Computer Shutting Off
 

Recently my computer started shutting off sometime during the time I'm sleeping. My first though is that it must be the power supply but if it was my power supply wouldnt it shut off quicker or multiple times during the day? I usually leave my computer running all the time and its been about 3 years with no problems. I'll wake up and and see that the computer is shut off now. so I'll turn it back on around 6:30 am and everything will be fine until I go to sleep at around 11 pm. So sometime between 11 - 6:30 its shuts down. I haven't installed any new hardware and the only software that i've installed lately is for my iphone. Any ideas what it could be besides the power supply?

Is the computer going through the shutdown process, or is the power just being cut?
Have you checked your power options to see if it's been set to turn off?

looks like it the power is just being cut because one of the days my computer was checking for errors when I turned it back on and I had a torrent downloading and it gave me an error.

I also checked my power options and i didnt enable the auto shut off.

There are windows updates that are downloaded and installed that are scheduled at 3am but I don't think they've been downloading and updating every night since saturday and even then they would restart the computer not shut it down after.

Your computer could be overheating. Check your temps and possibly clean out all the dust inside your case.

If you have already checked all the Power Settings in windows. Move on to....

Reboot the machine, go into the BIOS, 1st check for an hibernate power settings. Then check your TEMP CPU and MB look for anything that is exceeding 50C. Mine has a thermal shutdown set to 70C regardless of what the computer is doing, if anything like a Virus Scan errors and locks up the CPU or an upgrade goes wrong causing a locked 100% CPU load and the chip gets hot, it'll shut down.
Once you have checked the temps, look at the voltages. You should have something in there relating to hardware monitor. It'll be the same place as your temps. Make note of any voltage that is well out of spec. IE 12v being at 11v, 5v being + or - 1v, and the 3.3v rail.

Thanks guys, I'll check these once I get home, do you think its has anything to do with the power supply at all ?

I think someone is shutting off your comp.

nah, just me and my gf downstairs in our place. We keep our door to the upstairs locked so my parents and brother can't get in at night and my dog is in her cage unless she magically comes out and turns off the computer and goes back into the cage and locks herself in :)

Casper the friendly ghost is shutting off your comp!

I lol-ed

Probably dust, I had the same problem.
Wasn't always at the same time range for me though. Weirdddd

Im having similar situation except mine would restart.. and when i actaully try to shut it down.. i get all these program errors and having to end task.

Might be spyware/virus. Do a virus scan and see what comes up.

Try the Ultimate malware removal guide just in case you're infected.

Replace your CPU fan or try re-applying CPU paste. You can also check your CPU temperature in the BIOS - should not be more then 50

CPU temp and everythign is fine... no virus/spyware found. Ran AVG and Uniblue Spyware.. nothing.. this only happens when i'm logged in under my person User account and it doesn't happen when I ran it on my test User Account.

Hmm... that's good to know... narrows things down a little bit.

Check to see if there are any scheduled tasks that might be causing it...

Go to Start -> All Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools -> Scheduled Tasks

If nothing out of the ordinary there... might have to start seeing if it's a specific program that does it... so selectively turn off running programs before sleeping and see if it turns off or not...

nope.. there nothing unusual there.. possibly bad .dll files and misc system files.. anyone know of any good system repair programs?

possibly leaky capacitors? the cyclindrical things poping out of your mobo.
check to see if they're damaged.