My three year old computer just suddenly shut off

Did it power back on?

Might be just a power fluctuation. The option to boot into Safe Mode is normal when Windows detects that it was unexpectedly shut down. You're probably fine.

ETA: If this starts happening frequently you may consider getting a APS - that's essentially hooking up your computer to a battery that in turn is plugged into an outlet. That will smooth out any power surges better even than your normal power supply and it gives you some operating time off the battery if you lose electrical power.

Sudden power-offs (which you are able to power on again) are typically caused by either the CPU or power supply overheating.

Run it with the side panel of the case off, and watch your CPU and PSU fans (to see if they work). Download CPUID HWMonitor and monitor temperatures.

Thanks for the help, can't find anything wrong yet, been monitoring but, it just happened again. Same thing sudden power off.

when was he last time you blasted the dust out of it?

kinda hard to cool off a cpu with a layer of dust covering it

If you really verified CPU temps are normal, then verify power supply fan is working.

Actually found out what was the actual problem... my power surge protector was going bad. Got a new one, problem is fixed :D

Thanks!

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nb4westom

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That is his bat signal.

He's a crusader, all right. I can't remember a time when he wasn't around. Google /"w_tom" surge/ to see how far he really goes back. He's pretty famous, actually. That said, my favorite guy from back in the day has to be Archimedes Plutonium. That guy was a real hoot, while westom is more tedious than anything.

I don't know anything about his background or why he's been fixated on this topic for so many years. I do think he's sincere in his preaching and probably driven by the belief he's the only sane man in an insane world.