Windows shutting down at random

[LizardTa]

Hello

I am just hoping to get some input on an issue I have encountered recently.

My PC has started to shutdown at random during gaming, on the desktop etc as if I have asked it to shutdown. So not shutting off suddenly actually shutting down properly.

My first thought was Malware but scanned everything and nothing. I then tired a reinstall of Windows to no avail.

I have now started to disconnect hard drives 1 by 1 to see if I can work out if they are causing it.

I would be leaning towards PSU on this one but I am still not sure. Just wondering If anyone had these issue before and what they managed to diagnose as the cause.

Cheers in advance.

Main system components
CPU RYZEN 1700X Ocd 3.9
Memory 3200Hr Trident Z cl14
MB Gigabyte Auros X370 gaming K7
2 X SSD 500Gb
800w Tagan Pipe rock BZ800

 

[micropage7]

Looks like hardware, first check your psu then your heat (processor or chipset)

 

[notb]

And what does Windows say about the crashes?

Try running everything on stock clocks and voltages. And if it helps, just keep it like that.

 

[LizardTa]

Thanks for the reply.

That PSU was a good one when it was first released. Although just as an update my PC then turned itself back on just before 10 mins after it shut itself down so looking like a definite PSU issue I think.

The temps are all good the CPU has 240mm AIO and the GPU isn't overheating.

Cheers for the input.

 

[notb]

Once again: have you checked the errors Windows is reporting?
If it's shutting down properly (instead of immediate halt), you may find a hint there.

Seriously guys... troubleshooting PCs is not about replacing random parts and hoping something will help.

 

[LizardTa]

I actually haven't but I will get on that before I go out and buy a new part.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[eidairaman1]

Reset your bios to defaults then go in and tweak if you have done anything.

What games does this occur, by the way are you on an uninterruptible power Supply?

 

[LizardTa]

No it's not on USP it's just out of a socket that's plugged into a WATT meter.

I have tried resetting the Bios and have tweaked the voltages down a little bit. It seems to happen primarily during gaming but after you turn it back on from a shutdown it happens frequently even on the desktop until you cycle the PSU.

Gonna have a look for dust build in the PSU and give it a good blast with pressurised air see if that helps.

I need to have a look at the windows event logged to see what it says shortly before the restart happens but I am leaning towards the PSU being the culprit from what I have been reading. It is nearly a decade old and somone had it before me.

Cheers

 

[Bill_Bright]

I'm with notb on this. The OP specifically stated it is NOT shutting off suddenly, but "actually shutting down properly". That does NOT suggest the PSU, or heat or other hardware is "failing".

If connected to an UPS, it could suggest the UPS software is triggering this - but the OP said it is not connected to a UPS.

While I agree troubleshooting is not about replacing random parts, ensuring good, clean power is being delivered to all the components inside the case is. So replacing the PSU with a known good one is a good idea, if for nothing else but to eliminate power from the equation. If that fixes it, I will be surprised, but not totally shocked.

Since it appears Windows and the computer are being signaled to "gracefully" and properly shutdown, malware must be eliminated from the equation too. You said you did that - with what? Then you reinstalled Windows. Note reinstalling Windows should always be a last ditch effort - because it rarely fixes things and destroys evidence and potential clues along the way.

I agree with eidairaman1 and you might try resetting the BIOS.

 

[Jetster]

Disable auto restart

 

[newtekie1]

A graceful proper shutdown is almost never a major hardware issue. Hardware crashes are sudden, hard crashes. If it was a PSU, the computer would not be shutting down properly, it would just turn off. The PSU has no way to trigger Windows to go through a shutdown sequence.

The first thing I would try is going into power options and changing what the power button does to do nothing. There might be a short in the power button that is making the computer think the power button is being pressed, and triggering Windows to shut down.

 

[Sasqui]

My money is on a failed PSU. Second, a motherboard malfunction.

 

[Deleted member 67555]

Check your power and reset switches for damage.
Reconnect everything in the motherboard header.

 

[qubit]

Back in the XP days, my PC developed an intermittent fault where it would start up nicely and then as soon as the desktop had fully loaded, immediately shut down nicely, like the Shutdown option had been selected. I had to keep switching it back on until it stayed up.

Quite a maddening fault and I can't remember how I solved it now. I blabbed about it on TPU if anyone wants to do a deep search. It was almost a decade ago now.

 

[dorsetknob]

Capacitors operating sub par in the PSU is the probable cause
in other words something ( the Capacitors ) is slowly going Kaput

 

[Regeneration]

Either someone is trolling you remotely, power button broken, or some option in the BIOS/UEFI like "shutdown if temperature hits X".

You don't have a shutdown hotkey on the keyboard right?

