Random Laptop Shutdown Issue

[Callisto]

So I have a Toshiba Satellite laptop(can't remember the exact model # off the top of my head) and run Vista HP at home. During the day while I'm at work, usually in a 5-hourish window between when g/f leaves for work and when I get home, it seems to randomly power off. I get home, restart it and get a 'Windows was not shut down properly, press whatever to reboot normally' or other options like safe mode. I restart normally, everything seems fine, I never really see any other problems with my laptop/Vista at any time.

I really have no idea what it is that's making it do this, I have it set so that it doesn't go into sleep mode/shut down if it's running of A/C and not battery. Is there a way to diagnose exactly what it is that's causing these shutdowns? It doesn't seem to have any real negative effects, aside from being annoying if I'm trying to bazaar in FFXI or if I have a torrent going etc., but I'm still curious as to why it's happening when I'm not there. It never does it when I'm actually home.

Anyways suggestions/advice/explanations appreciated, thanks in advance.

[_chuchu]

Have you tried letting the battery drain completely then plug the laptop back into an outlet? Try calling up the manufacturer of the battery (and laptop) or looking up any recent battery recalls, too

[Isiolia]

You could try looking in the event log, though if it's a complete system lockup/reboot it may not show much.

When I've had similar problems, it's tended to be wireless drivers at fault...some would just not go into low power mode or whatnot properly, though I had others that would crash/reset the machine basically after they fully initialized.

Possible it's a different device, or something else entirely (overheating, etc)...wireless is just what I've typically seen be the cause.

[Kohan]

Is it a 6100?

Coincidentally, I used to manage a licensed Toshiba/HP/Compaq/etc. repair center, one of those hole-in-the-wall ones where -- if you knew about us -- you'd actually get your stuff fixed, and properly.

Well, the 6100 in particular was poorly manufactured, and has an issue with the placement of a metal sheet within that creates the exact issue you're describing (resulting in overheating and damage). As far as I remember, you used to be able to send them back to Toshiba for repairs but I don't believe this involved replacing said sheet, which meant the problem would inevitably return.

If you don't have a 6100 then this doesn't matter, but I thought I'd mention it just in case.

[The_OG_Nelta]

Kinda off topic, but I guess i don't need to make a whole new thread for this question, I kinda sorta have the same problem, when I close my laptop when its still on, it sometimes restarts it self. I have a HP, any idea?

[Kohan]

Kinda off topic, but I guess i don't need to make a whole new thread for this question, I kinda sorta have the same problem, when I close my laptop when its still on, it sometimes restarts it self. I have a HP, any idea?

Does this happen frequently enough for you to easily recreate it, and if so, can you see if it happens in Safe Mode?

[Achika]

My laptop is a Toshiba Satellite as well, I had this issue a few months ago with it randomly shutting down. It stopped after I opened up the covers and blew the dust out, I didn't know I had so much dust in mine.

Or it could be one of the issues described above. =x

[The Stig]

Toshiba laptop sounds suspiciously like an overheating issue.

Try to leave laptop on, without bazaaring. Torrenting is OK as it doesn't tax the system as much as FFXI will.

See if it still restarts.

If it does, stop torrenting, just turn it on and leave it there, come back, and see.

[Callisto]

k I'll try that and cleaning some dust out a bit(that does sound like a likely scenario). There's also a chance the cat may be laying on top of it and causing overheating, but not really sure what to do about that if that's the case, lol.

[The_OG_Nelta]

Does this happen frequently enough for you to easily recreate it, and if so, can you see if it happens in Safe Mode?

It happens pretty much 40% of the time i close my laptop.

[Kohan]

It happens pretty much 40% of the time i close my laptop.

Okay, can you see if it happens in Safe Mode? If it doesn't then it's possibly related to a hardware driver reacting adversely to you shutting the lid, if not another Windows function.