptuer dropped recently? the heatsink may be loose, if you're not an expert, then better leave it to a ttechnician to repair for you, don't want to fry any parts do we? haha...

#5 clear out the dust from the rear fan, with a can of air or a cotton swab and alcohol or water.

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Alert! Previous shutdown due to thermal event...what is this?
Help!! My computer shut off by itself & when I restarted it, it said
"Alert! Previous shutdown due to thermal event"
**********What does this mean, what caused this & how do I fix it?**********
[my computer is a Dell Dimension 4600 desktop, windows xp,less than 2 years old]

Answer 4

Overheating

Answer 5

Auto Restart:

I hope this helps. Try this first.

Right click on My Computer and select properties.
Click Advanced tab.
Click Settings under Startup and Recovery.
Under System Failure uncheck Automatically Restart.
Click OK.

This won't cure your problem, instead of restarting you may get a Blue Screen of Death
(BSOD) instead, but the information displayed will allow you to trace your problem

Go to http://www.microsoft.com and lookup the error code if you get the BSOD.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/316416

Also go here for some ideas:

http://askbobrankin.com/computer_restarts_itself.html

Look at Event Viewer as well.

Left click on Start
Left click on Control Panel
Double left click on Administrative Tools
Double left click on Event Viewer
Left click on each item and look for errors that may give you a clue

Good Luck!

Answer 6

dells overheat alot...its a cpu problem and you need to replace the thermal grease on the cpu...cost is about two bucks. also get a can of compressed air and clean the fans.

Answer 7

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Answer 8

get one of those little cans of compressed air, open the case fo the comp, then unleash the winds cleaning on anything covered in dust

Answer 9

processor chip over heated probably. I'm guessing you have pets and the tower needs cleaned out.

Answer 10

the computer overheated. make sure that the fan is operational, or replace it.