QUOTE (Brendon @ Sep 7 2009, 04:30 AM)

Elaine,
How hot is the weather where you are, and how well ventilated and dust-free is the inside of your computer?
It might well be worth checking, because unexplained shut-downs after a time running could well be caused by your machine's processor getting too hot and shutting down to protect itself.
Especially if the machine stands on the floor, any fluff nearby can get sucked inside and blown onto the heatsink where it can block the airflow quite efficiently. [I can show photos]
Get someone familiar with computer innards to check it. You might be horrified. Don't clean it yourself without expert advice.
Hi, Brendon,
Yes that has happened to me and a friend who knows computers gave it a good clean and showed me how to do it. I can leave it on for hours at the moment, just ticking over, but it does it only when I am trying to burn my VCD. I try it as soon as it boots up, when I know it is fairly cool, but it still shuts down. I will have a go at cleaning out the dust again, but if you think of anything else might be causing it, I'd appreciate it. Thanks for your reply and helping hand!

Elaine