Random shutdown

[googlemad]

Got a machine that has suddenly decided to start randomly shutting down.

When I say shutting down, I don't mean powering off straight away. It actually attempts to close all open programs and does the normal 'Windows is shutting down' process.

Happens at random times, sometimes straight after login, other times after 15 mins. No pattern.

Nothing in event log, the system is virus free and the RAM is fine.

The only thing 'different' with this machine is it has a USB Dymo label maker and one of those library barcode scanners connected to the PS/2 keyboard port - Could this cause such an issue?

[Michael]

I can't say the label maker would cause Windows to shutdown. Does it look like Blaster (if you remember from years ago) with a 10 second count down, or does it shutdown as if someone went to Start > Shutdown?

Have you checked temperatures in the BIOS?

[witch]

How old is it? In my experience, if not a virus then this is often a sign of a failing mobo.
The computer I am on does it every so often

[Domino]

I'd look into temperature issues.

See in the bios if there's a max temp set - check fans a running at full speed, check the heat bonding is fine on the CPU, etc

[Griffo]

I am having a similar problem with a few PCs.

We always get the odd one or 2 that shutdown for no obvious reason but they are ok after that.

But today I had it happening to 3 in one classroom.

It was happening to 3 machines that are next to each other, named IT1001, IT1002 and IT1003, with 3 year 8 lads working on them. So at first i was a bit sceptical and thought they were messing about, especially as it didnt do it the first time i watched them.

But after being called back the second time i watched and they were shutting down for no reason just as if someone had done Start --> Shutdown. And it did it on all 3 machines 2 or 3 times untill I told them to use other machines.

There is nothing obvious in the event log apart from a failed printer driver, but I checked a few other machines in the room and they show practically the same event logs but dont have the random shutdown problem.

The only thing of any note is that IE7 was displaying the "Do you want IE to be your default web browser" message as if firefox was being used instead, but there are no other web browsers installed on the machine.

After me logging on as admin the problem seems to have been solved, but i am curious as to what it may have been, especially as it was on just these 3.

[Michael]

Another thought could be Automatic Updates. Do you have WSUS setup?

[Griffo]

Good point, we do but it is managed by our LEA who manage it for all schools in the borough

I will have a word with them tomorrow