Comments for My computer has started to shut down randomly, could it be the fan?

Comment from Ed Vance on 2008-12-06

2008-12-06T22:44:55Z

Just one thought from me.

SAVE your work about every 15 minutes to the Hard Drive so if something goes wrong all you have lost is 15 minutes of your work.

]]>

A comment on: My computer has started to shut down randomly, could it be the fan?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
Leo's Answers Newsletter - Ask Leo! in your inbox every week.

Comment from Martin Kaplan on 2008-12-02

2008-12-02T22:12:33Z

re: oveheating and cleaning...would it be wise to install a fan running at low speed a few feet away from the unit?

Yes and no. Yes, in the sense that it's likely to help, but no in the sense that it shouldn't be needed except if the computer happens to be in a particularly warm environment. Normally a well ventilated and clean machine should not need dedicated additional external cooling.

- Leo
03-Dec-2008

]]>

A comment on: My computer has started to shut down randomly, could it be the fan?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
Leo's Answers Newsletter - Ask Leo! in your inbox every week.

Comment from Brandon Wood on 2008-12-01

2008-12-01T22:05:58Z

To clean the inside of my computer, I simply use a drinking straw with the bottom taped (with electricians tape) inside of the edge attachment on my vacuum cleaner.

Just wrap the tape gently around the straw until all the suction is coming from within the straw only. When finished, just peel the tape off along with the straw and throw it away.

This makes getting into the fan crevices so much easier and insures that I don't accidentally ram my hardware components with the hard vacuum attachments.

Of course there are are micro attachments that you can also buy, but this method is cheap and works well enough for me.

]]>

A comment on: My computer has started to shut down randomly, could it be the fan?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
Leo's Answers Newsletter - Ask Leo! in your inbox every week.

Comment from David Irwin on 2008-12-01

2008-12-01T20:46:49Z

Another possible cause is the motherboard itself. There is a temperature sensor on the board under the processor. If that sensor has failed and is indicating an extremely high temp, the board will shutdown. This is usually a surface mounted, non-replaceable component. The fix would be a new motherboard.

]]>

A comment on: My computer has started to shut down randomly, could it be the fan?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
Leo's Answers Newsletter - Ask Leo! in your inbox every week.

Comment from Stuart on 2008-11-29

2008-11-30T04:03:38Z

I've also seen the blades of a cooling fan physically blocked by a wire inside the case. With more and more elements crammed inside, many of which have multiple wires running to and from them, it's very important to close the case carefully and then make sure the fans are operating properly. A high-frequency clicking sound can also be a warning that a wire is starting to brush against a rotating blade. Not only can this cause over-heating, but there is a real possibility of an eventual short circuit if the insulation is completely worn off the offending wire.

]]>

A comment on: My computer has started to shut down randomly, could it be the fan?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
Leo's Answers Newsletter - Ask Leo! in your inbox every week.

Comment from Kenneth Crook on 2008-11-29

2008-11-30T02:26:32Z

Vacuming can be dangerous.
While cleaning the keyboard of my notebook I was using the brush attachment on the vacum cleaner hose to clean the keyboard. This worked good. So I thought using the hose attachment without the brush would work even better. It sucked three keys off the keyboard. Luckily I had just replaced the dust bag so I found all the parts to the keys. But it was a real hassle getting the keys back together.
Fred Langa, on one of his newsletters had a really good article on cleaning computers, with tips and dangers to watch out for.

]]>

A comment on: My computer has started to shut down randomly, could it be the fan?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
Leo's Answers Newsletter - Ask Leo! in your inbox every week.

Comment from larry L on 2008-11-29

2008-11-29T12:04:07Z

I have a dedicated computer for security with several cameras. I have had many many warnings of system overheat. Over the weekend sometimes I found the computer shut down on monday and had to reboot it. There were no dust bunnies and I cut a hole in the side of the case and installed a 6 inch 220 volt fan. The problem continued for about a year then it started failing every hour. The FIX was to replace the 1.2 year old power supply. Craziest thing I ever saw. But its been working now for 4 years without a hitch.

]]>

A comment on: My computer has started to shut down randomly, could it be the fan?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
Leo's Answers Newsletter - Ask Leo! in your inbox every week.

