How many times have you ever asked yourself why is my computer randomly shutting down? It's very frustrating, especially if you haven't recently saved your work. You not only loose time, but your productivity and cost can take a real hit. When your computer is shutting down by itself and without warning, there are usually two or three possible causes.

To fix a computer that randomly shuts down by itself, you have to get to the source of the problem. Sometimes, it can be fairly simple to fix. Other times, it can be a bit of a challenge. However, there are some simple things you can do to resolve the problem without paying a lot of money or taking a lot of time.

The most likely cause your computer is randomly shutting down is too much heat... i.e., overheating. It is very common for people to just leave their computer running 24/7. However, if you leave your computer on constantly, you'll have a much higher probability of overheating. You'll also notice more heating problems as a computer gets older. When the computer tries to cool itself off, it can randomly shutdown... at the worst possible time.

Laptop Computer Randomly Shutting Down

There are some very simple things you can do to resolve the overheating problem. If you use a laptop computer, feel the bottom of the computer. If it's hot then make sure you put it on a flat surface where the air can easily circulate. If the air can't circulate easily, the fan will not cool off the laptop very easily. It is very easy to cover up the fan, so make sure there is plenty of airspace for good circulation.

Desktop Computer Randomly Shutting Down

If you use a desktop computer, you can take off the outside cover so more air can get to the internal parts easier. Some people get a fan to blow on the inner parts of their computer. If overheating is the problem, this will generally fix the problem. However, if the problem persists, check out the next suggestion.

Double Check the Internal Fan

As computers get older, they begin to collect dust. Carefully check your fan to see if there is a build up of dust on the fan. If so, clean it off. You may also want to spray a little WD-40 on the fan to make sure it is smoothly turning. If a fan is not working correctly, you will need to replace it.

Restoring Your Windows Operating System and Associated Files

Another possible reason for your computer randomly shutting down is the windows operating system itself. Over time, your windows files can get corrupted or fragmented so much, that your computer system doesn't know what to do, so it decides to shut down the computer at random times.

There are literally thousands of files on your computer. The easiest and most cost effective way to fix corrupted windows files, is to purchase software that will analyze your computer and repair any problems. This is an impossible task to do by hand. You could try the restore option on your computer. This would attempt to put your computer back to the state it was in at a previous time. However, if you're not familiar with the restore option, this is not a simple solution.

As previously mentioned, the best solution is to get an inexpensive program that will streamline the process for you. A good program will scan your computer, check every file and restore every problem file to its original condition. This process actually reverses the damage done to the file.

A good program will also deactivate and quarantine any Malware it finds. Malware stands for malicious software that is designed to infiltrate your computer without your knowledge. This type of software is designed to cause harm to your computer system. That's really sick, but unfortunately this type of software really exists. Malware may cause your computer to slow down, randomly shut down your computer or completely lock it up.

A good program should be easy to use and can easily be downloaded from the Internet. Once all your problem files have been fixed, your computer will run smoothly. You'll feel like you have a new computer.

To stop windows from shutting down randomly, first check for any overheating or fan problems. Then, use a good scan and repair software program to check all the files on your PC. Unless there is a faulty hardware component in your computer, this should stop your computer from randomly shutting down.