Helping people with computers... one answer at a time.

A virus scan and checking the cooling fans in a computer are good places to start if your machine shuts itself off frequently.

My computer is turning itself off after about 5 minutes. Why?

Well, there's not really enough information to go on here. I'd certainly start with a virus scan, but another possibility is that the machine overheating - I'd check the cooling fans as well.

Article C2059 - June 14, 2004

Leo Leo A. Notenboom has been playing with computers since he was required to take a programming class in 1976. An 18 year career as a programmer at Microsoft soon followed. After "retiring" in 2001, Leo started Ask Leo! in 2003 as a place for answers to common computer and technical questions. More about Leo.

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94 Comments

I have the same problem right now. I dropped water on my computer( foolish me) and it turns of like every ten minetes. Im suggest cleaning it. That what im gonna do :P

Posted by: Pedro at April 10, 2011 2:08 PM

While working on my computer my screen suddenly goes black and moniter stopped displaying but cpu is still running .after power off and again supply then it works as usual. this problem is being frequently .

Posted by: susheel at June 15, 2011 11:17 PM

@susheel
Read the article. It could be a virus or an overheating problem.

Posted by: Mark J at June 15, 2011 11:22 PM

I was working on my pc , then I hear sort of a little tap inside of it , about 2 minuts later it shuted off.
since then it shuts about 5 minuts of starting. while it is on seems to work right

Posted by: Jose Sales at August 24, 2011 4:56 PM

Same problem with me. My computer suddenly shuts off every 3 - 5 minutes. I already changed brand new power supply but same happens.

Posted by: Anthony D at January 10, 2012 7:29 PM
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