Comment from lrk on 2008-11-27

2008-11-27T12:51:50Z

Additional reason for shutdown may be a problem with the energy supply which comes in a "block" with several plugs (wires) to connect to hard drive, cd/dvd drive etc. If that one is failing, pc will shut down on regularly and unexpected (no warning) moments and sometimes not start at all, even after hitting the power button on-off, sometimes until you wait for e.g. 30 minutes or 1 hour.

So yes, first possible cause of the shutdown is that the fans do not properly work, whatever the reason may be (dust, not powerful enough, bad power contact etc.). The second one is the energy supplier itself.

Also software failure is a possible cause, though hardware not functioning, the most probable.

]]>

A comment on: My computer has started to shut down randomly, could it be the fan?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
Leo's Answers Newsletter - Ask Leo! in your inbox every week.

Comment from John Thompson on 2008-11-27

2008-11-27T10:23:31Z

Occasionally the cause can be hardware. About 15 years ago I had a similar problem; I don't remember if the Pc shut down or complained of a memory error. The PC supplier eventually found a pin bent over when he removed the CPU!

]]>

A comment on: My computer has started to shut down randomly, could it be the fan?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
Leo's Answers Newsletter - Ask Leo! in your inbox every week.

Comment from Bill on 2008-11-25

2008-11-25T23:33:26Z

Pay particular attention to the heatsink blades mounted on top of the CPU and on top of which the system fan is mounted. Dust often gets clogged between the blades and is difficult to see from the outside. I usually need to carefully remove the fan to clean it with a thin blade. If you otherwise clean your PC but still get overheating errors then this might be your problem.

]]>

A comment on: My computer has started to shut down randomly, could it be the fan?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
Leo's Answers Newsletter - Ask Leo! in your inbox every week.

Comment from Craig. on 2008-11-25

2008-11-25T22:00:56Z

An often forgotten aspec of computing; keeping it cool. I saw a reference in the replies to use compressed air. I would like to add to this "with caution" as a full can can often dispense the air with in it in it's liquid form and damage components. I rebuild old computers to give away to school kids and one of my most used tools is a small cylindrical two-handed pump used to blow up those long balloons that make animal shapes, it cost about $4 from a toy shop and with it's pointed nozzle I can get right into the processors vents without removing the heat sink.
Another tip for users: IF you have to place your CPU on the floor, put it on a small box. Just getting it 6" off the floor makes a lot of difference as to how much dust is sucked in.

]]>

A comment on: My computer has started to shut down randomly, could it be the fan?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
Leo's Answers Newsletter - Ask Leo! in your inbox every week.

Comment from Shawn Patrick on 2008-11-25

2008-11-25T21:27:56Z

Leo.. I'm glad that you presented this article on "Dust Bunnies" There are many out there that will benefit from the info. Any time I do a major clean up of my PC I open the power supply and clean it. I uncouple all my connections inside my PC and reconnect them back. (this creates a good connection)(do one connection then reconnect, then go on to the next connection, this way there are no errors).. I clean out the heat-sink using a small brush and a piece of cardboard. I remove my audio and video cards and wipe off the contacts on them with a soft lint free cloth and brush out the slot where they came from. Remove the memory sticks (RAM) and wipe of the contacts with a soft cloth. It is also essential to buy a couple of cans of compressed air to blow out the dust from the inside of the PC.. Ensure that the components on the motherboard are free of dust as well. Note.. BE very careful of static electricity that may come off you when handling any of these components... it could damage what you are handling. I perform these tasks at a slow and thoughtful pace. I'd suggest that you do a (Google search) on How to clean the inside of a computer. Thank you Leo for all the articles I receive from you each week and the comments from your readers.

]]>

A comment on: My computer has started to shut down randomly, could it be the fan?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
Leo's Answers Newsletter - Ask Leo! in your inbox every week.

Comment from David Edwards on 2008-11-25

2008-11-25T21:19:15Z

But what if the whole dust bunnies thing does not apply and there are no messages? The fan(s) seem OK and temperature does not seem to be the issue due to the randomness of the problem. Could it be software related?

Of course ... it could be software, and it could also be other hardware related reasons. Random shutdowns can happen for many, many reasons. In this article's case the overheating warning was a clue that helped direct the investigation. For other causes, hopefully there'll be additional information besides "it just shuts down".

- Leo
26-Nov-2008

]]>

A comment on: My computer has started to shut down randomly, could it be the fan?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
Leo's Answers Newsletter - Ask Leo! in your inbox every week.

