Windows 11 Win 11 25H2 sudden shutdown - no warning

[HP8000Elite]

I have experienced at least two sudden shutdowns recently - almost as if the power was switched off.
Interestingly, when I start up again, the computer returns to where I was when it shut down.
When I shut down the computer normally, I get a "going into standby mode" although I haven't set it up to do this.

Any suggestions?

 

[ChatGPT]

Hi HP8000Elite — the clue that it comes back to where you were suggests the PC may not be truly “shutting off”; it may be entering Sleep / Hybrid Sleep / Hibernate, or losing power and then recovering from the hibernation file.
The “going into standby mode” message is often from the monitor, not Windows — it usually means the monitor has lost the video signal.

Start with these checks​

1. Check what Windows thinks happened​

1. Right-click Start.
2. Open Event Viewer.
3. Go to Windows Logs > System.
4. Look around the exact shutdown time for these events:
   • Kernel-Power, Event ID 41 — unexpected power loss/crash.
   • Power-Troubleshooter, Event ID 1 — system resumed from sleep.
   • Kernel-Power, Event ID 42 — system is entering sleep.
   • User32, Event ID 1074 — a program/user initiated shutdown or restart.

If you see Event ID 41, suspect power supply, overheating, motherboard, or a hard crash.
If you see Event ID 42 / Power-Troubleshooter, suspect Windows power/sleep settings.

---

2. Check power-button and sleep settings​

1. Open Control Panel.
2. Go to Hardware and Sound > Power Options.
3. Click Choose what the power buttons do.
4. Check these settings:
   • When I press the power button
   • When I press the sleep button
5. Set both temporarily to Do nothing or Shut down, not Sleep.
6. Click Save changes.

This rules out a sticky power button, keyboard sleep key, or case button issue.

---

3. Disable Hybrid Sleep as a test​

1. Open Control Panel.
2. Go to Power Options.
3. Click Change plan settings next to your active plan.
4. Click Change advanced power settings.
5. Expand Sleep.
6. Set:
   • Sleep after = Never temporarily
   • Allow hybrid sleep = Off
   • Hibernate after = Never
7. Click Apply.

Expected result: if the “shutdowns” stop, the issue is likely a sleep/hibernate trigger rather than a true power failure.

---

4. Temporarily turn off Fast Startup​

Fast Startup can make shutdown/resume behavior confusing.

1. Open Control Panel.
2. Go to Power Options > Choose what the power buttons do.
3. Click Change settings that are currently unavailable.
4. Untick Turn on fast startup.
5. Click Save changes.
6. Restart the PC once.

You can re-enable it later if this makes no difference.

---

5. Run these power diagnostics​

Open Command Prompt as Administrator and run:

powercfg /lastwake
powercfg /requests
powercfg /a

Also useful:
powercfg /systemsleepdiagnostics
That should generate a report showing whether Windows is entering sleep/hibernate unexpectedly.

---

Hardware things to check​

Because you describe it as “almost as if the power was switched off,” also check:

1. Make sure the power cable is firmly seated at the PC and wall/socket.
2. If using a power strip or UPS, try a different wall outlet temporarily.
3. Check CPU temperatures using a tool such as HWMonitor or HWiNFO.
4. Make sure fans are spinning and vents are not clogged.
5. If this is the older HP 8000 Elite, the PSU and motherboard capacitors are worth suspecting if Event Viewer shows Kernel-Power 41.

Important: If you open the case, power off the machine, unplug it, and discharge static first.

---

Please post back with these details​

1. Do you see Kernel-Power Event ID 41 at the time of the shutdown?
2. Is this a desktop HP 8000 Elite or a different machine using that username?
3. Does it happen while idle, under load, or randomly?
4. Does the screen say “going into standby mode” immediately, or only after Windows has already gone dark?
5. Are you using Windows 11 25H2 Insider/preview, or a normal release build?

Those answers will tell us whether to focus on Windows power management or hardware power loss.

 

[HP8000Elite]

Cannot find "allow hybrid sleep"; my other option is Allow Wake Timer which is set to enable.

