Windows 7 random unexpected shutdowns, cannot find cause

[Drafting89]

Okay, so here's my story. Bought my Acer Aspire 5750-9851 about 4 years ago, upgraded ram to 8gb, otherwise no modifications. June 2014 I replaced my aging battery with an extended capacity one from Newegg, approx $40.

Since then, I have never gotten the battery to drain fully, while working on battery, the computer would shut down randomly, 30% battery, 70%, 50%, no patter whatsoever. There would be no warning, no low battery popup or anything. The shutdown was immediate, as if you unplugged the battery. The computer would only start up when I plugged it in, or waited a few hours which I only did once because I need my computer. Upon startup, it would say windows recovered from an unexpected shutdown, and I would start windows normally.

This happened until November, two days before Thanksgiving the computer shut off randomly again and never turned back on fully, safe mode would only yield the windows background, nothing else, with or without the battery plugged in or anything. I learned that my windows was corrupted and my computer was shot. $300 later I had a "local computer guy" recover my files and wipe everything clean. Completely new fresh software with an upgraded Windows Professional that he took from a Dell computer. I reinstalled the basic programs I needed, Itunes, MS Office, the usual. Thinking that the corrupted hard drive was caused from these unexpected shutdowns, after having the computer wiped, I thought I was free and clear. Then it kept happening, This unexpected shutdown would occur at virtually any battery percentage, most commonly under 50%.

I thought the battery was bad, I recently replaced it with another extended capacity battery, and it keeps happening. To try and locate and solve the issue, I have run multiple anti virus and malware scans, I have done a hard drive test and a memory test that all came up clean. I was able to find the event tracker and log all of the unexpected shutdowns, however I do not have the knowledge to make any sense out of it.

I am a college student, I use my computer for emails, MS Office, music, and the occasional movie. I am not a gamer, and don't do anything extravagant to cause my computer to overheat which I do not believe to be the problem.

Some information about the shutdowns. Like I said they are random, the most recent shutdown occurring at 80% right as I began a windows update. Commonly, as I am doing homework, I would leave open a word or adobe file, and maybe two or three windows open in chrome. I would just reference the computer for my homework assignment and leave it as is. When I was done, the second I exited my browser or word or whatever I had open, the computer would shut down. I have researched this for hours and could not find any case that was identical to mine, only similar, I have tried many different things to pinpoint the issue, however no luck.
Does someone have any advice as to how to fix this problem? I really don't want to be tethered to a wall everytime I need my computer. Thank you!!

 

[AddRAM]

$300 later I had a "local computer guy" recover my files and wipe everything clean. Completely new fresh software with an upgraded Windows Professional that he took from a Dell computer ???????

No wonder it`s running flaky, I would re install windows with the correct version that`s on your COA.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html

Official Windows 7 SP1 ISO from Digital River « My Digital Life

Free ISO Burner

Also, you should have gotten your battery directly from Acer.

The most common reason for a shutdown is an overheating cpu.

 

[Mathew]

Unexpected shutdown is the problem which can be caused by many reasons such as power supply, video drivers or other drivers etc. So, to get rid of this error, run chkdsk on your system. It will tell you the causes behind this problem. Steps to run chkdsk are:

1) Go to start -> Computer -> Properties -> Tools
2) After clicking on tools tab, click on ‘Check now’ which is there under ‘Error checking’.
3) If you are prompted with admin username and password, then enter it. Now there are 3 conditions:
(a) Now, to repair the problems that the scan detects, select ‘Automatically Fix File system errors’ option. Else, the disk check will simply report problems but will not fix it.
(b) And if you have to perform a thorough disk check, choose ‘Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors’. This option will find and repair all the bad sectors on the hard drive.
(c) You can also select both also. The above options may take some time to perform the task.
4) Now click on ‘Start’.

Hope this helps!!

 

[AddRAM]

You can go through all that or have a proper install of windows in 15 minutes.

Mathew, Bad sectors on a hard drive cannot be repaired.

