Windows 7 Shutting Down Randomly

garyc

garyc

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I have a problem with Windows 7 shutting down at random times. The shutdown is abrupt, and when booting up again it gives a message that Windows shut down unexpectedly.

Please note that this is NOT a hardware fault. the PC spends almost all of the time booted to Linux without a problem, just on the occasions that it is booted to Windows that it then resets.

Based on the common advise given on websites I have upgraded the graphics driver, re-seated the graphics card and updated all the system software. Since the computer was due for a service it has been cleaned out and the RAM and power connectors also re-seated.

Nothing has helped. Does anyone here have further suggestions?
 
Well we need a bit more info.
What does it do when it shuts down? Screen of any kind or just off? Have you checked windows error log files to see if it is logging a fault?
Then you should also provide information on the CPU, motherboard, RAM, powersupply and harddrive setup as all of these can cause problems.
For example there are settings in the bios on some motherboards that only operate in windows that could cause such things.

Have you checked temperatures? It is possible that Linux is not loading the component that is overheating, while windows is.
 
Last edited:
My guess is that there is a damaged sector on the hard drive (on the part where windows is installed), or a damaged system file.
Unfortunately the only way to diagnose and fix that is to do a wipe, scan the disk and re-install windows.
 
Thanks you for the replies so far.

Well we need a bit more info.
What does it do when it shuts down? Screen of any kind or just off? Have you checked windows error log files to see if it is logging a fault?
Then you should also provide information on the CPU, motherboard, RAM, powersupply and harddrive setup as all of these can cause problems.
For example there are settings in the bios on some motherboards that only operate in windows that could cause such things.

Have you checked temperatures? It is possible that Linux is not loading the component that is overheating, while windows is.
Click to expand...

You are right, I should have gathered some more information first, including checking the error log tonight.

My guess is that there is a damaged sector on the hard drive (on the part where windows is installed), or a damaged system file.
Unfortunately the only way to diagnose and fix that is to do a wipe, scan the disk and re-install windows.
Click to expand...

This is plausible since I installed Windows onto a really old drive that was spare (wanted access to MS Office). Now I can hear the all SSD based Skylake upgrade calling :)
 
garyc said:
Thanks you for the replies so far.



You are right, I should have gathered some more information first, including checking the error log tonight.



This is plausible since I installed Windows onto a really old drive that was spare (wanted access to MS Office). Now I can hear the all SSD based Skylake upgrade calling :)
Click to expand...

If it is a damaged sector you can run a full checkdsk outside windows. This will report and possibly repair damaged sectors. If it reports damaged sectors but you still get the problem it may be possible to fix the problem by reinstalling after the checkdsk has closed off damaged sectors.
You could also very likely have a power supply problem. It is possible for linux to just overcome the power shortage better. You can check this by doing things like opening all optical drives at once and seeing if they delay or go slowly. Also intentionally creating how power load in windows and see if it crashes. (you need to load all rails on the PSU).
 
Will be adding disk test and power stress test to the list for tonight.
 
LazyLion said:
My guess is that there is a damaged sector on the hard drive (on the part where windows is installed), or a damaged system file.
Unfortunately the only way to diagnose and fix that is to do a wipe, scan the disk and re-install windows.
Click to expand...

Doing a wipe on a failing hard drive will only conceal bad sector(s) for a short time. True you do get false positives which will be eliminated by a format or zero'ing a drive but it is best to test the drive first with a bootdisc.

Ultimate Boot CD is a good one, it come with most major manufacturer tools to diagnose a hard drive.
 
garyc said:
I have a problem with Windows 7 shutting down at random times. The shutdown is abrupt, and when booting up again it gives a message that Windows shut down unexpectedly.

Please note that this is NOT a hardware fault. the PC spends almost all of the time booted to Linux without a problem, just on the occasions that it is booted to Windows that it then resets.

