Extreme frustration. Please help.

[batema]

Hi. The number of times I set up a run of images only to find the computer has shut down is very annoying. I have my power off settings to never but I think it must be when The computer does an update and must restart. I don't know what is going on because I am not connected to the internet. Please help as instead of getting 5 hours of data I got 1 hour.
Mark.

[Hans Tucker]

Mark, you might want to give more details on the hardware and software that you are using. Even though you are not connected to the internet does the computer still initiate or go looking for a software update. Is there any messages when you start up the computer after a failed session?

If it happens after 1 hour why not go through the routine, with camera disconnected, during the day and watch what the computer is actually doing.

[multiweb]

Wow! That's annoying. First thing I'd look for, assuming it's a windows OS, is that windows updates is disabled. Then check your power settings, screen saver, hibernating, etc... all off. Finally check if it didn't crash. Open the event viewer and see the system logs.

[LewisM]

Turn off updates altogether - for everything. Doesn't matter if connected to internet or not - turn them off. Check power saving options so that it isn't hibernating or sleeping. Close all other operations and background programs non-essential to the regular computer operation and to the imaging.

I leave internet/WIFI on all the time - doesn't make any difference if updates are turned off (then again I have never updated Win 7 since new...)

[glend]

Agreed, disable all update functions, power saving modes, etc and if Win 8 shut off all the help functions, animations, run a registry cleaner on it, etc to improve performance. Shut off any auto viral scanner udates and scan time setting. Is the computer running on battery or AC? If battery it maybe too old to support extended use.
I see from your equipment list that you need the computer for image capture (unlike a DSLR), and guide management. I assume your ASCOM to the EQ6, and probably have a planetarium app running as well. Eliminate anything you don't absolutely need to run. Mnimise disk storage activity if you can, write your files to SD if you can, uses less power.

[gregbradley]

I have had that happen 2 nights in a row at 3am which is when updates is the default updating schedule.

So turn it off. Also there is a power saving mode to turn off the hard disk make sure that is disabled as well.

Microsoft don't like you turning off automatic updates so I am not sure with Wins 8 (its new to me) how successful it is to turn it off. I heard in Wins 10 you can't turn it off.

Microsoft did not advance much from XP and its more complication, less choice, more adware embedded in a new computer than before.

Greg.

[rogerg]

You could also look in Event Viewer to look at what was going on before it shut down, to identify the cause of the shutdown and ensure it was in fact windows update (99.9% likely it was!).