Random Laptop Shut Down, Runs For Hours in Safe Mode?

Question

Laptop is just over a year old and has recently began shutting down at random. Running Windows XP Home. No restarts, no windows shut down process, just turning off. No hardware changes.

AVG Anti-Virus runs at start up and updates daily. Firewall in place and behind router. Windows Defender runs in background, I also run Spybot, Ad-Aware, and Spyware Blaster monthly. I booted with Ultimate Boot CD 4.10 and ran the included anti-virus apps and was clean.

I can run in safe mode all day long with no shut down, either in the Admin profile or the main profile. I created a limited profile to see if it could be a setting in the main profile, but same problem happened in new profile.

There are only 8 processes running on start up, per msconfig, and all are known.

I can't even decide if it is a hardware or software problem. I thought hardware, but then why no issue in safe mode? What other tools can I use to find the issue? Anyone had a similar problem? Help!!

Power Settings - Running in Minimal Power Management, Turn off Monitor after 15 minutes, hard drive never. Show icon on taskbar is on, do nothing when I close the lid, ask me what to do when I press the power button.

Also, I did turn off the automatic restart on error when the problem first appeared, but I still do not get a BSOD or error message.

Well, I did think about overheating. I run it on a cooler pad. I took the back off yesterday and did the typical cleaning of fans and dust. SpeedFan shows the CPU temp stays around 70-75 C and hard drive has peaked at 48 C over the last week.

Booting from Windows CD does not give the R for Repair option. Any way around that?

I have no issue with doing a format and clean install, but want to be sure it is a software or hardware issue before making a major move either way.

Answer 1

Go to Start, Control Panel, Performance and Maintenance, and click "Power Options". From there, check to see what options are enabled.

Answer 2

It could be that your hard drive is starting to develop bad sectors or some XP drivers have become corrupted. Next time you boot up in safe mode, back up your data, then check your drive for errors (ie. local disc, properties, tools). If your drive has bad blocks/bad sectors buy a new hard drive.
If there aren't any bad sectors then just do a clean install. If you still have problems, then it's a hardware problem, buy a new laptop. If your hard drive fails before you get a chance to back up your data then you will need data recovery.
http://www.cbltech.com

Answer 3

Hi. The shutdowns are sometimes a sign of overheating. After a year you may have some dust built up internally.

Answer 4

I dont think safe mode is the issue. I think the problem is your laptop is hot and that why your laptop is keep shut down.

I have the same problem similar to your keep shutdown until i bought the cooling fan.

Answer 5

take the install cds and use them to repaire all the windows files on the computer. There may be something coorupted in the main kernnal.

Answer 6

must be the flexibility Scheme is detecting low battery and if it is going to not be able to hibernate to save power it quite is now shutting down. you ought to choose on continuously On and save the battery alarm on for low power warning. Clicking the Battery icon shall we you substitute preset power schemes or circulate directly to modifying the ideas in-intensity.

Answer 7

try to download hijackthis
http://www.spywareinfo.com/~merijn/programs.php
then post it in
http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/forum22.html

you would get a reply in a day or less.

if that does not work.. format your drive and install a fresh copy of windows.

Answer 8

it must be 1 of the programs causing this. check if some program in "services" is running in msconfig