why does my pc keep shutting down?
913152
A reinstalation is your best bet, if that doesent work im sure you will have to aquire either a new, or better video card, and then possibly some RAM, but more then likely just a reinstalation of your operating system will work
639810
You need to check that particular computer and make sure it is set to "shut down" and not set to "reboot".  That  will probably solve your problem.
886218
install antivirus and check once....\nif u r getting a dialogue box saying that ur system is shutting down in 1 minute or something like that then\nopen command prompt\ntype shutdown -a
628770
couple of ways to see if it is a hardware or a software fault\n\nfirstly boot into safe mode - restart your pc and keep on tapping the f5 or f8 key then select safemode\n\nleave it in this mode for a while - does it shut down ?\n\ncheck your event viewer for any system errors (in the control panel - administrative - then event viewer) click on the system \n\nsee if this gives you any clues\n\nalso try getting into the bios or cmos setup - again leave it in this mode - does it shut down - if so then you definately have a overheating problem\n\nalso check you in you bios to see if you have a hardware monitor option - if so check the cpu, system temp and fan speeds\n\ncome back to us with your results
71014
Your computer shutting itself off can be a symptop of 4 things.\n1. Windows power saving settings. This is unlikely to be the problem if you are using the machine.\n2. You're on a laptop that has run out of battery life. Trying using only your power adapter.\n3. You may have a defective motherboard, processor, memory RAM, video card, or powersupply. My suggestion is to always start with the cheapest to the most expensive. I'd try replacing your Power Supply with one of quality with sufficient wattage(not the cheapest power supply you can find). I have found that AMDs are more sensative to power flucutations as when CD-ROM drives and Harddrives spin.\n4. The mostly like possiblity is overheating. As mentioned on here, most new motherboards have a temperature threashold that will automatically shutdown your PC if it gets too hot. I suggest making sure you have sufficient air circulation (cool air coming in from the front, passing over your motherboard, and out through the rear exaust). You should have a quality heatsink attached with thermal paste (helps avoid heat pockets being trapped between the processor and heat sink). On the heatsink you should have a fan that is clean of dust and rotating at its proper top spead. \n\nAnything else is just random and rare cases.
1145845
There many possibilities, hardware conflict, system over heating, software conflict etc.  try cleaning out the computer with a can of compressed air and monitor your system temp, that would be the simple place to start, if that doesn't work IM e and we can go deeper into the issue.\n\nThat should be worth 10 points
1003993
restart the pc, that always helps me:)))
658450
your pc is over heating that is why it is rebooting itslef and in due course it is damaging your software...\n\nIn short u have a hardware problem.\n\nwhat u must do ?\n\n1)check the temperature of your pc.\n2)check your fans.\n\nu must call a hardware expert and must install your OS again.
1175218
Try removing programs that you don't use. There may be something shutting down in the background that you don't know is running. Also get a good spy-ware removal software such as Spyware Doctor. There could be hundreds of little spy programs running without your knowledge. When Windows shuts down it must first shut down all of the programs that you have running.
206153
The temperature of a computer doesn't keep increasing all the time it's on, it starts cold then warms up to a stable temperature (which might increase during periods of hard work like playing games) and stays there. So no, there's no need to shut a machine down to stop it overheating.\n\nNote: this assumes the PC in question is working normally. If any of the fans inside the case fail then it could well overheat.
921256
could be something wrong with your PC
243706
you have a lot of "stuff" running in the background or something like drivers or programs are conflicting and XP has to deal with them before shutting down. Also if you have restore points activated it could be saving a restore point
460536
Because you are starting the process of shutting down your computer.  If you never started this process, your computer would never shut down.
450541
I'm assuming it's because the thing is over heating and automatically shuts itself down.  Try installing a water cooling system, that should reduce the core temp quite a bit.   You could also try putting it in a well ventilated area.  One more option, occasionally dust will build up around a heat sink and generate heat causing the computer to THINK it's overheating leading it to shut down.  A 480 watt power supply should be enough to keep it powered.  Your CPU could be over heating, a liquid cooling system or a CPU fan that you put on the mother board over the CPU would take care of that.  \n\nI have an Alienware laptop, which is considerably different than a desktop, but occasionally while playing games if it's not on a hard surface heat will build up under the computer and it'll shut itself off (but only during games and other laborious tasks).  I've also had the dust issue happen and had to clean out the vents and one of the heat sinks.  After that everything worked fine. \n\nIf the hard drives going out you should get the blue screen of death not a shut down, and usually hardware errors will get you a blue screen if it's an issue with a piece of hardware.  \n\nMake sure you have to correct drivers if you put in a new graphics card, you can download them from the maker's website, just to be on the safe side.\n\nGood luck!  That game rocks!
596917
Shutting down your PC should ALWAYS be done by using the "shutdown button". Windows will unload certain components from the memory, save it's present settings and flush the virtual memory when doing so. \nAs stated in the former comment, shutting it down by the power switch (aka hardware reset/shutdown in contrast to software reset/shutdown) will result in the loss of ANY non saved information on your pc and mey provoke STRANGE results on boot-up (desktop settings lost, driver missing etc...). It should ONLY me a last step measure when the pc hangs (does not respond).
300418
You probably have lot of back ground softwares running... Like Anti virus, Google Desktop Search, Konfabulator, etc which takes time to shut down... Check how many processes are running by doing Ctrl-Alt-Del and checking the processes list.
747184
Is the computer on standby? If it is then you should shutdown the computer instead. \n\nRun an antivirus program on your computer to see if a virus may be the cause as well. Also check to see if you have had any recent errors, like driver conflicts or "the blue screen of death". That could also be a cause.