PC randomly shuts down

esebm · May 26, 2026

Hi, my PC (win 11, 25H2) randomly shuts down and reboots, no blue screen or any message. I have exchanged the power supply, RAM, SSD, no change. 2 Days ago I did a repair install but that didn't help either. What else can I do?

Slavic · May 26, 2026

First of all, disable automatic restart. System properties (System Protection), Advanced tab, Startup and Recovery, press Settings... button, System failure, clear the checkbox "Automatically restart" and keep "Write an event to the system log". Then all you need is to look at the system log: Event Viewer, Critical and Error in the summary list (Warnings and Information can be ignored). Your actions will depend on the events in this log.

siliconbeaver · May 26, 2026

Typically, a hardware issue.

you have to isolate PSU, RAM, SSD, Graphics, , , one by one.

If you run two sticks RAM, test them one stick by one to isolate. For Graphics, test built-in 1st, then external , , ,

esebm · May 26, 2026

I have changed the PSU, RAM, SSD, no change.

esebm · May 26, 2026

Here's the critical message from the evnt viewer.

siliconbeaver · May 26, 2026

also monitor if CPU overheating.

Is this a home-built computer. then is CPU glue applied well?

to isolate it's NOT a software issue, backup OS and data, then do a clean-install, either W10 or W11, no matter. to see if computer runs stable. If still sees instability, then must be a hardware issue.

In past, I saw computer crashing/freezing-up by PSU, RAM SSD Graphics, CPU overheating, and bad motherboard.

esebm · May 26, 2026

I had the CPU reseated with new thermal paste, checked the temp, all fine.
I just did a repair install 2 days ago. The only hardware thing I have not changed was the MoBo.

JLArranz · May 26, 2026

Have you tried with fewer modules as suggested above? Older processors were hard as hell, but I wouldn't discard it. Do you have a spare discrete GPU (ideally little powerful)? If it were PSU I'd expect shutdowns instead of reboots. A main suspect is RAM b/c I had that exact problem after replacing good quality 4x2GB for bad quality 4x4GB (even when booting to CD/USB instead of Windows, for restoring compressed disk images, I had to use pendrives as source), but the system in question was a 45 nm Phenom II. Good quality 4x4GB modules fixed the problem (and of course the disk and etc were perfect). I could use the system, reboots weren't that frequent.

esebm · May 26, 2026

Unfortunately, I don't have any old CPU lying around that would fit a B450 tomahawk mobo. Tried RAM already.
Regarding hardware issue: the PC runs in safe mode for weeks without shutting down. Does not seem to be hardware related.

XxXxX · May 26, 2026

please check
control panel > security and maintenance > maintenance > reliability history

also Windows tools > system information > components > problem devices

check both for any errors please
best of luck Steve ..

esebm · May 27, 2026

Working now in safe mode, normal mode shuts off every 5 min now.
Checked reliability history and it shows lots of errors, file explorer stopped working.
Windows tools problem devices shows nothing.

HeavyHemi · May 27, 2026

esebm said:
Working now in safe mode, normal mode shuts off every 5 min now.
Checked reliability history and it shows lots of errors, file explorer stopped working.
Windows tools problem devices shows nothing.

Do you have fast startup enabled in Windows?

esebm · May 27, 2026

I'm not sure how to check that in safe mode. Control panel does not work.

badrobot · May 27, 2026

esebm said:
Working now in safe mode, normal mode shuts off every 5 min now.
Checked reliability history and it shows lots of errors, file explorer stopped working.
Windows tools problem devices shows nothing.

It sounds like thermal protection shutdown which happens when the CPU overheats. It will work fine in safe mode because the loads are in bare minimum (basic drivers, no background services, etc.) and the CPU will stay cool. Look at your CPU cooling or maybe you need to re-paste the CPU.

esebm · May 27, 2026

I've checked all temps, they look to be in the safe range.

Slavic · May 27, 2026

GPU temperature is shown in Task Manager, Performance, GPU. As for CPU, need to use external tool. I use Open Hardware Monitor, even though it's a bit outdated. There are some alternatives, any kind of HWiNFO should work.

Open Hardware Monitor - Core temp, fan speed and voltages in a free software gadget

openhardwaremonitor.org

esebm · May 27, 2026

As I had mentioned in post # 7, the CPU has new thermal paste.

Megahertz · May 27, 2026

Had seen this scenario twice. One in a desktop and other on a laptop. On both cases it was a damaged MoBo. Replaced the MoBo and used same other components. Problem gone.

esebm · May 27, 2026

I have replaced the power supply, SSD and RAM, costing me quite a bit of dough. I am sort of relutanct the buy a new MoBo without exhausting all software options first.

XxXxX · May 27, 2026

esebm said:
I have replaced the power supply, SSD and RAM, costing me quite a bit of dough. I am sort of relutanct the buy a new MoBo without exhausting all software options first.

it maybe worthwhile checking to see if the CPU and heat sink are sitting properly
as its very easy to have them misaligned and not seating correctly.

just a thought
bets of luck Steve ..

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