My Gateway Laptop Keeps Restarting After Pressing the Power Button
What usually happens after you press the "Power" button on a computer is that it shuts down. Most Gateway laptops hibernate or go into Sleep mode., which can be identified by a glowing ring around the Power" button. If your laptop turns back on without any interaction from you, it doesn't necessarily mean something is wrong.
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Hardware Failure
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Your laptop quietly goes through a Power-on Self Test every time you power it up. The BIOS conducts the test on all hardware needed for a successful boot, including the RAM, hard drive and CPU. If any component fails the test, an error code should display on the screen. You may only hear a beep while the laptop restarts repeatedly. Each time, the POST fails and the restarts continue until you remove or replace the piece of hardware causing the error. A faulty battery or power adapter may also be a possible cause, though neither is detected during the POST.
Wake Timers
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Wake timers are used to wake the computer to perform a task. Your computer usually skips the scheduled event when it is turned off, sometimes resuming the task during the next start-up. If wake timers are enabled, your laptop turns on by itself when necessary. You can avoid this by shutting the computer down through the Start menu instead of using hibernate or standby. Alternatively, click "Start | Control Panel | Hardware and Sound | Power Options | Change Plan Settings" and set "Allow Wake Timers" to "Disable."
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Blue Screen Errors
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Blue screen error messages are displayed whenever a fatal error occurs. The error messages can be caused by a number of things, including viruses, bad drivers or failing hardware. Your computer shuts down to limit the damage caused by the error, followed by the blue screen. If Automatic Restarts are enabled, your computer may restart before you realize what has happened. Click "Start | Control Panel | System and Maintenance | System | Advanced System Settings" and click the "Advanced" tab. Click "Settings" and remove the check next to "Automatically Restart." The next time a critical error occurs, you'll have time to read the information provided and diagnose the problem.
Overheating
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All computers are susceptible to damage from internal heat, especially laptops. This is due to the way the devices are designed. Most of the hardware is compacted into a small space. Newer CPUs slow down when too much heat is detected. Once the temperature reaches a certain threshold, the laptop will shut off without warning. The CPU fan may be broken if it happens immediately after pressing the Power button. If the restarts occur after a longer period of use, clear the vents on the bottom using a can of compressed air.
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