I have a problem with my Alienware 15, it randomly shuts down, there is no sign or blue screen, it just shuts downs

Hi gabriellmsls‌,

Try running an ePSA/Diagnostic test on the system, click  here to view a Dell article that explains how to run this test. Let me know if you receive any errors. 

Cooling fan clogged with dust bunnies can have this effect.

Vicious creatures those dust bunnies.

As Eimy says, run ePSA to look for basic problems outside of Windows. If that passes, access the Reliability Monitor report inside Windows, and look for entries around the time of the crashes/lockups.

I ran it, and it doesn't have any errors, just the battery that said it is getting near te end of its life, what should i do?

I'm experiencing the same but with 17R3; since new this has had random shutdowns for no reason - no dump files, nothing in the logs, no bluescreen, nothing in the reliability monitor. ePSA passes with no error codes.

What has changed is that this is now happening several times a day, usually if the system is idle for some time.

In some ways, this is good - maybe Dell will have something definite to work with but I'm dreading the consequences of any hardware replacement, unless I can do it myself.

hindesite wrote:

1. I'm experiencing the same but with 17R3;

2. since new this has had random shutdowns for no reason - no dump files, nothing in the logs, no bluescreen,

3. nothing in the reliability monitor.

4. ePSA passes with no error codes.

 

1. Such a general failure with so many possible causes. I would copy/paste above and start your own thread.

2. Hmm. Nothing is Over-Clocked or over-heating?

3. You should at least have "Improper Windows Shut-Down" errors. Are you sure you are looking in the right place?

4. Good.

Tesla1856 wrote:

hindesite wrote:

 

1. I'm experiencing the same but with 17R3;

 

2. since new this has had random shutdowns for no reason - no dump files, nothing in the logs, no bluescreen,

 

3. nothing in the reliability monitor.

 

4. ePSA passes with no error codes.

 

 

1. Such a general failure with so many possible causes. I would copy/paste above and start your own thread.

 

2. Hmm. Nothing is Over-Clocked or over-heating?

 

3. You should at least have "Improper Windows Shut-Down" errors. Are you sure you are looking in the right place?

 

4. Good.

(Wow, I really detest the new forum layout, editor and style. Makes it very hard to just follow the content, even if it looks more flash).

Anyhoo, thought I'd support the OP, because it may be the same problem. Or not. @gabriellmsls, would appreciate hearing if you get this resolved. I've been putting up with this for  a couple of years, lucky I have a 4 year warranty. Hope Alienware are around then...

Nothing overclocked, no load, no overheating, all temps are normal in XTU, no issues there.

Yeah, sure I get the improper shutdown errors, but the Windows system log shows nothing unusual before the reboot events in the log. System is set to write dump files, and has been tested as doing so, but never writes a dump file for these events.

Actually, I'd prefer a clear ePSA error, that would make things pretty clear cut.

All of the rather large number of issues that accompanied this system as new have been resolved, except this one.

Send me a private message with the service tag so I can assist you further. 

1. Good

2. No BSOD and no writing of crash-logs ... I used to think this ONLY meant hardware failure (like motherboard) OR not enough power. However, I've recently discovered a bad video driver can cause this also (see my Aurora-R6 crash thread). I hypothesize this is possible due to Intel's IGP video archeticture (most systems end-up having "hybrid graphics" these days).

3. I know what you mean. However, ePSA (or UEFI Diags on other machines) is really just a first step or hurdle to pass. I've even see a laptop with a bad motherboard pass a 12 hour UEFI -Diags test perfectly, but then fail the next test quickly or randomly crash in Windows.

hindesite wrote:

1. Nothing overclocked, no load, no overheating, all temps are normal in XTU, no issues there.

 

2. Yeah, sure I get the improper shutdown errors, but the Windows system log shows nothing unusual before the reboot events in the log. System is set to write dump files, and has been tested as doing so, but never writes a dump file for these events.

 

3. Actually, I'd prefer a clear ePSA error, that would make things pretty clear cut.