Alex Ruben
How To Resolve Event ID 6008 After an Unplanned Windows Shutdown
If your computer suddenly restarts out of nowhere, and you’re staring at Event ID 6008, you’re definitely not the only one. That error is basically Windows telling you, “Hey, something caused a shutdown that I didn’t expect.” Usually, it’s power-related stuff, hardware glitches, or weird system crashes. Been there. To troubleshoot this, here’s some practical stuff that actually worked on at least one setup, maybe more, who knows.
Step 1: Check for Windows Updates
Keeping Windows itself fresh is probably the easiest way to nip bugs in the bud. Outdated system files or bugs in old versions can cause shutdown weirdness. So, jump into Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update or just type Windows Update in the search bar and hit Enter. Then click Check for Updates. If there’s anything waiting, install it. Restart when prompted. It’s simple but surprisingly effective because Windows updates often include stability patches.
Step 2: Update Display Adapter Drivers
Graphics drivers are more often than you’d think behind these unexpected shutdowns—especially if your GPU or integrated graphics are acting up. To refresh those, go to Device Manager (search it, click on it). Expand Display Adapters. Right-click your display driver and select Update Driver. Pick Browse my computer for drivers. Then, choose Let me pick from a list of available drivers — sometimes Windows’ own driver database picks a better match than the automatic update did. Install whatever looks fresh and compatible, then reboot. On some setups this fails the first time, then works after a reboot — kind of weird, but hey, happens a lot.
Step 3: Run a System File Check
Corrupted or missing system files can cause all sorts of weird shutdowns. The good news is, Windows has a built-in tool called SFC that scans and tries to fix these. Here’s how: Open the Search Menu, type CMD. Right-click Command Prompt and pick Run as administrator. In that black window, punch in SFC /scannow and hit Enter. Grab a coffee and wait. If it finds issues, it’ll fix them automatically. Not sure why it works sometimes, but it does help clear out corrupt files which could mess with shutdowns.
Step 4: Restart Your Computer
This might sound obvious, but after updates and system scans, a restart is like a magic reset button. Restart your PC, give it a few minutes, and see if that smooths things out. Sometimes, Windows just needs a reboot to fully implement changes or clear stuck processes. On certain setups, resting the system clears out stuck drivers or temp glitches that cause shut downs.
Extra Tips & Common Issues
Here are some other quick things to check that might help prevent unexpected shutdowns:
- Check your Power & Sleep Settings—make sure your PC isn’t set to turn off or go to sleep unexpectedly. Inside Settings > System > Power & Sleep, tweak those timers.
- Hardware health matters. Run diagnostics on RAM (Windows Memory Diagnostic accessible via search) and check your SSD/HDD health using tools like CrystalDiskInfo. Maybe your drive is throwing errors that Windows isn’t catching right away.
- Malware or viruses can cause instability. Make sure your antivirus definitions are current, and run a quick security scan. Bad software could trigger shutdowns or force system crashes.
Summary
- Update Windows regularly to patch bugs.
- Keep graphics drivers fresh — especially if you notice artifacts or crashes.
- Run
SFC /scannowto fix system file issues. - Make sure your power settings are sane, and your hardware is healthy.
Hopefully this shaves off a few hours for someone. No promises, but these steps are pretty standard for cracking this kinda weirdness. Good luck with the troubleshooting — it’s a weird one, but at least it’s fixable.