 

[Bill_Bright]

or some option in the BIOS/UEFI like "shutdown if temperature hits X"

Hmmm, interesting thought but resetting the BIOS has already been suggested. And typically, if this option is set, a warning is given a few degrees before that shutdown threshold is touched. And lastly, pretty sure if that shutdown threshold is hit, the system does not wait for Windows to "gracefully" shutdown. It assumes something catastrophic has happened - like the blades flew off the CPU fan and spontaneous combustion is imminent, and it just shuts off.

But back to that warning - does your system have a system speaker so you can hear any beep codes? Sadly, it is very rare for cases to come with case speakers these days. And many motherboards don't have integrated piezeoelectric "button" speakers either. And that's too bad because beep codes can be an invaluable troubleshooting tool.

For that reason, if no case or motherboard "system speaker", we always install one of these with all our builds. They are dirt cheap (note that price is for 20!).

I would think if the power button was broken, it would randomly boot up too for no "apparent" reason too. True story - we had a client who thought her computer was possessed by her deceased mother-in-law because it would wake up every time her husband walked in the room. It never did it when she or the kids walked in. It took awhile but we finally figured out it was his heavy footfalls vibrating the desk and mouse! She barely weighed a 100lbs and the kids were less than that. But he was easily 250lbs. The solution was simple. Flip the mouse on its back when done with the computer.

 

[eidairaman1]

Check your power and reset switches for damage.
Reconnect everything in the motherboard header.

This popped into my head earlier, just been busy with work

Back in the XP days, my PC developed an intermittent fault where it would start up nicely and then as soon as the desktop had fully loaded, immediately shut down nicely, like the Shutdown option had been selected. I had to keep switching it back on until it stayed up.

Quite a maddening fault and I can't remember how I solved it now. I blabbed about it on TPU if anyone wants to do a deep search. It was almost a decade ago now.

Lsass.exe would cause that.

Id check task manager for any oddness along with services.msc and Task Scheduler at this point.

Never had a PSU ever shut a pc off the correct way if it was failing, so this is a softoff. Check your hibernation/sleep settings too.

 

[LizardTa]

Thanks for the input guys

Just to add a bit extra, I have scanned the drives with Malware bytes after using Rkill and then also running defender (why not).

I have taken out the ram and re-seated it properly to eliminate that. Along with as I said before opening up the PSU and cleaning this thoroughly. I have had a PSU die before and to my experience they are full system power failure as opposed to shutdowns.

I have inspected all SATA cables for damage and they look fine. All connectors plugged in through etc. I have already this morning set the power button to do nothing as recommended and managed to play the Amthem Beta for 3 hours with the no restart occurring so maybe a short in the power switch?

I also had a gander at the logs and saw that creative software failed around the time of the crash. So maybe soundcard related? Who knows at this point.

So all in all moving forward with the issue but it's seems to be moving as fast as I am. At least it's keeping me occupied.

Cheers.

 

[eidairaman1]

Thanks for the input guys

Just to add a bit extra, I have scanned the drives with Malware bytes after using Rkill and then also running defender (why not).

I have taken out the ram and re-seated it properly to eliminate that. Along with as I said before opening up the PSU and cleaning this thoroughly. I have had a PSU die before and to my experience they are full system power failure as opposed to shutdowns.

I have inspected all SATA cables for damage and they look fine. All connectors plugged in through etc. I have already this morning set the power button to do nothing as recommended and managed to play the Amthem Beta for 3 hours with the no restart occurring so maybe a short in the power switch?

I also had a gander at the logs and saw that creative software failed around the time of the crash. So maybe soundcard related? Who knows at this point.

So all in all moving forward with the issue but it's seems to be moving as fast as I am. At least it's keeping me occupied.

Cheers.

Remove the sound driver and sound card, worth a shot

 

[NdMk2o1o]

Use the cmd line sfc /scannow as admin (type cmd into start, right click and run as admin) to check file system integrity

Also check your update settings under the advanced options check notify me to restart.

 

[Jetster]

I've seen a PSU trigger a restart. Not sure how or if it was a combination of problems, but replacing the PSU fix the issue. It was just during gaming
Also tried everything else first. Testing the GPU in another PC, reinstall, new drive. Didn't think it was the PSU but hmm

 

[theFOoL]

What I recently done is unplug everything and reconnect and All was good

 

[eidairaman1]

I've seen a PSU trigger a restart. Not sure how or if it was a combination of problems, but replacing the PSU fix the issue. It was just during gaming
Also tried everything else first. Testing the GPU in another PC, reinstall, new drive. Didn't think it was the PSU but hmm

Never had one cause the OS to go into softoff.

I wonder if hybrid shutdown is faulty.

 

[LizardTa]

Beginning to lean away from the PSU as the cause on this. Had an extended session on Anthem with the total system draw at near 500W for 3hrs eith no issues.

Disabling the power button on windows power settings looks like it may have fixed it altgough only time will tell. This makes me think it's an issue with the MB. I have read that people have had issues with Gigabytes X370 range so could be this. If I can prove it I will RMA as I think it's still in warranty.