PC won't shut down

I’ve been scrolling through these threads, but honestly, it’s the exact opposite of what I’m dealing with—other people's computers are shutting down on their own. We just picked this rig up yesterday, and the kids were shutting it down last night, but then my little guy tells me this morning he couldn't even get it to turn off. So I tested it myself today and yeah:

When you go to Start and hit shut down, the thing dies completely, but then after a few seconds, it just boots right back up on its own.
Tonight I’m probably just gonna have to pull the plug and kill the power until I figure out if the hardware is actually busted or if there’s some weird glitch going on. It's running Windows 8.1.

And here's another bizarre thing—this is a totally brand-new PC, yet when I try to log into something like Chase Bank, it already suggests my existing username, just like it does here on the forum...???

Maybe you could just tell them where you picked it up.

Regarding what you mentioned about it suggesting your username and password; that's just because you selected "remember me" when you logged in. Or, you might have your browser settings set up to automatically autofill forms with your saved login info

When I try to shut down, the PC powers off completely, but then after just a few seconds, it spontaneously kicks itself back on.
Tonight, I’ll probably have to pull the plug entirely until I figure out if this is a genuine hardware failure or just some weird software quirk... I'm running Windows 8.1.

This typically happens on systems where "Wake on LAN" is enabled. You might need to jump into the BIOS—hit F2 or whatever key your machine uses at startup—and look for an option to disable booting from the network. Basically, find where it says "enable boot from network" and switch it off.
Alternatively (I can't recall the exact path for Windows 8, though I remember it for Windows 7), you can head to the Control Panel, go to Network Adapters or Device Manager, locate the specific adapter—like a Realtek LAN adapter—and under its properties, uncheck "Allow this device to wake the computer."

So, I tried poking around in the settings yesterday. I fired up my PC just to get a quick look, but the second it started booting, it died on me. Total blackout. Took it down to the local repair shop, and they’re claiming it's some kind of factory defect. Now they've shipped it off to their main service center, so it'll be out of my hands for at least two weeks. 😢

It actually reminded me of this mess we had at home recently where the circuit breakers kept tripping. It happened right around the time my old rig crapped out on me. As far as I know, the outlet I was using wasn't the issue, but who knows? Maybe someone plugged a space heater into the same circuit in the other room...
Is it possible I'm not getting enough juice, and that's what's causing these hardware failures? I don't really know much about electrical stuff, but I'd hate to think I'm the one breaking my own gear.

Anything is possible at this point... you might want to get an electrician out there with a multimeter just to check if the current is actually flowing where it should be.

It is certainly possible.
Over the last three years, I've dealt with seven lightning strikes near my place and several power surges. Being at the end of the street, right next to a cluster of cell towers—and perhaps even a silver mine in my basement... 😵 I have seen plenty of anomalies caused by this, both personally and throughout the neighborhood.
Regardless, you should follow the advice provided above, not just for your PC, but for all your home electronics, and for your own sake.
By the way, when those cheap power supplies die, they often take other components down with them...

Man, I was really hoping that wasn't part of the equation.. 😢 Now all I have to worry about is some technician at the repair shop deciding the fault is on our end just to dodge the warranty. Everything is completely backwards...

feralowl said:Man, I was really hoping that wasn't part of the equation.. 😢 Now all I have to worry about is some technician at the repair shop deciding the fault is on our end just to dodge the warranty. Everything is completely backwards...

Don't worry, things will work out
Just follow the steps I suggested. If you happen to know a decent local electrician, maybe treat them to a good cup of coffee, a soda, or some cookies, and they'll take care of you.
And honestly, if they aren't specialists, they won't charge you an arm and a leg either.
Like Peter Morgan3 mentioned earlier, it's a smart move to check how your other appliances are behaving around the house.
If it turns out there actually is an issue with the electrical wiring, you can always grab a UPS to plug your computer into, and then you can finally just sit back and relax.

Noble? 🤣 🤣 🤣
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