Random Shutdowns (and CaseMod thread)

[ScrumYummy]

Okay. Before you hop on the "It's a virus/worm!" bandwagon, please read about the problem.

My laptop (Toshibi Satellite 1905, circa 2002, P4 2ghz, 256m RAM, onboard video, either 16 or 32--not sure) randomly shuts down, generally when I am away from it (it's happened about twice while I was using it). When I start it back up, it acts as if I had told it to shut down--in other words, it doesn't have any problems, and windows doesn't do anything to try to "fix itself."

At first, I thought this was purely a heating issue; laptops with ACPI (Advanced Configuration and Power Interface) which I'm told this has automatically shut down/hibernate when the CPU gets above 70° C. I also think it's kind of strange that the fan is behind the PCMCIA slot, and how they figured this would solve heating issues I'm not exactly sure.

So I says to myself, "When using this computer, leave it on a flat surface where it can circulate air properly."

This works for a while, and then it starts shutting itself down again. I think, okay, maybe I'm overclocking the processor or RAM, because I have a tendancy to multitask, while using RAM-intensive software such as Photoshop. And of course, this makes sense, and it works (or at least, I think it does) until the other day when I had just started up the computer, and had nothing running but Winamp, left it alone for a few hours, and it clicks off.

So I says to myself, "It behaves like a virus is eating my RAM. But I clean regularly and thoroughly. Maybe I need new RAM." I check the system information, and it's still recording 256.

Then I began to notice that maybe it had something to do with Windows. Windows Explorer (I use to navigate around in my files) crashes several times. Then today, the computer shut itself off again, and Active Desktop (which runs with IE and WE) had crashed somewhere in the process.

So, I'm wondering. I never use IE anymore, only Firefox, so I never notice any problems with that. But could there be a corelation between my computer shutting itself off and WE crashing?

[Hoth]

Probably due to either your memory going bad and overheating or your chipset overheating. If the computer is sitting idle before it does this you may need to check the hybernate settings to make sure this is setup for your laptop. (If i remember correclty there should be a setting for this) Ive never had to change it though as all the lappies ive messed with have this as default. Especially toshiba's

[ScrumYummy]

At first I thought the memory had degraded, but it's still registering as 256. Is it possible that it could have gone bad but is still regestering as 256? Overheating would make a lot of sense, although sometimes it doesn't seem like it's overheating. The air coming from the fan will be cool, and then it will shut off.

Hybernating is a definite no. I turned that off a long time ago, not to mention that it doesn't explain the couple of times that it's shut of while I was using it.

[Ultrawolf]

Well I'm not an expert on laptops, but I used to have the same problem with my old computer, I opened the sucker to see what was going on inside and it was coated in dust to the point it was like webbing. Cleaned it out and it worked dandy. I suppose it's possible that it's all gunky on the inside, but then again I don't know much about laptops :p

[ScrumYummy]

It's possible, sure. In fact, that sounds like an awesome idea. Now, I've never tinkered around inside of a laptop, so I'm kind of afraid of irreperably f***ing something while I'm in there. I tried to find a layout of my model's innards earlier (because I was trying to figure out why the fan was behind the PCMCIA slot) but I couldn't. So I guess maybe I have to wing it. ;_;

Wish me luck.

Really, I need to save up and get a new laptop. Or build my own computer. Or buy a mac. I haven't decided which route I wanted to take. But here's my dream setup:

-A couple of networked, case-modded PCs and a linux box, so I could host my own server and use one of the systems as a test system for all of my funky ideas; the test system would be name Eigor, and be composed of used/cheap parts. For I plan on abusing it.

-Another Toshibi laptop. I'm fond of Toshiba.

-A 12 inch iBook to take on the go (have you ever picked one of these up?? I swear they weigh all of a pound)

-A Mac Mini case modded into a NES (I already have the NES I have been scheming this one for a while) to use as an Airport (Mac WAN) connection and Mac fileserver

-A Powermac or Powerbook. Probably a Powermac. For video editing/AMV making. And for Garage Band.

-Oh yeah, last but not least, one of these =D (It's a Cintiq, for those of you who do not wish to click.)

[Ultrawolf]

[ScrumYummy]

Oh yes.


What's even more awesome is that the NES has a spring-loaded platform on the inside (remember how you had to push the games down inside the system?) so I'm going to try to figure out how to get the mini inside of that metal bit so that you can open it to insert a disk, and push the main case of the mini once to bring it up, and again to put it back down.

I've already figured out how I'm going to do the mouse/keyboard; just remove the controller ports from the NES and slip the cords in through them and connect them to the mini =D

I also have ideas for other case mods. I'd like to get a busted up old iMac and mod it into a PC. I also have an Apple II that I never use anymore (of course); I think it would be cool to clean that out and use it for a case mod.

[Ultrawolf]

[ScrumYummy]

OH YES. I've only seen one. But that rocked.

Awesome case mod: the Real Bender

[Ryukku]

I have a really similar problem but my windows always says dumpinbg memory boot or something such as that. Or it won't reconize my BIOS when it boots up. I don't know what's wrong with it but you don't have anything like that do you?