My computer crashes (i.e. screen turns black, computer shuts down) when I play Minecraft after 5-10 minutes. Why is this happening and what can I do?

Question

Disclaimer: I don't know much about computers so I may need things to be explained as if I am 12.

I downloaded Minecraft for my Windows laptop about two weeks ago. Prior to downloading, I looked up the necessary stats to run Minecraft and my computer was well above the preferred stats in all categories. I've been playing Minecraft for the past two weeks without trouble. Yesterday, while I was playing Minecraft (some other apps were also open), my computer froze briefly, then shut down entirely. The screen goes black and the entire computer shuts down. I have to manually turn it back on and it reboots. Since this first happened, the computer has continued to shut down 5-10 minutes into me playing Minecraft no matter what apps are open or otherwise. Once, the computer shut down again immediately following a previous shut down even when Minecraft was not open - but mostly this has been limited to Minecraft.

Answer 1

Hi. I'm David, and I'm happy to help you.

---

This behavior can occur for several reasons. It is necessary to investigate.

---

Please do the following:

Export and share the log for analysis:

1. Press Windows + X and select Event Viewer;
2. Expand Windows Logs and select System;
3. In the Actions panel on the right, select Filter Current Log;
4. In Event level, check the boxes Critical, Warning, and Error and click on Ok;
5. Again, in the Actions panel, select Save Filtered Log File As and save in an easily accessible place.

Then, upload the file to the cloud (OneDrive), choose to share it, and get the link.

Post the link to the file here so I can have a look.

---

I await your reply.

Answer 2

It sounds like your computer is experiencing some serious issues when playing Minecraft, which could be related to a few different factors. Here are some potential reasons and solutions:

1. Overheating: When you play games like Minecraft, your computer's hardware (like the CPU and GPU) works harder, which can cause it to overheat. If the temperature gets too high, the computer may shut down to prevent damage. Make sure your laptop is well-ventilated and not blocked by dust or other objects. You can also use a cooling pad to help keep it cool.
2. Power Supply Issues: If your laptop's power supply isn't providing enough power, it might shut down unexpectedly. Ensure that your charger is working properly and that the battery is in good condition.
3. Driver Problems: Sometimes, outdated or corrupted drivers can cause crashes. Make sure your graphics drivers are up to date. You can usually do this through the device manager or the manufacturer's website.
4. Software Conflicts: Other applications running in the background might conflict with Minecraft. Try closing unnecessary programs before starting the game to see if that helps.
5. Hardware Issues: If there's a problem with your hardware, like faulty RAM or a failing hard drive, it could cause your computer to crash. You can run diagnostics to check for hardware issues.
6. Windows Updates: Make sure your Windows operating system is up to date, as updates can fix bugs and improve performance.

If the problem persists, consider reaching out to a professional for help, as they can diagnose the issue more thoroughly.

---

References:

• Advanced troubleshooting for Event ID 41: "The system has rebooted without cleanly shutting down first"
• Bug checks (stop code errors)