laptop cuts off for no apparent reason

I've had this issue for quite some time, my Toshiba laptop (model a505-s6980) powers off at times. I don't believe it's due to any overheating issues as it's not under any heavy load when it cuts off and I have cleaned out the vent recently.

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Comments

demonfurbie

have ya done a ram check?

exampasser

That's what I'm doing right now (using Memtest).

SteveLord

Memory wouldn't cause it to shutoff. This is almost always an overheating issue or a battery issue.

pizzaboy

SteveLord wrote: »

Memory wouldn't cause it to shutoff. This is almost always an overheating issue or a battery issue.

+1 especially with Toshibas, from what I've seen anyway.

exampasser

I'm fairly certain it's not due to it overheating as I didn't have it on long when it cut off (I've never had it cut off on me when CPU usage is around 100% for several hours running an intensive application). Could it be a battery issue even though it's plugged in most of the time?

Devilsbane

Really doesn't take long to overheat if the heatsink isn't seated properly. Still worth keeping an eye on the temps.

SteveLord

Could be dust build up. Or needing to re-apply TIM. Both are good to do, even if it isn't the cause.

MrRyte

Other than MEMTEST, what other tests/diagnostics have you run?

VAHokie56

SteveLord wrote: »

Could be dust build up. Or needing to re-apply TIM. Both are good to do, even if it isn't the cause.

This is true ...I had one once that would cut off almost 2 minutes after boot. Open you case and check out the CPU, reapply the cooling stuff and clean the crap from around your fan vent and I bet it stops

colemic

I had a 17" toshiba that had one of the two or three fans go bad, and itwould overheat regularly. I never replaced it, just lived with it and watched what surface I had it on.

KenC

I had a similar problem before. I asked the person on a number of occasions was anything ever spilt on laptop, answered every time "no, definitely not". I had to concede defeat after I had tried everything I could think of , and I really hate to do that. Told her I couldn't fix it and she would have to buy a new one, which she did.
About a year later she admitted to spilling a rather large rum and coke on laptop, which she thought was hilarious. Still have no idea if it is related, but I do know I would not have spent as much time on that laptop had I known that.

Psoasman

KenC wrote: »

About a year later she admitted to spilling a rather large rum and coke on laptop, which she thought was hilarious. Still have no idea if it is related, but I do know I would not have spent as much time on that laptop had I known that.

It probably is the reason. We have that happen at work occasionally. One of our users has used her DVD drive as her cup holder - not joking!

CodeBlox

I had a laptop that was shutting off about 3 seconds after turning on. The ONLY thing I did with this laptop was take it apart and clear all of the dust. Laptop had no further problems after that and started up just fine. No other problems with it to this day.