 

[ChatGPT]

Hi HP8000Elite — that’s OK. If Allow hybrid sleep is missing, Windows is usually telling us that Hybrid Sleep isn’t currently available on that machine/configuration.
Common reasons:

• Hibernate is disabled
• The PC uses a different sleep model
• The BIOS/firmware does not expose that sleep state
• A driver or power policy has removed that option

1. First check available sleep states​

1. Right-click Start.
2. Open Terminal/Admin or Command Prompt/Admin.
3. Run:

powercfg /a
Please copy/paste the result here if you can. It will say which sleep states are available and why others are not.

---

2. Try enabling Hibernate​

Hybrid Sleep depends on Hibernate being available.

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
2. Run:

powercfg /hibernate on

1. Reboot.
2. Go back to:

Control Panel > Power Options > Change plan settings > Change advanced power settings > Sleep

1. Check whether Allow hybrid sleep now appears.

If it still doesn’t appear, don’t worry — we can continue without it.

---

3. Disable wake timers as a test​

Allow Wake Timers does not usually cause the PC to suddenly power off, but it can cause unexpected sleep/wake behavior, so it’s worth testing.

1. Open Power Options.
2. Click Change plan settings.
3. Click Change advanced power settings.
4. Expand Sleep.
5. Set Allow wake timers to:

Disable

1. Click Apply and OK.

You can undo this later by setting it back to Enable.

---

4. Temporarily disable Sleep and Hibernate​

For testing, set these to Never:

Sleep after: Never
Hibernate after: Never

If Hibernate after is not visible, that’s another sign hibernation is disabled or unsupported.

---

5. Check if Windows is sleeping or losing power​

Please also check Event Viewer around the shutdown time:

1. Right-click Start.
2. Open Event Viewer.
3. Go to:

Windows Logs > System

1. Look for these events near the time it happened:

Kernel-Power Event ID 41
Kernel-Power Event ID 42
Power-Troubleshooter Event ID 1
User32 Event ID 1074

Most important:

• Event ID 41 = Windows saw an unexpected power loss/crash.
• Event ID 42 = Windows intentionally entered sleep.
• Power-Troubleshooter Event ID 1 = Windows resumed from sleep.
• User32 Event ID 1074 = software/user initiated shutdown or restart.

Next thing to post back​

Please post the output of:
powercfg /a
Also let us know whether Event Viewer shows Kernel-Power 41 at the time of the sudden shutdown. That will tell us whether this is likely a Windows power setting issue or a hardware/power issue.

 

[HP8000Elite]

While I was in this forum, the computer shut down!!
It wouldn't restart, so I started from scratch.
I inspected the CPU heat exchanger and it was clogged - I haven't cleaned it for at least a year.
After I had cleaned it , it did start up again.
Then - the logitech Silent Touch wireless keyboard refused to work. And the logitech mouse battery expired!
Now I can't use the mouse to select text on this site.
I am about to reload the driver for the keyboard - I am currently using the usb keyboard to type.

 

[ChatGPT]

Hi HP8000Elite — that sounds very much like an overheating/thermal shutdown, especially since the CPU heat exchanger was clogged and the PC would not restart until after cleaning.

1. Treat the shutdown as a heat issue first​

Before worrying about drivers, I’d do this:

1. Shut the PC down.
2. Unplug power.
3. Check that the CPU fan spins freely.
4. Check that all vents and the PSU fan area are clear.
5. Start the PC with the case open briefly and confirm the CPU fan actually runs.
6. Watch temperatures with a tool such as HWiNFO/HWMonitor, or check the BIOS/UEFI hardware monitor if available.

If the heatsink was removed or loosened during cleaning, you should replace the thermal paste. Old paste plus dust can easily cause sudden power-off behavior.

2. Check the Event Viewer later​

Once stable, check:
Event Viewer > Windows Logs > System
Look for:

Kernel-Power Event ID 41
Thermal-Event
WHEA-Logger

Kernel-Power 41 after this kind of shutdown usually means Windows lost power unexpectedly, which fits overheating or PSU protection.

3. Don’t reload the Logitech driver yet​

The keyboard/mouse issue may simply be from the interrupted shutdown, receiver reset, flat battery, or USB port issue.
Try this first:

1. Replace the mouse battery.
2. Replace or reseat the keyboard batteries.
3. Remove the Logitech USB receiver.
4. Plug it into a rear USB port directly on the PC, not a hub.
5. Wait 30 seconds.
6. Restart Windows.
7. Test the wireless keyboard and mouse again.

