Hi nitsuaj,

As the system is shutting down intermittently, I would suggest you to run hardware diagnostics:

Follow the steps below to run hardware diagnostics.

1. Restart the computer.
2. Keep tapping the F12 key on the Dell Logo Screen.
3. From the One time boot menu select Diagnostics and Press Enter.
4. It runs a test on all the hardware components.
5. If it test fails please capture the error code and let me know the error code, I would tell you the next course of action.

In case the test passes, follow the next steps. Check in Safe Mode with Networking.

1. Restart the computer.
2. Keep tapping F8 on the Dell Logo Screen.
3. Once the computer enters Advanced Boot Option, select Safe Mode with Networking.
4. Press Enter.

Check if the computer is doing the same thing in safe mode with networking.

Also, refer this link for troubleshooting the fans and air vents: http://dell.to/101noJK

Please check the functionality of the fan and post the results.

Thank you very much for the reply

I ran the initial test and the laptop passed; I then ran the "advanced" test it offered and left the laptop alone since it said it would take more than 30 mins to complete and it had turned off again once I returned to it.

I'll now test if it still turns off in safemode as you suggested.

Rebooted in safe mode but it is still turning itself off randomly... That makes it 7 "crashes" today.

Does anyone else have any ideas??

Hasn't shut down in safe mode since that one, is that an indication of lower clocking = lower temperatures and so it is a heat problem??

Hi nitsuaj,

As the system is working fine in Safe mode with Networking, We can do a Clean boot to isolate the startup or service that is causing the issue. Follow the below mentioned steps for Clean boot:

1. Click “Start”, type “msconfig” and press enter to open the “System Configuration” utility.
2. In the “General Tab”, click “Selective startup”, and uncheck the “Load startup items” check box.
3. Click “Services” tab, check the box for “Hide all Microsoft services”, and then click “Disable all”.
4. Click “OK”, and then click “Restart”.

After the clean boot, if the issue does not occur, open “System Configuration” utility again and enable 3-4 startup items, restart the computer. Repeat this by enabling few startup items at a time and restart the computer. Similarly, repeat the same with “Services”. Make a note of the Startup item and Service which was causing the problem.

Kindly let me know the results. 

Ran a clean boot but it still shut down after a slightly longer time. Called dell support desk and the engineer has replaced the motherboard and checked the fan system - should be the solution. Thank you for your suggestions though! It helped the support desk diagnose the fault quickly.

Hi nitsuaj,

Thank you for the update, please write back to us if you need any further help.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdJTyxTKUA8

Error code 2000-0333 

Validation 42064

hi there :) im facing same problem with my dell laptop ? what have you done to resolve this issue ?