Why does my computer shuts off

Dust, grime, hair and other debris can build up on fans, heat sinks and other parts. Components can also come loose or become unseated over time. All these can affect a computers performance in a negative way. Using a compressed air duster is the best and most recommended way of cleaning inside a computer. When blowing compressed air, keep the can upright at all times and never shake it to prevent the liquid refrigerant from leaking onto your electronics.

Use short bursts of two or three seconds. When the can gets too cold to hold, set it down for a few minutes until it warms up again. Only open the computer if its warranty has expired. If it's still in warranty, only clean it from the outside. Only use lightweight mechanical oil. Do not use cooking oil or spray lubricant. Please contact the product manufacturer for further assistance.

Windows has a great utility called System Restore that allows you to revert your system to an earlier state called a restore point. Restore points are created automatically when you install a new app, driver, update, or when you create one manually.

Restoring your PC to an earlier point in time will not affect your personal files, it will only revert system changes and remove anything installed after the restore point was created. Do not turn off or power down your computer during a System Restore to avoid data loss or corruption. If you are using a laptop, make sure it is plugged into power so the battery does not run out during this process. If your PC has restarted abruptly several times, it will bring up this screen automatically.

It can take a long time, over an hour in some cases, for System Restore to complete. If you system was already recently updated, chances are that no further updates are available and your Update status will indicate: Your device is up to date. When you've exhausted all options in trying to fix a major issue with Windows, you may be left with resetting Windows to its original state your PC had right out of the box.

Depending on the reset method you choose, the process may delete all personal data and apps you have saved on the PC. If you need to back up all your personal data make sure you do so before proceeding.

There is no going back, and no chance to retrieve anything removed during the reset process. Please make absolutely sure your backups are up to date before pressing Reset.

Windows will guide you through setting it up with your username, password and other basic settings, just like when you first purchased your computer.

Get Tech Support This can cause you to lose whatever you're working on, but it may also be a sign of damage to the computer itself. Generally, when a computer powers down on its own it's due to the power supply, malware, overheating or driver issues. Behind the case of your computer, where the power cord actually connects to it, is the power supply, which is a small box with a fan in it. When the power supply is going bad, it will cause your computer to shut off.

While you can replace the power supply yourself, don't try to open the power supply. Even though it's unplugged or failing it can still carry a deadly charge. Actively scan device characteristics for identification.

Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance. Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights. Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. Tim Fisher. VP and General Manager, Lifewire. Tim Fisher has more than 30 years' of professional technology experience.

He's been writing about tech for more than two decades and serves as the VP and General Manager of Lifewire. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn. Updated on February 11, Tweet Share Email. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Email Address Sign up There was an error. Overheating is can ruin a computer and end up costing you a lot of money. Keeping your computer dust free is well worth the effort and can save you a lot of money in the long run.

Having outdated device drivers is perhaps the most probable reason for computer shutdowns. This issue can be remedied by manually updating your Windows 10 drivers, but this process is exceptionally tedious. Software like Driver Support takes care of this for you automatically and keeps all of your device drivers routinely updated. As evidenced by Microsoft Forums, your computer shutting down at random can most likely come from having drivers that are outdated and can be remedied by automatically updating them with software like Driver Support.

You can manually try to configure your DNS servers. However, it is strongly advisable to opt for installing an automatic device. Keep in mind that performing manual device updates is a tedious and laborious process that can be downright infuriating when attempted by yourself.