 

[mike009]

Hi, so when you say it "shuts down" do you mean it looses power and you see black screen. Dose this happen when laptop is using just battery or do you have charger connected also. Have you replaced the charger for the laptop (my wife's Acer has had 3 chargers and on the 2nd battery in ~5 years). If the battery that you have purchased(check the reviews on Newegg to see if other people have same problem) is non Acer it might not be detected properly by the laptop which thinks it has 50% charge but battery only has 1% - have you still got the original battery?

 

[Sir George]

You can go through all that or have a proper install of windows in 15 minutes.

Mathew, Bad sectors on a hard drive cannot be repaired.

Actually, it's a yes and no. It depends on the type of bad sector, physical or logical. See the following link for further details;

Bad Sectors Explained: Why Hard Drives Get Bad Sectors and What You Can Do About It

 

[Drafting89]

Thank you all for your help.

AddRAM- This problem occurred before and after I had my computer looked at. I realize that an Acer battery would have been the correct purchase, I will look into purchasing an original battery from them.

Matthew- I ran the chkdsk a few days ago and everything came up clean.

mike009- This problem occurs only while I am running on battery, not when I am plugged in. And the charger is original, I have calibrated the battery when I first used it, however the problem still happens. When it shuts down, there is a click and complete black screen. Its a complete loss of power, I can only turn the computer on once I plug in the charger.Unfortunately I don't have the original battery and I have never found anyone, anywhere with the same problem that I have.

 

[Drafting89]

Also, does anyone know where I can purchase an OEM Battery from Acer, I cannot find where to purchase. Their website isn't helping.

 

[mike009]

some laptops will work without a battery connected to it just the charger, before you buy a new battery test if laptop is stable without a battery connected (if it works ok just with the charger). If it is stable without battery check and update your BIOS from Download Drivers and Manuals | Acer Official Site or your local acer website. They have two battery related updates

 

[Drafting89]

Mike009, yes the computer works fine without the battery attached. I went to the site and I am looking at the same screenshot you posted. Should I install the updates? Should I do so with the battery attached? (Im currently running without the battery attached)


EDIT
It wants me to flash the BIOS, I dont want to mess with the BIOS, that is a little over my head. I still cannot find an original battery, the best thing I can find is a BTI battery, it is compatible, however I dont know if it is an OEM replacement, Acer's website doesnt specify which battery is needed, when I enter my model number, they dont even show any batteries, just power adapters

Just purchased a new original Acer battery. I will update next week if problem is solved. Thanks for all the input

 

[gregrocker]

You did buy a battery which is meant for your exact model, correct? Always cross-check several different ways to make sure the model number of PC, model number of Battery, etc. match. If in doubt ask back here as there will be someone who's done it before.

If the battery ruined your mobo then I doubt it would run.

If Win7 stops working then the next steps are here for Troubleshooting Windows 7 Failure to Start

To make sure you have a perfect install in the first place then stick very closely to the steps in Clean Reinstall Windows 7 which has been used by over a million consumer without a single complaint.

 

[Mathew]

You can go through all that or have a proper install of windows in 15 minutes.

Mathew, Bad sectors on a hard drive cannot be repaired.

Hi Addram, your above statement in case of physical sectors is correct, but yes in case of logical sectors, it can be repaired. I have repaired the logical bad sectors of my 1 TB hard disk and now it is working perfectly.

 

[Mathew]

You can go through all that or have a proper install of windows in 15 minutes.

Mathew, Bad sectors on a hard drive cannot be repaired.

Actually, it's a yes and no. It depends on the type of bad sector, physical or logical. See the following link for further details;

Bad Sectors Explained: Why Hard Drives Get Bad Sectors and What You Can Do About It

Exactly true Sir George.

 

[AddRAM]

Maybe I should have explained it further, but others have and i`m glad you understand.

They are also called Hard and Soft Bad sectors and I was referring to Hard Bad sectors.

I had 2 1 TB drives with 2 Bad sectors on each, care to guess where they are now ???

I use a program I like very much Called Hard Disk Sentinel, it gives me the performance and health of every drive in my system, and of course it gives much much more info then just that on each drive.

And I just noticed my OCZ Vertex has dropped to 99% Health. Oh No :shock: (Nothing to do with bad sectors, it`s an ssd, totally normal)