Computer Powers Off At Random - Causes and Solutions
One of the most disturbing and seemingly unsolvable problems is when you find your Windows computer is shutting down at random. There are multiple possible causes for similar behavior and this article will walk you through the most common ones.
The most frequent causes for your computer shutting down at random are, sadly, related to hardware issues. On the upside, some of those issues can be easily solved.
Overheating components, especially a CPU that runs too hot, will cause your PC to shut down on its own, without warning. Faulty memory modules / RAM sticks can also cause random shutdowns.
The very first thing you want to do is install some sort of software that offers real-time temperature monitoring and logging. In case your PC only shuts down when you play games, the logging feature will make it easy to see what is going on while you play games and cannot look at the real-time temperature monitors.
If you find a component that is overheating, open your PC case and replace the component's fan or heatsink. A fan that isn't working will dramatically increase even the idle temperatures of your components.
Another possible reason for random shut downs is a power supply that is acting up. This particular piece of hardware is harder to fix on your own and might require a qualified technician.
You should also check your system's RAM memory for issues. To do that, open the start menu on Windows 10 and type in "memory diagnostic", then click the app that shows up in the start menu. Follow the onscreen instructions to complete the memory test. This will require a reboot.
In rare occasions, a serious software misconfiguration or a faulty application may be causing the reboots. In this case, if you are uncertain of the source of the issue, the best solution might be backing up your important information on an external drive and then formatting your hard drive, then doing a fresh and clean install of Windows.
This may seem like a bit of a chore to do, but it is a surefire way to deal with any software-related random reboot problems, especially when you are uncertain about the source of the issue.
