Ubuntu comp turning off on its own
 

Hello all,

I am new here and will try to post an introduction in your introduction forum later. I have been using Ubuntu in a computer I built since 2009. I have upgraded Ubuntu fairly regularly and now am on the latest LTS version. I post here because, though I have been using Ubuntu for 5 years, I use it as a plug and play and never learned any programming at all or knew what was going into my software machine when doing updates and such.

At the moment, my computer has been very slow and choppy with videos. This might coincide with me losing flash support and generally not knowing anything about making videos run well in browsers, ie. getting the right drivers, add-on packages, players, etc. But it could also be that my computer is old and that the internet drains more resources these days (owners of old netbooks will attest to this!).

Latest event is that my computer turns off while playing videos. I have even caught it turning off while simply being on facebook yesterday. So, the computer, with its randomly crapping out, is not useful anymore and I have to initiate change.

A friend suggested the following: format; if it still turns off, problem was hardware; if it doesn't turn off anymore, problem was software. This sounds very logical, and indeed I am planning to undergo such testing before building myself a new computer from parts. But I was wondering if there were some procedures I could carry out before formatting the computer and having to back-up all my files on an external drive, one of which I don't already own. I was thinking perhaps of installing a new Linux OS that could perhaps wipe out the Ubuntu and all system files but keep the data in my Videos, Documents, Pictures folders for example.

Anyway, just a thought. All advice is welcome. Here are my computer stats:

Ubuntu 14.04 LTS
Memory 2.0 GiB
Processor: Pentium(R) Dual-Core CPU E5200 @ 2.50GHz x 2
Graphics: Intel G33 x86/MMX/SSE2 (integrated to motherboard)
OS type: 32-bit
Disk: 623.9 GB

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Update: turned off while playing X-Moto with music and thunderbird in the background.

Have you checked the system health while it's running (temps, etc)? When is the last time you cleaned out the heatsink?

I tried getting temperature values but it seems like I don't have any hardware sensors for it.

I took the computer apart a few months ago to take dust out (it was already choppy before then). I didn't do anything specific to the heatsink.

I don't use Ubuntu, but most distros have a sensors or lm_sensors package that can probe these things. The output should look something like:
Those "Core 0" and "Core 1" values are the CPU core temperatures on my laptop. It may help to log the output of sensors every 10 seconds or so (with timestamps) while working, then the next time the system shuts itself down you can look back at the log to see if you can find anything funny going on that would point to an overheating issue.

Ok, thanks for your answer. I will try my best to get access to it. I've gone into synaptic and selected the lm-sensors package for installation. After that, I am not too sure how to get the temp values to display but I'll try my best.

By the way:

I was trying to do this earlier with a lot of windows open and my comp crapped out. When I try to turn it back on, it craps out half a second later again. I have to wait at least 30 seconds, about, for it to be able to turn on again... Sounds like hardware problem more and more right?

Oh boy, it seems I have temp problems:

coretemp-isa-0000
Adapter: ISA adapter
Core 0: N/A (high = +76.0°C, crit = +100.0°C) ALARM (CRIT)
Core 1: +97.0°C (high = +76.0°C, crit = +100.0°C)

atk0110-acpi-0
Adapter: ACPI interface
Vcore Voltage: +1.16 V (min = +0.85 V, max = +1.60 V)
+3.3 Voltage: +3.34 V (min = +2.97 V, max = +3.63 V)
+5 Voltage: +5.20 V (min = +4.50 V, max = +5.50 V)
+12 Voltage: +12.46 V (min = +10.20 V, max = +13.80 V)
CPU FAN Speed: 2410 RPM (min = 600 RPM, max = 7200 RPM)
CHASSIS FAN Speed: 0 RPM (min = 800 RPM, max = 7200 RPM)
CPU Temperature: +89.0°C (high = +60.0°C, crit = +95.0°C)
MB Temperature: +36.0°C (high = +45.0°C, crit = +95.0°C)

I didn't set up a log but was checking routinely and my temperatures are almost always over 90 celcius, and when videos play, they are over 100 and display as N/A... and then the computer shuts off moments later.

How should I proceed from now? I am a newb when it comes to hardware also.

Thanks a lot for your help.

Yikes!

It is possible for sensors to get erroneous readings, eg:
(note the 0-2 deg C outputs near the top - obviously wrong, no part of my computer is anywhere near 0 C)

But given the lockup issues you're seeing, and the fact that your temps do seem to follow cpu load, I think that they may be real and would certainly explain the lockups.

It says your CPU fan is spinning at 2410 RPM, so it's probably not stalled out, but can you verify that the fan is indeed turning? Can you feel the air blowing out of the vent? The heatsink could also be clogged with lint/dust/hair which is blocking airflow, some compressed air might be able to clear it out. Otherwise maybe your thermal compound between the CPU and heatsink has dried out and needs to be re-applied.

I agree with suicidalegroll
I had an acer aspire & had to disassemble to clean the fan 2x. The dust was soo thick it looked like an air filter. Ince removed it ran at 50°, 57° max when running dvd.
Dust will build up quite fast if you use laptop while in bed, like I did.

It Also Helps if your running it on a flat surface(eg. table, chair, desk, etc..) and check the rubber feet if their not worn down...

Thanks to all that have helped. The fan got dislodged during moving. Upon seeing this, I also saw that the thermal compound had worn out. After replacing the fan, without having reapplied any compound, my temperatures gravitate around 50 degrees while watching a video, which is a huge improvement. I will reapply paste when I have the chance to go down to the store to get some.