Based on the common advise given on websites I have upgraded the graphics driver, re-seated the graphics card and updated all the system software. Since the computer was due for a service it has been cleaned out and the RAM and power connectors also re-seated.

Nothing has helped. Does anyone here have further suggestions?
Click to expand...
sfc /scannow
 
Got round to a couple of suggestions here last night. The error log file shows that the system was booted without having shut down cleanly on the previous session. There was no information on what caused it to shut down in the first place, potentially indicating that the event was abrupt. A disk scan with Seatools did not indicate any problems with the disk, although this was not a deep scan.

Still to try is a deep scan along the lines recommended above and to run sfc.

The abrupt nature of the shutdown adds some support to what Vaughan said about a PSU problem that does not show up under Linux due to differences in power management. Since I am upgrading the computer in a couple of months time I may as well start now with the new PSU and see how that works out.

Can anyone recommend a good PSU brand in the 500 to 600 W range?
 
garyc said:
Got round to a couple of suggestions here last night. The error log file shows that the system was booted without having shut down cleanly on the previous session. There was no information on what caused it to shut down in the first place, potentially indicating that the event was abrupt. A disk scan with Seatools did not indicate any problems with the disk, although this was not a deep scan.

Still to try is a deep scan along the lines recommended above and to run sfc.

The abrupt nature of the shutdown adds some support to what Vaughan said about a PSU problem that does not show up under Linux due to differences in power management. Since I am upgrading the computer in a couple of months time I may as well start now with the new PSU and see how that works out.

Can anyone recommend a good PSU brand in the 500 to 600 W range?
Click to expand...

PSU or still possibly heat. Try running realtemp and a graphics card monitor while in windows and see if they are dangerously high.
A drastic heat spike won't allow windows time to log an error either.
If you are confident it is the PSU, then unplug all unused things such as second hard disks, usb devices, optical drives, etc. then see if it is more stable.
 
garyc said:
The error log file shows that the system was booted without having shut down cleanly on the previous session. There was no information on what caused it to shut down in the first place, potentially indicating that the event was abrupt.
Click to expand...
It is like unplugging power cord, motherboard safeguard logic switching off power due to detecting critical error (internal regulators voltage out of spec by example), or power supply switching off itself. Caused frequently by noisy power (bulged capacitors) or failing logic.
Use different power supply to eliminate this cause. If you don't have another PSU for testing and want to risk blowing up CPU and other components (as it will bypass internal safeguard logic), put jumper on the PSU power-on line and ground (green and black wire) and see whether it happen again.
 
garyc said:
Got round to a couple of suggestions here last night. The error log file shows that the system was booted without having shut down cleanly on the previous session. There was no information on what caused it to shut down in the first place, potentially indicating that the event was abrupt. A disk scan with Seatools did not indicate any problems with the disk, although this was not a deep scan.

Still to try is a deep scan along the lines recommended above and to run sfc.

The abrupt nature of the shutdown adds some support to what Vaughan said about a PSU problem that does not show up under Linux due to differences in power management. Since I am upgrading the computer in a couple of months time I may as well start now with the new PSU and see how that works out.

Can anyone recommend a good PSU brand in the 500 to 600 W range?
Click to expand...

Sea tools is rubbish if you ask me, use crystal disk info, it tells you instantly if there is a problem. No scan needed.
 
Have just run sfc and checked the temperatures. All is good.

All the comments about the PSU make sense and I am doing a bit of online shopping at the moment (from the Linux boot which still seems surprisingly stable).
 
Rickster said:
Sea tools is rubbish if you ask me, use crystal disk info, it tells you instantly if there is a problem. No scan needed.
Click to expand...

Have not used crystal disk before, but used a couple of other tools to get the SMART info. Does crystal disk also do a thorough check of the disk?
 
garyc said:
Have not used crystal disk before, but used a couple of other tools to get the SMART info. Does crystal disk also do a thorough check of the disk?
Click to expand...

No, but if it's damaged it will say so in a big red block.
 
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