Laptop Shutting Itself Off ?

[Robert11]

Hi,

I know that this isn't a W7 related querstion, but you folks are so smart with this sort of thing, and this is such a terrific Forum, I thought I'd take the liberty of asking here anyway.

Family member has a 5+ year old Dell laptop running XP.

Runs it with the PC plugged into the wall 110 V outlet.

While working on the PC, every 5 minutes or so, it shuts itself off.

When actually working, it's fine.

Any thoughts as to why this might be ?

Could it be overheating ? Or,...?

BTW: do laptops (usually) have a built in fan ?

Thanks,
Bob

 

[Jonathan_King]

Hi,

I know that this isn't a W7 related querstion, but you folks are so smart with this sort of thing, and this is such a terrific Forum, I thought I'd take the liberty of asking here anyway.

Family member has a 5+ year old Dell laptop running XP.

Runs it with the PC plugged into the wall 110 V outlet.

While working on the PC, every 5 minutes or so, it shuts itself off.

When actually working, it's fine.

Any thoughts as to why this might be ?

Could it be overheating ? Or,...?

BTW: do laptops (usually) have a built in fan ?

Thanks,
Bob

Yes, laptops have a built-in fan.

What do you mean, when it's actually working it's fine?

 

[Robert11]

Hi,

Wasn't too clear; sorry.

By working fine, I mean that the PC is totally normal for the 5 minutes or so between the time(s) it decides to shut down.

So, you can do useful work, the internet, on it for approx. 4.9 minutes.

Thanks for help,
Bob

 

[chev65]

Sounds like it could be overheating to me. If it's an old laptop it may help to blow out the dust with something, spray aircan or carefully with a compressor. Will it run on the battery power alone? Because it could also be the battery going out on you.

 

[Jonathan_King]

Sounds like a heat problem. Try downloading Speedfan and checking your temps.

 

[theog]

HI
you can Check yuor power setting.

Sounds more like overheating.

 

[Robert11]

To Chev65 et al From OP

Hi,

Thanks for help.

Re: "Will it run on the battery power alone? Because it could also be the battery going out on you."

Not sure; Laptop is not mine; family member.

If it is a bad battery, would that in any way effect it's running from AC wall power ?
I thought that running on AC power would totally circumvent whatever the condition of the battery was ? True ?

A salesman at BestBuy once told me they run all their laptops used for demos in the store without any battery physically even in the unit; they are just plugged into the AC outlets.

(I only have desktops; know next to nothing re Laptops)

Regards,
Bob

 

[IggyAZ]

My first guess would also be over heating of the CPU. Do you feel the fan working at all?
Something that old may have a lot of dust inside to jam up the fan.

My second guess is check for heat where the AC plugs into the laptop. I have read about DELL and HP this problem. Over time the connection to the motherboard actually gets loose and doesn't make a good connection. It you have a large amount of heat around the plug I suspect that.

When you say it shuts down do you mean like someone pulled the plug or a control shutdown by Windows?

Hope this gives you some more ideas.
Iggy

 

[Jonathan_King]

Bob, can you run Speedfan and post the temps?

Thanks,
~Jonathan

 

[Robert11]

From OP:

Hi,

Will try and run Speedfan for them when I can get access to the unit.
Probably won't be for a while, though.

Really a good idea of yours; the running of Speedfan.

Much thanks,
Bob