Sudden reboots and sometimes freezing issues on my ASUS TUF GAMING A15 Laptop

Question

Hey everybody,

I just purchased a used ASUS TUF GAMING A15 Laptop, and i'm already facing issues with it, as is reboots out of nowhere only when charger plugged in, every time it does it i check the event viewer and i find Kernell-Power 41 (critical).

For the specs, it's a Ryzen 9 4900H CPU, RTX 2060 GPU and 16 GB Dual-RAM set (DDR5).

What could be the problem? Thanks in advance guys!

Answer 1

I look forward to your feedback!

Answer 2

Hi! Restarting issues can be a problem with Windows or the laptop's hardware (a defect in some component). If the problem only occurs when you connect the charger, it could be a problem with the charger, charging circuit, charging connector...

If the laptop is under warranty, I recommend that you claim the warranty. High-performance laptops overheat considerably and are prone to problems if maintenance is not done correctly, in addition to being expensive. That's why I recommend claiming the warranty.

To help identify the problem, check if any minidump or MEMORY.dmp files were generated. Also, attach the Event Viewer log.

1. Press the WINDOWS + R keys > Type "%windir%" (without quotes).
2. Upload the MEMORY.DMP file (if available) > Open the Minidumps folder > Upload all files.
3. Press WINDOWS + X > Select "Event Viewer" > Expand Windows Logs tab (Left Side).
4. Right-click the "System" log > Save Events As > Put the log name of "System" and upload.

Upload all files to OneDrive.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/upload-photos-and-files-to-onedrive-b00ad3fe-6643-4b16-9212-de00ef02b586#

When uploading, share the files via a link. The steps are explained in the tutorial below.

• Don't forget to grant access to whoever has the link.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/share-onedrive-files-and-folders-9fcc2f7d-de0c-4cec-93b0-a82024800c07

Answer 3

Kernel-Power 41 indicates Windows detected an unexpected/dirty shutdown, not the root cause itself. Based on the provided information and documentation, focus on hardware and power-related causes, especially since the issue occurs only when the charger is plugged in.

Recommended checks and steps:

1. Check for power and battery issues

• Because reboots happen only on AC power, suspect:
  • Faulty or underpowered AC adapter
  • Power delivery/charging circuitry issues
• If possible, test with a different original ASUS-compatible charger with the correct wattage.
• Avoid using third‑party or lower‑wattage adapters.

2. Check for overheating

• Sudden shutdowns under power can be caused by thermal protection.
• Use the laptop’s built‑in tools or OEM utilities to monitor CPU/GPU temperatures while on AC.
• Ensure vents and fans are clean and unobstructed.

3. Disable overclocking / performance tuning

• Event ID 41 scenarios often involve instability from overclocking or aggressive performance profiles.
• On a used gaming laptop, previous owner may have:
  • Enabled overclocking or “Turbo/Performance” modes in OEM tools.
  • Changed power/voltage settings in BIOS or vendor utilities.
• Reset BIOS to defaults and disable any overclocking or performance-boost profiles.

4. Check memory and basic hardware health

• Event ID 41 with random restarts/freezes commonly points to hardware instability:
  • Run a memory diagnostic to verify RAM health and configuration.
  • Ensure both RAM modules are properly seated and matched (same speed/spec).

5. Check for Event ID 41 details and related events

• In Event Viewer → System log, open the Kernel-Power 41 events:
  • If BugcheckCode and PowerButtonTimestamp are 0, this often indicates power loss or hardware reset rather than a clean bugcheck.
• Look for:
  • Event ID 46 from volmgr (“Crash dump initialization failed!”) – if present, verify pagefile/dump configuration.
  • Event ID 6008 (unexpected shutdown) and other critical errors around the same time.

6. Verify power supply and environment

• For laptops, unexpected power loss scenarios include:
  • AC adapter unplugged or intermittent.
  • Power outlet or surge protector issues.
• Try a different wall outlet and avoid daisy‑chained power strips.

7. If running as a VM (unlikely here) or with special management tools

• For completeness: in Hyper‑V VMs, heartbeat or ASR features can trigger restarts if the system is unresponsive. On a physical gaming laptop, this is usually not applicable, but any OEM “auto‑recovery” or watchdog tools could behave similarly.

If, after these checks, the system still reboots only on AC power, the most likely causes are:

• Failing AC adapter or DC‑in/power circuitry on the motherboard.
• Hardware instability under full power/boost states (CPU/GPU or VRM issue).

In that case, hardware service (warranty or repair shop) is recommended, as these components are not user‑serviceable.

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References:

• Advanced troubleshooting for Event ID 41: "The system has rebooted without cleanly shutting down first"
• Troubleshoot unexpected reboots using system event logs
• Troubleshooting Windows unexpected restarts and stop code errors