So here's the deal. I'm using XP. My computer has started to turn off (and not reboot) randomly for the past couple of months. I can be doing anything from writing a paper. Watching something on Winamp and playing solitaire. Listening to music. There is no error message. I've run Norton scans, and I've even gone to PCpitstop.com and run tests there. I'm not sure what to do or what the problem could be. Oh and if I try to turn it on a few seconds after it's shut down, it starts to boot up, but just turns off again. I usually have to wait a few minutes or more in order to use the computer for longer periods of time.

it's either a bad power supply or an overheating system

Hello and welcome to Techspot.

Sounds like an overheating problem.

Open your case, and make sure all your fans are working ok.

Clean out any dust, and debris, especially from the fans and heatsinks.

Remove the heatsink from your cpu, and clean off the old thermal pad/paste using a little isopropyl alcohol. reapply some new thermal paste, and reattach the heatsink.

Look HERE for instructions on how to apply thermal paste.

Check your system temperatures. Download the free Everest programme from HERE

Regards Howard