For the past few days, my laptop has been powering off unexpectedly right when I launch a video game. I ran a hardware diagnostic tool and have the results available, but I'm not sure how to interpret them. I haven't replaced or modified any components, including the RAM. The fans appear to be spinning, though I'm not completely certain. What should I check to find out whether this is a hardware, overheating, or power-related problem?
2 Answers
Start by checking Reliability Monitor and Event Viewer after the next shutdown. Look under Windows Logs > System for errors around the time it happened, especially anything mentioning Kernel-Power. That can help distinguish an unexpected power loss from a normal software crash.
Since it happens as soon as a game starts putting more load on the laptop, also verify that the fans are spinning and check the CPU and GPU temperatures. Dust buildup, a blocked vent, or a failing cooling system can cause the machine to shut itself off for protection. The diagnostic report may have more useful information if it shows temperature or hardware errors.
I think the fans are spinning, but I’ll watch them more carefully and check the temperatures while testing.