Why does my laptop suddenly shut down?

Oh.. and of course not only I’d like to know the cause of this, but how to fix it, especially!
I’m studying the issue on my own a bit, trying to figure things out… but I’m feeling quite like a troglodyte handling a skateboard for the first time.

There are a lot of reasons why a computer would just shut down with no warning.

You may want to include what operating system you are using, what service pack, and what programs you tend to use, along with what you ususally use the computer for. tracking down this problem could take a long time, and the more info the better.

Here are some possibilities:

1— The computer is physically damaged, this would be a problem for a repair shop.

2— The bios is configured to shut the computer down if the CPU goes above a certain temperature. The solution to this would be to clean the fan and cool the computer, not to raise the temperature tolerance in the bios, as that could damage the CPU

3— there is a mallicious DLL, trojan, virus, or other malware that is shutting the computer down, possibly each time you do a certain thing. Install some security programs and run some scans

4— the computer is just old, it has several tiny problems, and its days are numbered. this calls for a new pc.

There are more reasons it could shut down, but these are the main reasons i tend to come across.

what operating system are you using? what service pack? how many beeps if any do you hear as the computer boots up?

EDIT: how does it shut down? it it a case of “windows is shutting down” or, does the computer just die instantly as if the cable had been yanked out?

Is your fan overheating? We’ve had the same problem before when the fan overheats.

My dumb Dell does this because it overheats, like @jonsblond said. I use a chill pad and it helps.

The reason why i ask how it shuts down, is because you said “I’ve just set up things to suit my necessities, and “BAM” it’s started to shut down all of a sudden. No warning, Nothing. Blank.”

its either BAM, it shuts down, or it starts to shut down. and as you said BAM, it started to shut down. i am left wondering a little. However, it sounds like you are saying it just dies.

If that is the case, another reason could be that you just need to plug your battery back in. there could be a little timer, that tells the computer to start powering from the battery every once in a while. when it does this and finds no battery, it just dies and shuts down.

So, you need to plug your battery back in, even if its just for process of elimination.

On my laptop, if i keep it plugged in, after it has charged 100% it will switch over to the battery, drain it down to 96% and then keep charging again.

My laptop started doing that and I could not figure it out either. then I realized it was because It was overheating.
Maybe that is the issue?

Another vote for overheating, and another recommendation to clean the heatsink out and make sure your fan is still working.

Most computers have a fail safe temperature switch linked to the processor temperature. It will shut down the computer if it reaches the maximum set in the bios. Try and keep the temperature as low as possible, clean the heat sink and make sure the fan is working. Check that the heat sink is still connected to the processor, sometimes they can work loose. if its come off you will need apply some thermal past to the connection before replacing the heat sink.

Also be wary of putting your laptop on any soft surface that may block the air vents. Whenever I use mine on my lap, I slide it a little to the left to ensure that those vents are not blocked, and I do not put my laptop on my bed without something under it; my bed is soft enough for my laptop to sink into it enough to block the vents. You can have the cleanest heatsink on the world with a good fan and plenty of thermal paste and still overheat your laptop that way.

A CPU Temperature Monitoring program like this or this, or good old Speedfan can help determine if that is actually your problem.

It’s shutting down to protect from data loss. I would take it to a shop and get it checked out.

Great answers already and my vote is also overheating, especially if you’ve checked cords and connections and everything is fine. You may have a fan that’s dead or dying, the vents are blocked, or if the fan vents are underneath (like mine, which is the dumbest design ever), you may not be getting enough air flow to effectively cool the system.

Everything I’d suggest has already been suggested, so I just wanted to add that if you have vents underneath, you should try to keep the back end raised so that air can flow freely across the vent areas. I McGyvered my own, but they sell nicer-looking ones that aren’t too expensive.

Mine did the same thing. It overheats. I bought a ‘fan stand’ for it and haven’t had a problem since.

Thank you so very much to all… I will reply to you all individually as soon as I’ve manned the issue. I’ve got to type this message with a countdown for now, so…
“For now, untill I can give you further details and news on the solution, I must say farewe…”
3…2…1…
(Boom).

Mine did the same thing until my husband went out and bought me a fan pad. It plugs right into the computer and runs off the same power source. Now my laptop has stopped shutting off.

Personally, I don’t like the bulk and weight of those pads, nor the hit to battery life, especially since I use my laptop outside of my home. Why shop specifically for a thin-and-light laptop if you have to carry a large load?
Accordingly, I make it a point to occasionally clean my heatsink. As with cars, a little maintenance can solve/prevent a lot of problems

One of my old PCs started doing this and it was due to overheating.

@downtide @jerv @cazzie @MissAnthrope @desertr0se @syphotoguy @lacielee @poisonedantidote @YARNLADY
Alright guys, your help was amazingly useful.
All I managed to do was concoct a way to split the ACER 3680 I’ve got open, unmount the fan and clean it.
The first time I started the system up after doing this, it lasted about 15 mins.. which is much more than it did before.
Today I restarted up the system at, let’s say…12, p.mp… and it’s still running.
I’m using Ubuntu, right.. so I went to the software centre and found a nice little gadget that shows me the CPU temperature.
Isomehow manages to decrease/increase in balance, though attempting to keep a lower temp.
This happens even though I’m not hearing the vent spinning!
?!?!?!?
Now, I’ve got another problem, you Ubuntu users might help me with..
Now all the compizconfig (CCSM) settings can’t be run…
All that work I’ve done… “puff” into nowhere..
I cant’ seem to resume them as I get the message: ” Desktop effects could not be enabled” Even though I went into CCSM and repeated the whole ‘box-checking’ procedure.
What must I do?
I’ll post another question for this…
Thank you all for you so very kind support and suggestions.