Troubleshooting a Persistent PC Shutdown Issue: My Experience

It’s frustrating when technology doesn’t work as expected, especially when you’re not well-versed in its intricacies. I recently encountered an ongoing problem with a PC that kept shutting off, and I’d like to share my journey in hopes it might help others facing similar challenges.

The Initial Incident

Not too long ago, my roommate and I were enjoying a gaming session on a prebuilt PC he purchased from Walmart around 2020. While playing “BeamNG.drive,” the computer unexpectedly crashed and shut down completely. Initially, it appeared to function normally, but soon after, it refused to power on at all.

Thankfully, my roommate had a warranty, so he sent the PC back for repairs. When it returned, it did turn on; however, it exhibited a troubling problem—it frequently shut down and restarted. Eventually, he decided it would be more effective to invest in a new computer rather than deal with the hassle.

The Return to the Past

Fast forward about two years, and we were curious about the old machine. My cousin, who has a decent grasp of computer hardware, offered to take the PC home for testing. He reported that everything seemed fine, and there were no apparent issues. Intrigued, my roommate opted to pass it along to me since I was in need of a computer.

Initially, the PC worked well, but soon, the shutdown problem resurfaced. It began with occasional reboots and gradually escalated to the point where it wouldn’t even start up properly without shutting down again.

Diagnosing the Problem

In an effort to diagnose the issue, I turned to online resources and consulted my cousin once more. Both of us suspected that the power supply unit (PSU) might be at fault. I promptly ordered a new PSU, but then discovered that the original motherboard didn’t have the appropriate connector for the new power supply. This led me to acquire a new motherboard as well.

To complicate matters further, I learned that the PC’s motherboard was uniquely configured for its specific prebuilt case, necessitating the purchase of a new case to accommodate the new motherboard.

The Final Assembly and Continuing Issues

After replacing the power supply, motherboard, and case, we finally put everything together with a sense of hope. For a brief moment, it seemed that the PC was operating smoothly once again. Unfortunately, the shutdowns soon returned, leaving me bewildered about which component could