Laptop powers off after a few minutes

finality

Well, my sister bought a laptop from Dell in December. There were no issues with it at first but as of about a month ago it's started to power off a few minutes after it's turned on. I can't pinpoint any specific cause - it does this regardless of whether programs are running, it does it in safe mode, etc. It doesn't freeze or anything, one second it's fine and the next it cuts out.

It also does this thing where it inputs random characters into text boxes/ms word, etc. Could this be related or maybe a separate issue?

I've run a virus scan - it says there are no issues. I'm thinking it's more of a hardware fault? Is there anything else I could do to try to sort this out or will it have to be sent back to dell?

Thanks for any help.

yoyo

finality wrote: »

Well, my sister bought a laptop from Dell in December. There were no issues with it at first but as of about a month ago it's started to power off a few minutes after it's turned on. I can't pinpoint any specific cause - it does this regardless of whether programs are running, it does it in safe mode, etc. It doesn't freeze or anything, one second it's fine and the next it cuts out.

It also does this thing where it inputs random characters into text boxes/ms word, etc. Could this be related or maybe a separate issue?

I've run a virus scan - it says there are no issues. I'm thinking it's more of a hardware fault? Is there anything else I could do to try to sort this out or will it have to be sent back to dell?

Thanks for any help.

Try starting it without battery in plugged in to the wall. See if it helps. Could be a failed/faulty battery.

Nick

T-Bird

Sounds like hardware error. Take a copy off all the files you need just in case you do not get them back and send to Dell if I were you.

Allyall

Was any liquid spilled on it at any time?

Also, check Event Viewer and view the logs.

If you are sure it's nothing you have done, i would definitely back it up, remove your data and ship it back, as it would be still under warranty.

Sup08

This sounds like a typicall overheating failure. If the laptop airvents are being blocked by using the machine on soft surfaces it will overheat and shut down to protect the CPU and other parts (A failsafe in all Computers).
If it is not the case that the laptop is being used on soft surfaces then return it to dell as there maybe a blocked air vent or exhaust to the CPU causing the overheating.
If it was only bought in December I would return it immediatley to Dell and have a professional look at it before it gets any worse.

PrzemoF

Get a linux livecd (ubuntu.com) and test if the same thing happens. If it's the same thing you have a hardware problem -> send the laptop it back. If it works with linux you have a problems with windows.

finality

Ok an update on this, the laptop now won't boot into windows, I get a screen saying "startup repair" or "start windows normally". Clicking start normally just loops back to this screen, running startup repair takes a long time but eventually just brings me back to this screen too.

Sup08

PrzemoF wrote: »

Get a linux livecd (ubuntu.com) and test if the same thing happens. If it's the same thing you have a hardware problem -> send the laptop it back. If it works with linux you have a problems with windows.

As well as above you could install a boot USB device with Hiren's Boot Cd and try boot into it. This has a mini-xp mode.
Tbh if it was my laptop and only a few months old. I'd RMA it back to dell. Also dell have great support online and over the phone when in warranty.