PC Keeps Switching Off

[BertiWooster]

Damn annoying

Any ideas as to what the problem may be - and any suggestions as to what to do to fix it ?

[ChuckFickens]

Most of the time random switch offs are due to overheating.

Make sure all air inlets and outlets are clear and blow/suck all the fluff and dust out from the inside as best you can.

[BertiWooster]

Thank you - is it ok to use a vacuum cleaner hose to suck out the dust - or are there delicate parts inside that would be affected ?

[ChuckFickens]

if it has a plastic nozzle it will be fairly safe, I'd still try and make sure you don't actually touch anything with it though.

A soft natural bristle brush may help in clearing out the heatsinks too (makeup brushes are good for this if there is a mrs wooster and she won't castrate you for using one of hers then borrow that :))

Also make sure the airflow doesn't spin the fans up too fast, remember a electric motor is a generator when run in reverse. and you don't want to be putting power back the wrong way through the main board.

[ChuckFickens]

or if you have your own makeup brushes use them.... each to their own, I won't judge :)

[BertiWooster]

Has someone been spreading stories about me :-)

heatsinks - what are they ?

//Also make sure the airflow doesn't spin the fans up too fast, remember a electric motor is a generator when run in reverse. and you don't want to be putting power back the wrong way through the main board. //

Even if the power is switched off ?

[ChuckFickens]

:)

A heatsink is a finned bit of metal attached to anything that gets hot to increase the surface area available for cooling... see pictures below for a selection of examples as they can be virtually any size or shape....

http://www.google.com...b=wi&biw=1366&bih=541

if the fins get clogged with dust and fluff (as they often do) the cooling is seriously reduced and things start to overheat.

And yes, even with the power off, it's not too bad with a vacuum cleaner, (high pressure air hoses are worse) but it's still worth holding the fans so they can't spin.

[BertiWooster]

Thanks again chuck

[galeck1947]

The best thing to use to remove dust etc. is compressed air which can be purchased at electronic stores and of course a soft brush. Refrain from using a vacuum cleaner as the plactic nozzle carries static electricity and is harmful to the components inside the computer.