Question PC suddenly shuts off without warning

[knunk547]

Hey all, I have a question about some PC failures I experienced recently. I am new to the forum here, stumbled upon some useful posts in a Google search. I have a pre-built HP Pavilion desktop PC, the specs are:

• MB: HP 843b
• RAM: Hynix 8GB 2666 MHz
• Processor: Intel i5-9400F @ 2.90 GHz
• OS: Windows 10 Home
• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660Ti
• Power: HP 400w 942332-001

I bought the PC from a friend in early 2022, I am not exactly sure how long he had owned it, but I am fairly sure they bought it around 3 years prior. He reported no issues and I trust him to not have lied, and I've had no noticeable issues until recently.

The PC has suddenly shut off twice in the past month or so, during gaming as well as with just a browser open with one or two tabs, and made an audible beep and click sound. When turned back on and I attempt to log in, there is no place to enter the pin code and instead there is a message that says "Something happened and your PIN isn't available. Click to set up your PIN again." When I click on the message, it loads for a few seconds and then the same error message reappears. I have to reset the PC, keeping my files, in order to fix the issue, but as I've had to do it twice it seems like it's not a permanent fix. PC feels slower when streaming video and playing games but I can't be certain, the PC might just be showing its age as well as my PC is decently far from my router (I'm in an upstairs bedroom in a two story apt, router is on first floor in one of my roommates bedroom).

I'm a little tech illiterate and have very little to none experience, but I'm always willing to learn and with youtube and grit I can manage. I found a relevant forum post for the pin code issue and I'll try these next time it happens, but I'm more worried about the sudden shutdown. I am aware that the parts are old and are likely worn, but I am a college student and don't have the money to replace much. I'm hoping there is a fix or explanation that doesn't involve replacing parts, but my best guess using my limited knowledge is that the PSU is possibly failing, in which case its not too expensive to replace.

Any help is appreciated, if I'm missing something obvious please let me know, cheers.

 

[michealbrown]

It sounds like your PC might be experiencing an overheating issue or a power supply problem. Check to see if the fans inside your computer are working properly and if there's any dust buildup that could be obstructing airflow. Also, make sure your power supply is providing enough power to support your system's components. If you're not comfortable troubleshooting yourself, it might be a good idea to bring your PC to a professional for diagnosis and repair. Don't ignore sudden shutdowns, as they could potentially lead to hardware damage if left unresolved.