Computer randomly turning off

[Transgaymeme]

Randomly a few days ago my computer just started mysteriously turning off and it's been happening repeatedly multiple times a day I do not understand why but it's very frustrating especially because it's slow to turn back on every time it's only been happening for the last 3 days but I can't figure out why and I already tested for updates

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @Transgaymeme 

Welcome to the HP Support Community! We're here to help you get back up and running.

I’m really sorry you’re dealing with this—unexpected shutdowns can be incredibly disruptive, especially when your system takes ages to reboot. 

Let’s walk through a few steps to help uncover what’s going on and get your computer stable again:

 

1. Check for Overheating

Sudden shutdowns are often triggered by thermal protection. Run a hardware diagnostic to check CPU and GPU temperatures:

• Restart your computer and press F2 or Esc during boot to enter diagnostics.
• Look for a “System Health” or “Thermal” section.
• If temperatures exceed 85°C, clean out dust from vents and fans, and ensure airflow isn’t blocked.

 

2. Run HP Hardware Diagnostics

Use HP’s built-in PC Hardware Diagnostics tool to test memory, battery, and motherboard health:

• Download and install the tool if it’s not already present.
• Run the System Test and Component Tests for power and thermal systems.

 

3. Inspect Power Supply and Battery

If you’re using a laptop:

• Try running the device on AC power only (remove the battery if possible).
• If the issue disappears, the battery may be failing. For desktops:
• Check the power cable and outlet.
• If you have access to a UPS or surge protector, test with that to rule out voltage instability.

 

4. Review Event Logs

Windows logs critical shutdown events:

• Press Win + X → Event Viewer → Windows Logs → System
• Look for entries with “Kernel-Power” or “Critical” around the time of shutdowns.
• These logs can hint at hardware faults or driver conflicts.

 

5. Disable Fast Startup

Sometimes fast startup causes boot delays or instability:

• Go to Control Panel → Power Options → Choose what the power buttons do
• Click Change settings that are currently unavailable
• Uncheck Turn on fast startup, then save changes.

 

6. BIOS and Firmware Check

Even if Windows updates are current, BIOS or firmware might be outdated:

• Visit HP’s Software and Driver Downloads page.
• Enter your product name and check for BIOS updates.
• Follow the on-screen instructions carefully to update.

Just let me know your model number and any error codes you’ve seen. We’ll get this resolved.

If my response helped, please mark it as an Accepted Solution! ✅ It helps others and spreads support. 💙 Also, tapping "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" makes a big difference! Thanks! 😊

Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye

[Transgaymeme]

I've attempted some of these things but none of them seem to really be working, most of them I can't really figure out what I'm supposed to do exactly. I do not know where my model number is exactly otherwise I would be happy to give it to you but it's very much distressing and I would definitely like this to be fixed before the warranty expires, this wasn't even the correct laptop that I meant to buy in the first place so the fact that it's also Now not working is rather frustrating, I ran the fan test for speed test and thermal test and they both said it passed I thought I had fixed the issue but it has started doing it again which is very frustrating. Is there any way I can be emailed directly?

[Hawks_Eye]

@Transgaymeme 

Thank you for sharing all of that, and I’m truly sorry this issue is still happening—it’s incredibly frustrating when a device you didn’t even intend to buy starts shutting down randomly, especially with the warranty ticking down.

Let’s simplify things and focus on just a few clear steps that you can try right now, without needing to know your model number or dig through menus:

Simplified Steps to Try Next

1. Disable Fast Startup

This can help with slow boot and random shutdowns:

• Press Windows + R, type control, and hit Enter.
• Go to Power Options > Choose what the power buttons do.
• Click Change settings that are currently unavailable.
• Uncheck Turn on fast startup, then click Save changes.

 

2. Check for Kernel-Power Errors

This helps identify if the shutdowns are power-related:

• Press Windows + X and select Event Viewer.
• Go to Windows Logs > System.
• Look for entries labeled “Kernel-Power” or “Critical” around the time of shutdowns.
• Note the Event ID (often 41) and any details—it helps narrow down the cause.

 

3. Run HP Hardware Diagnostics (Again)

Even if the fan and thermal tests passed, try the System Test:

• Restart your laptop and press Esc, then F2 to enter diagnostics.
• Select System Test > Extensive Test and let it run.
• This checks memory, motherboard, and power systems more deeply.

 

4. Use AC Power Only

If you’re on a laptop:

• Remove the battery (if removable) and run only on the charger.
• If the shutdowns stop, the battery may be failing.

If you’re unsure about any step, just tell me what you see on screen and I’ll guide you through it. You don’t need to worry about finding your model number right now—we’ll work with what you’ve got. 

Let’s keep going until this is fixed.

If my response helped, please mark it as an Accepted Solution! ✅ It helps others and spreads support. 💙 Also, tapping "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" makes a big difference! Thanks! 😊

Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye

[Transgaymeme]

I tried the second thing and there are a bunch of things that say kernel general and kernel power but i dont know what to do with that information. I dont want to try everything all at once because then how will I know what fixed it and if the battery is failing?? What do i do if it is?

[Hawks_Eye]

@Transgaymeme Thanks for the update.

