Why is my computer shutting down with a thermal warning?
Asked by
CleverTurtle42
I have a Windows PC that suddenly shuts down while I'm gaming, and I noticed that the fans get really loud beforehand. After trying to restart it, I get a thermal warning and it shuts down again almost immediately. I waited about 20 minutes and tried to boot it again, but it crashed during a blue screen that said there was a problem. The last attempt gave me the same thermal warning, and I could only see it power on for a second before shutting down again. I'm not very tech-savvy, and I'm not sure what I should do next. Any ideas?
Answers
Sounds like your PC might be overheating. If it's an older computer, dust buildup could be blocking airflow, especially around the CPU and graphics card. Open up your case and take a look at the fans—make sure to clean out any dust you find, preferably outside so you don't just blow it back in!
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CleverTurtle42: It's about 4 and a half years old, so I guess it's not ancient, but it's definitely not new. I cleaned the exterior, but I think I need to clean inside as well. Thanks for the tip!