I was watching a video when my laptop display suddenly filled with red pixels, and the computer powered off. Now, whenever I try to start it, it shuts down again after about three seconds. What could be causing this, and is there anything I can safely try before taking it in for repair?
3 Answers
Unplug the charger and leave the laptop powered off for about an hour so it can cool completely. Then try starting it again. If it still shuts down after a few seconds, avoid repeatedly powering it on, since that may worsen an existing hardware fault.
Also check how the laptop was being used. Running it on a bed, carpet, or another soft surface can block the vents and cause overheating. If it does turn on again, place it on a hard, flat surface and make sure the vents are clear. If the red pixels return or it keeps shutting off, it will probably need professional diagnosis.
The red artifacts followed by immediate shutdown could point to a failed GPU or another motherboard-level hardware problem. If the laptop uses integrated graphics, the graphics hardware may be part of the motherboard, which can make the repair more involved or expensive.
I’ve left it unplugged and powered off for now, so I’ll see whether it starts normally after it has cooled down.