Windows 7: Overheating and Shutting Down

Okay. The machine just shuts down 20 minutes or so after starting. I've run several spyware, adware, virus scanners. And I think I've narrowed this down to an overheating problem (by opening the case and running a fan on it...it doesn't overheat or shut down). I'm monitoring the heat with SpeedFan. One instance of svchost.exe is running from 197,000 to 305,000 ! I've attached a copy of the PID shot with the processes highlighted. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

It's not advisable to have 2 scanners running concurrently. You have Windows Defender and MBAM up and running. This might be the cause of your overheating... maybe not, but at the very least, it's causing the machine to run slower than it otherwise would.

Do you have MBAM loading at startup too, or did you just run it before taking this screenshot?

I had run MBAM as I searched for any virus, etc. I was throwing everything at it. I've made sure it doesn't autostart. Should Windows Defender run all the time? I've also got Avast and Ad-Aware running. I guess I should not have Ad-Aware run at start? Thanks much for your input.

Hello bpickartz and welcome to Seven Forums.

What are the temperature readings from SpeedFan (closed case and open case with fan?) Have you done anything recently to your computer (changed out parts, moved it to another location, used compressed air, etc?) Did shut down problem just recently start or has it been getting worse (happening more frequently?) If recently started, can you remember what you were doing just before it started (gaming, running graphics intensive program, etc?) Have you checked internal fan(s) to see if they're working? Sorry for all the questions but it might help to pinpoint where the problem lies.

I prefer MSE: Anti-Malware, Virus, Spyware Protection | Microsoft Security Essentials, as do many members here, but Avast is good too. MSE disables Defender (redundant), so I would assume (perhaps incorrectly), that since you're running Avast you'd also want to disable Defender. Same premise applies: 2 scanners isn't good... it's actually counter productive.

I haven't run Ad-Aware in many years, so I can't speak to its performance... but it's a browser based app, so it "should not" interferer with your other malware apps... but again, I don't know for sure?

If you're running Avast 6.0 it has antivirus as well as antispyware. No need to run Windows Defender (another antispyware) or AdAware (AV + AS) at the same time. Running two or more real time scans could cause conflict and even cause a machine to crash.

With a closed case, the GPU was running 54-58 ...I don't remember the core. All fans are running. With the open case and (vintage) fan on it (see photo and smile). It started a couple of weeks ago. No moving, blowing out, anything. Installing something new...could have been, but I don't have a clue what. I scanned like crazy and it stopped, then started this again late last week. I didn't have anything serious running (AutoCAD, etc) when it happened. It seemed to be early in the morning the first times (it would start up and shut down several times and then work the rest of the day). I removed a Blue SnoBall microphone, thinking that was the last thing I connected, but it didn't help. The usage didn't go back up to 300,000 after that, but it's hanging at 196,000. Thanks much.

Thanks for the input. I'll get rid of everything but Avast (Internet Security) and see what happens.

Please... definitely post back and let us know what you find out with only Avast running.

All scanners off except Avast. I've stopped them from loading automatically. Here you go. SpeedFan shot (no external fan...taken at startup). PID 960 shot. Memory shot. Can't anything be simple? Thanks for all your input.