my computer keeps shutting down. for no reason it just turns off?

Question

some times i can use it for an hour. other times only 5 minutes.
i disconnect the power...put it back in...i get a spark...then it works again

Answer 1

~ Any other devices on that same recptacle circuit loose power? If so, could be a faulty receptacle... [usual cause... age... high current usage in past... like a hair dryer... causing female plug contacts to heat up... open up and not allow for proper 'pinching' of the male plug to supply good solid connection. Usually causes arching/sparking at recptacle/plug area... also blackness around the recptacle is another indicator of loose contact... change recptacle with new one.

~ Computer power supply is a more common problem... if it is over two years old, could start failing.

~ Poor circulation and internal fan problems could cause increased heat. Clean fan, filters... if any. Vacume (carefully) interior of computer cabinet... or blow out with a good compressed air supply. If fan is inoperative, replace it.

~ How's the Hard Disk Drive... getting full? When's the last time you cleaned up your drive... defragged it... that can slow you down... cause extra heat, searching long periods thru the gigs of data... do your secheduled maintenance.

~ Don't forget to replace your internal battery while you have the cabinet off for cleaning... should be changed once a year... it supplies your BIOS with the power for memory functions on startup of your programs.

Answer 2

It sounds like your power supply may be going bad. You may need to get a new case, and move the contents of your computer into it.

Here's a good tutorial for such a thing:

http://www.avengex.com/tutorials/187

Hope this helps!

Answer 3

Could be the power supply on the PC is going bad. I have seen that happen on several PC's and that is what would happen with them.

Answer 4

get a new one

Answer 5

time to take it in before a fire starts.

Answer 6

Check your system with any hardware enginear.