You're absolutely right to take it one step at a time—trying everything at once can make it hard to pinpoint the real fix. Let’s slow it down and focus on what you’ve already found: those Kernel-Power events in Event Viewer are a strong clue.

 

What Kernel-Power Errors Mean

• Event ID 41 (especially if it says “The system has rebooted without cleanly shutting down”) usually means your computer lost power unexpectedly.
• This can be caused by:
  • A failing battery
  • A faulty power adapter
  • Overheating or hardware instability
  • Driver or firmware issues

 

How to Check If the Battery Is Failing

Here’s a simple way to test without needing extra tools:

1. Run on AC Power Only

• Shut down your laptop.
• If the battery is removable, take it out. If not, just leave it plugged in.
• Power it on using only the charger.
• Use it for a few hours and see if it still shuts down randomly.

If it doesn’t shut down, the battery is likely the problem.

 

2. Run HP Battery Check

• Download HP Support Assistant.
• Open the app → Select your laptop → Run Battery Check.
• It will show battery health, capacity, and whether it needs replacing.

 

What to Do If the Battery Is Failing

• If your laptop is still under warranty, HP should replace the battery for free.
• You can contact HP Support directly through their Contact Page.
• If it’s out of warranty, you can still replace the battery—just let me know your laptop model and I’ll help you find the right part.

You’re doing great by staying calm and methodical. Let’s confirm whether the battery is the culprit before moving on to anything else. 

If you want help interpreting the battery report or finding your model number, I’ve got you covered.

Regards,

Hawks_Eye

[Transgaymeme]

I would just like to clarify in that case that I'm pretty sure the battery isn't failing then. I've used it both on and off the charger consistently, and either way it constantly turns off randomly. Right before I went to bed last night I tried turning off the quick startup thing, but I haven't had the chance to really use the computer yet since then so I don't know if it fixed it or anything like that. But both on and off the charger it will randomly turn off so I assume that means it's not a battery issue?

[Hawks_Eye]

@Transgaymeme 

Thanks for clarifying that—yes, if the shutdowns happen both on battery and while plugged in, it’s very likely not a battery issue. That narrows things down quite a bit, and it’s great you’ve already disabled Fast Startup. Once you’ve had a chance to use the computer more, we’ll know if that helped.

Here’s what I suggest next, keeping things simple and focused:

 

1. Check for BIOS Update (No Windows Update Needed)

• Go to HP Software and Driver Downloads.
• Enter your laptop’s serial number or let it auto-detect.
• Look for a BIOS update under “Firmware” or “BIOS.”
• If available, follow the instructions carefully to install it.

Why this matters: A buggy BIOS can cause power instability, and this update is separate from regular Windows updates.

2. Run HP System Diagnostics – Extensive Test

• Restart your laptop.
• Tap Esc during boot, then press F2 to enter diagnostics.
• Choose System Test > Extensive Test.
• Let it run for at least 45 minutes.

Why this matters: It checks deeper hardware issues like memory, motherboard, and power delivery.

3. Review Kernel-Power Event Details

• Open Event Viewer (Win + X → Event Viewer → Windows Logs → System).
• Find the Kernel-Power entries (especially Event ID 41).
• Right-click → Properties → Copy the full description and paste it here.

Why this matters: The details can reveal if it’s a driver crash, thermal trip, or hardware fault.

If Fast Startup turns out to be the fix, amazing. If not, we’ll keep going one step at a time. You’re doing everything right by staying calm and methodical. Let me know what you find from the diagnostics or Event Viewer, and I’ll help interpret it.

Regards,

Hawks_Eye

[Transgaymeme]

I got the chance to use the computer for a few hours and it did not happen again after turning off slow boot, I will try all of these little steps when I can but I'm just genuinely curious as to why I have to disable a feature in order for the computer to work as normal? I'm also a bit concerned that this will be a temporary solution, as I did something else that I saw online before starting this little messaging thing, and it fixed it for a few days before it started happening again

[Hawks_Eye]

You're absolutely right to be curious and cautious. When disabling a feature like Fast Startup seems to fix random shutdowns, it often points to a deeper issue with how your system handles power states and hardware initialization.

 

Why Disabling Fast Startup Might Help

Fast Startup is designed to speed up boot times by saving system state to disk. However, it can sometimes:

• Conflict with drivers, especially for graphics, storage, or power management
• Skip full hardware checks, leading to instability
• Cause issues with dual-boot setups or BIOS updates

So while disabling it may seem like a workaround, it’s actually helping your system perform a more complete and stable startup.

 

What You Can Do Next

To make the fix more permanent:

Update All Drivers

• Use your laptop’s support page to download the latest chipset, graphics, and power management drivers.

Check for BIOS Updates

• BIOS updates often include fixes for power-related bugs.

Run System File Checker

• Open Command Prompt as admin and run:
• This checks for corrupted system files that might cause instability.

Monitor with Reliability Monitor

• Type Reliability Monitor in the Start menu
• Look for patterns in system crashes or shutdowns

If you'd like help checking for specific driver updates or BIOS versions for your system, I’d be glad to assist. 

Regards,

Hawks_Eye