laptop shutting down when playing video/games

[Guest Teen Davey]

I have a problem playing videos/games . After playing a game for about 10

minutes the laptop shuts down (turns off) and I have to switch it back on .

This has been happening for the past year , even games I have played in the

past with no problem (diablo) now shut the laptop down after a short length

of time . It only occurs when playing videos or games , all other times the

unit runs normally ... going into and returning from standby , etc . and

there are no other problems with the system I know of. As it has only just

started I am wondering if one of the automatic updates has changed something

..

It is an emachine laptop running XP home edition (orig system software) and

is approx 4 years old .

I have updated Direct X .

I have checked hibernation settings ... although unit doesn't go to sleep -

it switches off

I have tried restore , but can only go back 6 months

I have defragmented and cleaned up the hard drive

Where does a novice computer tech start to trouble shoot this problem ???

Any help would be really appreciated

Thank you

[Guest Colin Barnhorst]

Re: laptop shutting down when playing video/games

 

It may be a heat problem.

 

"Teen Davey" <teendavey@sympatico.ca> wrote in message

news:e3$RTqOdIHA.4936@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

>I have a problem playing videos/games . After playing a game for about 10

>minutes the laptop shuts down (turns off) and I have to switch it back on .

>This has been happening for the past year , even games I have played in the

>past with no problem (diablo) now shut the laptop down after a short length

>of time . It only occurs when playing videos or games , all other times the

>unit runs normally ... going into and returning from standby , etc . and

>there are no other problems with the system I know of. As it has only just

>started I am wondering if one of the automatic updates has changed

>something .

> It is an emachine laptop running XP home edition (orig system software)

> and is approx 4 years old .

> I have updated Direct X .

> I have checked hibernation settings ... although unit doesn't go to

> sleep - it switches off

> I have tried restore , but can only go back 6 months

> I have defragmented and cleaned up the hard drive

> Where does a novice computer tech start to trouble shoot this problem ???

> Any help would be really appreciated

> Thank you

>

[Guest On the Bridge]

Re: laptop shutting down when playing video/games

 

its a heat problem it may be dust and dirt are in the fans way... there are

some programs that can show the temp of the cpu.. like everest (get the

trial here)

http://www.lavalys.com/ it gives you icons in the tray one of those are

cpu.. see how hot the cpu is getting,

 

 

you can also try to put a fan to blow some cool air on the laptop to see if

the laptop can work and its not overheating...

 

--

50 Ways to leave your Vista....

 

CHORUS:

 

You just format the drive , Clive

Get a New Mac , Jack

Y'don't need that crap toy, Roy

Just get yourself free

Boot from a *nix, Jix

You don't need to discuss much

Install XP, Lee

And get yourself free

 

 

 

"Teen Davey" <teendavey@sympatico.ca> wrote in message

news:e3$RTqOdIHA.4936@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

>I have a problem playing videos/games . After playing a game for about 10

>minutes the laptop shuts down (turns off) and I have to switch it back on .

>This has been happening for the past year , even games I have played in the

>past with no problem (diablo) now shut the laptop down after a short length

>of time . It only occurs when playing videos or games , all other times the

>unit runs normally ... going into and returning from standby , etc . and

>there are no other problems with the system I know of. As it has only just

>started I am wondering if one of the automatic updates has changed

>something .

> It is an emachine laptop running XP home edition (orig system software)

> and is approx 4 years old .

> I have updated Direct X .

> I have checked hibernation settings ... although unit doesn't go to

> sleep - it switches off

> I have tried restore , but can only go back 6 months

> I have defragmented and cleaned up the hard drive

> Where does a novice computer tech start to trouble shoot this problem ???

> Any help would be really appreciated

> Thank you

>

[Guest Patrick Keenan]

Re: laptop shutting down when playing video/games

 

"Teen Davey" <teendavey@sympatico.ca> wrote in message

news:e3$RTqOdIHA.4936@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

>I have a problem playing videos/games . After playing a game for about 10

>minutes the laptop shuts down (turns off) and I have to switch it back on .

 

Turnng off and not restarting indicates hardware failure, often thermally

related.

 

In other words,. you are cooking the notebook.

> This has been happening for the past year , even games I have played in

> the past with no problem (diablo) now shut the laptop down after a short

> length of time .

 

Not surprising; it isn't like silcon heals. The failure spreads.

> It only occurs when playing videos or games ,

 

Which put more load on the system, draw more power, and generate more

heat....

> all other times the unit runs normally ... going into and returning from

> standby , etc . and there are no other problems with the system I know of.

> As it has only just started

 

Just started? Didn't you *just say this has been happening for a year*?

 

If you mean it's just gotten worse, it's because you've made the problem

worse by continued overheating.

> I am wondering if one of the automatic updates has changed something

 

No. It's more like the laptop components are melting under load. The

shutown you describe is seldom software related, and is commonly thermal.

 

The updates are the wrong place to look.

 

..

> It is an emachine laptop running XP home edition (orig system software)

> and is approx 4 years old .

> I have updated Direct X .

> I have checked hibernation settings ... although unit doesn't go to

> sleep - it switches off

 

Because of fatal errors or thermal protection schemes.

 

> I have tried restore , but can only go back 6 months

> I have defragmented and cleaned up the hard drive

 

The drive isn't likely to be related to the problem - except in the sense

that its contents force the PC into an overheated state.

> Where does a novice computer tech start to trouble shoot this problem ???

 

Start by considering the effects of heat and blocked fans and ventilation

ports.

 

You may need to replace the system to resolve the problem, as it's cheaper

than finding which components fail under stress.

 

It might have been OK a year ago, but if you've been allowing it to happen

regularly, the prognois is not good.

 

HTH

-pk

> Any help would be really appreciated

> Thank you

>