My PC has recently started shutting down at random without showing a blue screen. Windows logs the issue as Event 41, indicating an unexpected loss of power. I replaced the power supply, but the problem still occurs. Stress testing has not triggered a crash so far, although the computer sometimes crashes back to the BIOS when I try to put it into sleep mode. The system uses an Intel Core i7-13700K, an ASUS ROG STRIX Z790-A GAMING WIFI D4 motherboard, and 128 GB of DDR4 memory running at 2666 MT/s. The BIOS is version 3001 from March 7, 2025. I have not changed any BIOS settings recently. What should I check next?
3 Answers
Event 41 only tells you that Windows did not shut down cleanly; it does not identify the failed component. Because there is no BSOD, check whether anything is being recorded in Event Viewer immediately before the Kernel-Power entry, and look in C:WindowsMinidump in case a crash dump exists. Also verify that the motherboard firmware and chipset drivers are current. If the problem continues with sleep disabled, test the memory carefully, especially with four 32 GB modules installed, and try the system with fewer modules or conservative default memory settings.
Since replacing the PSU did not solve it and sleep mode seems to trigger the failure, I would investigate power-state and wake settings before assuming the new PSU is bad. In Device Manager, open the power-management settings for your Ethernet or Wi-Fi adapter and disable the option that lets it wake the computer. You can also test the same setting for your keyboard and mouse. In the firmware, temporarily disable Fast Boot and Wake-on-LAN. As another test, set Windows to never enter sleep for a few days. If the random shutdowns stop, sleep or a device waking the system is probably involved.
The hardware details are useful here. A 13700K with 128 GB across four DIMMs can be sensitive to memory training and low-power transitions even when ordinary stress tests pass. Run a thorough memory test and temporarily use the motherboard's default memory configuration rather than any overclock or performance profile. If the issue happens only when entering sleep, compare it with hibernation or a complete shutdown; that can help separate a Windows sleep-state problem from a broader motherboard or memory stability problem.
I have not changed anything in the BIOS recently, and the memory is currently being detected at 2666 MT/s. I will test with sleep disabled and check the memory and firmware next.