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You have been using your desktop computer for about a year, but you’ve found that the system will sometimes power off unexpectedly if you are working on a large spreadsheet or watching streaming videos. There does not appear to be any warning or message prior to the system shutting down. The shutdown always occurs when the computer is very busy; it does not shut down if the system is idle. Which of these would be the most likely cause of this issue?

A) The operating system is out of date

B) The fan is faulty

C) The video driver needs to be upgraded

D) The hard drive has reached capacity

E) The computer dislikes your choice in video.


The answer: B) The fan is faulty

A computer’s cooling system is an important part of your PC’s overall health. If the computer can’t cool itself, it will overheat and components will begin to fail. Many computers will force a shutdown to avoid causing any permanent damage to the CPU.

Want to know more? Watch “Installing and Configuring Cooling Systems.”

Every computer needs enough cooling to keep all components running at optimum efficiency. In this video, you’ll learn how to install a CPU fan, a computer case fan, and learn some best practices for maintaining optimal airflow through your computer.