If that fails, then reinstall Logitech software. Use the correct one for your receiver type: Logitech Options+, Logitech Unifying Software, or Logi Bolt, depending on the keyboard/mouse model.

4. For the site text-selection problem​

Since you are using a USB keyboard now, try:

1. Press Esc once.
2. Click inside the page.
3. Try selecting text again.
4. Refresh the page with Ctrl + R.
5. If still stuck, close and reopen the browser.

A failed/half-connected mouse can cause odd selection behavior.

Main takeaway​

Your sudden shutdowns are now most likely thermal, not Windows power settings. I’d verify temperatures and fan operation before doing much else. If it shuts off again suddenly, stop using it until cooling is confirmed, because repeated thermal shutdowns can damage hardware.

 

[HP8000Elite]

re the keyboard, the first thing I did was test the batteries - they showed 1.5V +, which caused more frustration
Following your suggestion I fitted brand new batteries and the keyboard now works.

 

[ChatGPT]

Great — glad the keyboard is working again.
That battery result is a common trap: a battery can show 1.5V+ with no load, but still fail when the keyboard actually draws current. Wireless keyboards can be picky because weak cells may suffer a voltage drop under load.

Suggested next steps​

1. Keep the old batteries aside and don’t reuse them in the keyboard.
2. If the mouse is also Logitech wireless, fit a fresh battery there too.
3. Plug the Logitech receiver into a rear USB port directly on the PC if possible.
4. Once the input devices are stable, return to the bigger issue: CPU cooling.

Given the clogged heatsink and sudden power-off, I’d still check CPU temperatures and fan operation. If it shuts down again, stop using it until cooling is confirmed. Replacing the thermal paste may be worthwhile if it hasn’t been done in years.

 

[tooltyme007]

Check into some very interesting videos on youtube about windows shutdowns by some seemingly credible sources.

 

[ChatGPT]

Hi HP8000Elite — the fact that it wouldn’t restart until after you cleaned the clogged CPU heat exchanger strongly points to a thermal shutdown rather than a normal Windows shutdown or driver issue.

Main priority: confirm cooling is now safe​

Please do these before spending time on keyboard drivers:

1. Shut the PC down.
2. Unplug the power cable.
3. Check that the CPU fan spins freely.
4. Check that the heatsink/heat exchanger is properly seated.
5. Make sure all vents and the PSU fan area are clear.
6. Start the PC and confirm the CPU fan actually runs.
7. Check temperatures in BIOS/UEFI if available, or in Windows with a monitor such as HWiNFO or HWMonitor.

Important: If the heatsink was moved, removed, or loosened while cleaning, you should consider replacing the thermal paste. Poor paste contact can cause sudden power-offs very quickly.

Check Event Viewer when stable​

After it has run for a while, check:
Event Viewer > Windows Logs > System
Look near the shutdown time for:

Kernel-Power Event ID 41
Thermal-Event
WHEA-Logger

If you see Kernel-Power 41, that usually means Windows did not shut down cleanly — it lost power or crashed suddenly. That fits overheating or PSU protection.

Logitech keyboard/mouse issue​

I would not reload the driver first. A sudden power-off can confuse USB receivers, and weak batteries can test OK with no load but still fail in use.
Try this order:

1. Fit brand new batteries in the keyboard and mouse.
2. Remove the Logitech USB receiver.
3. Plug it into a rear USB port directly on the PC, not a hub.
4. Wait 30 seconds.
5. Restart Windows.
6. Test the keyboard and mouse again.

If it still fails, then reinstall the correct Logitech software:

Logitech Options+
Logitech Unifying Software
Logi Bolt

The correct one depends on the exact keyboard/mouse/receiver model.

Mouse cannot select text on this site​

Try the simple browser/input reset first:

1. Press Esc.
2. Click once in a blank area of the page.
3. Refresh with Ctrl + R.
4. Try a different USB port or a wired mouse temporarily.
5. Close and reopen the browser if selection still fails.

Bottom line​

The shutdown problem is most likely hardware/cooling-related now. The keyboard/mouse issue is probably secondary. I’d verify CPU temperatures and fan operation first, because repeated thermal shutdowns can damage the processor or motherboard.