Comment from Randy on 2008-11-25

2008-11-25T19:53:38Z

I've found that improper cleaning can cause more harm than good. Regarding using a vacuum to clean the interior of your PC, this can be dangerous since static electricity can be generated by the vacuum and cause damage to PC components. A bit more troublesome but safer way to clean the interior of a PC is with short bursts of compressed air making sure that the can is not shaken or that moisture is expelled from the can while cleaning.

Personally I've not had problems with careful use of a vacuum, particularly for the exterior. But you are very correct, care and caution are called for particularly when cleaning the inside.

- Leo
26-Nov-2008

]]>

A comment on: My computer has started to shut down randomly, could it be the fan?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
Leo's Answers Newsletter - Ask Leo! in your inbox every week.

Comment from Bob on 2008-11-25

2008-11-25T18:10:25Z

Two things: 1. The dust can cause a lot of noise, too, depending on how the fan is structured. 2. You forgot to mention that one doesn't have to "lose all" when the computer shuts down. Any old hand will tell you he saves what he is doing every few minutes, and sometimes every few seconds. I automatically do a CTRL-S after virtually every editing change, and every paragraph input. After "losing all" once, there's really no excuse for getting caught a second time. Whatever the program you're using, just think, "Would I want to have to type all this in again?" When you do that, you'll automatically do a "save" often.

Yes, I confess to being a CTRL+S addict as well. Been burned too many times. Even wrote an article on it: My computer froze, and I lost my work in progress - what can I do?

- Leo
26-Nov-2008

]]>

A comment on: My computer has started to shut down randomly, could it be the fan?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
Leo's Answers Newsletter - Ask Leo! in your inbox every week.

Comment from Chris on 2008-11-25

2008-11-25T17:16:10Z

Did you know, the dust in your computer is like 85% dead skin. Think about it.... :)

It's always a joy for me to fix and clean other people's old, mothball filled systems. You would think they never knew how to use a vacuum. Compressed cans of air ftw!

]]>

A comment on: My computer has started to shut down randomly, could it be the fan?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
Leo's Answers Newsletter - Ask Leo! in your inbox every week.

Comment from Connie Rhyno on 2008-11-25

2008-11-25T16:37:18Z

You know, we all to often take our computers for granted, they are like anything else, ... if you look after them, "they" will look after you!! Thanks for pointing out how important it is , to keep our computers"clean"!

]]>

A comment on: My computer has started to shut down randomly, could it be the fan?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
Leo's Answers Newsletter - Ask Leo! in your inbox every week.

Comment from Peter on 2008-11-25

2008-11-25T16:32:49Z

About my comment above about bad RAM... in my case, I was not getting "over temperature" notification , so it is more likely dust buildup.

]]>

A comment on: My computer has started to shut down randomly, could it be the fan?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
Leo's Answers Newsletter - Ask Leo! in your inbox every week.

Comment from Danny Wilson on 2008-11-25

2008-11-25T16:24:03Z

"My computer has started to shut down randomly, could it be the fan?":

Another way of preventing dust build up is use your vacume cleaner nozzle ( Plastic ) I must add to clean and suck out all air holes in Pc Case also inside too this keeps most fans runing smoothly. From Danny

]]>

A comment on: My computer has started to shut down randomly, could it be the fan?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
Leo's Answers Newsletter - Ask Leo! in your inbox every week.

Comment from Peter on 2008-11-25

2008-11-25T16:15:38Z

I had this problem. It would have never occurred to me that it could be bad RAM, but I was lucky enough to find an article about it and, sure enough, after I replaced the memory all was fine. It was an inexpensive and instantaneous fix.

]]>

A comment on: My computer has started to shut down randomly, could it be the fan?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
Leo's Answers Newsletter - Ask Leo! in your inbox every week.

Comment from Mike on 2008-11-25

2008-11-25T16:10:42Z

Case in point: I make it a habit to regularly dust the inside of my computer--once every maybe 3 to 6 months. This past Saturday, I did just this. And, through a temperature monitoring software I use, I noticed the temperature drop almost 15 degrees (F). You might not get this drastic of a difference, though. I actually take my video card out, take my heat sink off, re-add thermal gel to the processor. All in all, I think it's worth it though.

]]>

A comment on: My computer has started to shut down randomly, could it be the fan?

Tech Questions? Get Answers! - Ask Leo! ... by Leo Notenboom
Leo's Answers Newsletter - Ask Leo! in your inbox every week.