help random laptop shutdown

[vodkamonsoon]

hi! my laptop has this bad hobby of suddenly shutting down on me. it doesn't show the shut down window, the screen just goes black. i can turn it on afterwards. before it does the sudden shut down once a day but today i shut down 3 times.


Operating system: MS XP Professional
Motherboard make and model:
CPU Type Mobile , 1666 MHz (8 x 208)
Motherboard Name Unknown
Motherboard Chipset Intel Calistoga i945GM/PM
System Memory 1014 MB (DDR2-667 DDR2 SDRAM)
BIOS Type Phoenix (06/22/06)
Video Adapter Mobile Intel(R) 945GM Express Chipset
Audio Adapter Intel 82801GBM ICH7-M - High Disk Drive ST98823AS (74 GB, IDE)
Optical Drive MATSHITA UJ-850D
SMART Hard Disks Status OK

 

[Calibound88]

it may be overheating. does it feel hot?

 

[vodkamonsoon]

yes. if its overheating what should i do?

 

[Calibound88]

it may be filled up with dust.

do you see an exhaust port clogged with dust?

if it's an older laptop you may wanna open it up take an air can and spray it all out

 

[vodkamonsoon]

will do. thanks.

 

[vodkamonsoon]

i cleaned up the dusty fan but about 2 days ago and then it shut down again this morning. is it possible that there's another problem?

 

[cavemangrinder]

how long does it take for it to shutdown? Download this program http://www.almico.com/sfdownload.php and monitor the temperatures while the computer is on. Record the temps. This will tell you if the cpu is in fact overheating. Post back with the results.

 

[jmacavali]

My guess is the laptop is old. It could be a bad Motherboard or a bad HDD. If the temps come out ok then you'll probably be better off buying a new one as opposed to fixing the mobo or hdd. It could also be one of the fans that's not working as well.