My computer shuts down on it's own 2-3 times daily especially if I try to play a game.?

Question

My computer is shutting down recently[2-3 wks. now] at least 2-3 times a day. I've run all kinds of scans & read everything I can get hold off on the subject, but nobody seems to know the answer. If I even try to play a game it shuts when I'm about 15 minutes into it. The only way I can get the power back to turn my computer on is to unplug it for a minute or so & plug it back in again.Then I have to start the sign-in process all over again as my computer is password protected.It has been in a laptop mode now for months & even the tech I had come in could not fix it or figure out why it went to laptop mode.
I have no idea how to solve this problem, so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thank-You:>>REBELCAT****

Thank-You all for your coperation & answers, but I have tried everything [exception removig the back of my processor] to check the fans, which is my next job.
As for the power options answer I've tried the options also, but it still dosn't have anything listed under power schemes etc. It just have a blue line on power schemes & UPS says curently stopped, so I guess I'll have ti do a whole new Windows clean install or something to that effect to get my computer back to it's origional state.
I have USB connection cord & I may put it in & remove Ethernet cord to see what happens.
Anyway Thanks again everybody, Will keep U informed on my progress before choosing BST./ANS. as they're all really good ideas. REBELCAT:****

Tried the Usb connection, but it didn't work either, so put Ethernet Connection back.
My son is coming over tomarrow or next day when he's back from his route to check out the fans for me etc., as I don't want to try myself 1st in case I make a mistake. He's a good at repairing & fixing problems etc.
Thank-You all again & lets hope for the best, that it's just a fan gone or too much dust on inside of processor.
Later:REBELCAT***

Answer 1

Normally, when a computer shuts down while playing a game, it's due to overheating. Playing a game is demanding on a computer system, so the heating caused by playing a game is enough to cause it to forcefully shut down so nothing in the computer gets damaged. Check to make sure all your fans are spinning and everything is running as normal. The odds are a fan has died or is not running properly.

Answer 2

To disable that laptop mode, go to Control Panel and look for Power Options. Under Power Schemes, select Home/Desktop Computer.

It looks like your PC has a case ventilation problem. It's also the HOT season. Make sure the back of the case is not too close to the wall. You could opt to put a more powerful exhaust fan at the back. For the meantime, your lowest cost option would be to open the side panel and have an electric fan pointed towards the motherboard.

Install Speedfan or Everest monitoring softwares so you could check temps from time to time.

Answer 3

The laptop IS NOT overheating. When laptops, or computers for that matter, intermittently shut down, it is usually the power supply. It can be other things but 9 out of 10 times the PS is bad. Also, is the battery good? Bad batteries on laptops can also cause problems. Try taking the battery out and run ONLY on AC. The battery, power supply or both may need to be replaced.

Answer 4

Sounds like its overheating... you turn it off for a minute or two, it cools down, and it works again... And running a game requires more power, which results in it heating up, causing it to shut down. Laptop mode requires less power, which is how your computer decides to cool itself down. Computers shut down when they overheat to keep it from getting damaged, and starting a fire. Unfortunately it'll only be able to do it for so long and keep shutting down until the heat really does damage.

Next time you take it in, recommend that you think its overheating. And they may have to replace your fans as well as the wiring, which may be melting.

Good luck & cheers : )

Answer 5

so your power setting are set to laptop mode. just go to the control panel from my computer and doable click on power options

http://www.Microsoft.com/korea/windowsxp/tabletpc/using/howto/images/powerschemes/img_power_options.gif

this should come up. just change it to home/office.

if you still can not find this setting then go to the link below and it takes to to the microsoft website.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/setup/maintain/powermgmt.mspx

if your problem is still not fixed then there might be some thing wrong with you power supply. my PC would often shut down for no reason and i found out that i had to replace my power supply and once i did that it was fine. but i did have to format my PC once to see if there was some thing wrong with windows or if it was the power supply.

hope this help you

Answer 6

hey man ure lucky . i have the same problem with my laptop apparently since the past 4 months. only i know the discomfort it gives. becuz its realli annoying wen ure trying to run multiple applications and games etc it shuts down....
anyways ur problem is ur processor .....it gets too hot and once it gets too hot for the fan to cool it down...it automatically shuts down.....only way to fix that is either live with it if u dont want to spend money or u can buy a new processor and repair it. or if you are lucky then its the fan thats cooling the processor. if its the fan then u can just buy a new fan for it and replace it.....pretty cheap (not as costly as buying a new motherboard though)
im not too sure if they sell processors but u can buy a motherboard with a processor and let a technician install it for u.
i know this problem ....it happens a lot with me .....specially wen i run lots of programs or a game.
im 99% sure this is your problem but u can still check with others. at first i also thought it was a virus but apparently i noticed it shutting off wen it got hot.

HOPE I HELPED!

Answer 7

verify the minimum requirement of the interest, like working equipment, some video games crash on Win XP. Or run the anti-virus test purely on the C derive and the folder that includes the put in interest(if its in a distinctive area, no longer interior of C stress). it won't be in a position to be image failier or RAM failier, considering which you have sturdy RAM.

Answer 8

im thinking its overheating, get a laptop cooler