Okay, this has been going on for about a week, but recently it's started happening all the time.
My computer will be going fine, it's not slow or anything, and just randomly it will shut off--the monitor will go black and I can't restart or do anything--however, the green light on both the monitor and the computer tower are still on, as if it's still turned on with power. I have to hold the button on the tower in to turn it off, and then back on for it to come back. It usually happens when I have a couple of things running--if I'm just on AIM, it never does this. But being on AIM and the internet, or AIM and running an anti-virus scanner, it will happen at some point. I know my computer isn't low on memory or RAM, and like I said, it isn't going slow at all. But I have no way of gauging when it's going to just shut off for no apparent reason, and it's annoying to not be able to have more than one thing running at a time...if anyone can help or knows what's wrong, I'd really appreciate it.

thats jsut sounds like the moniter is on the fritz honestly O-o

It could be a variety of things, I first thought it could just be a video card/monitor issue, but then again it might be overheating if it only happens with multiple programs running.

Get an air spray can, open your tower case and spray every vent on the case (especially the front vent), spray the cpu's heatsink and the video card's heatsink, then spray the hell out of the big fan in the back (I was shocked at how much crap actually accumulated in our computer). Just be careful with the angle of the spray can, don't want to hold it at a bad angle and spray that liquified condensed air, a person I knew actually busted a video card doing that. -_-

How do you open your tower case...? ^_^;

Usually there are a set of screws running along side the back edges of the computer. Once you unscrew those you can slide the two side panels off the tower to gain access to the inside. If its an older model case, there might be screws on the top also and the entire thing might be one big piece you'll have to slide off. If you have a new computer like a compaq or hewlett packard then the entire case might be locked in place and you can only remove one side of it. If thats the issue, then look for one big screw/turnnob on the back. Take that off and slide the one panel back and off. Those are usually a two part unscrewing.. err that doesn't make sense, but if thats what you have on your tower you'll figure it out.

Our older tower actually had a metallic backing to the front vent and I had to pop that bastard off it's plastic snaps.. I thought I almost broke it at first. ^_^:

Once you open up the case, make sure you touch the metal part of the case every time you shift around to get rid of any static.. one little shock will destroy a chip. :nod: And even tho its easier to access the inside of the computer with it laying on it's side, sit it up on a desk right side up to make sure you don't get the spray can at a bad angle. That liquid air is instant death to a comp. Heh, if the dust at the bottom is thick enough, you could always use a vacumme extension too. Vacuumes are pretty usefull on the front vents also. :nod:

oh, and of course make sure everything is unplugged from the back before doing any of this. cable modem cables can shock. Stupid time warner and their metal connector. *rubs fingers*