Old Laptop - Weird Issues

[Magically]

I am having a little bit of trouble,

I have an old Dell Studio here which currently has Windows 7 installed on it. No one uses it and it was just lying around so I decided to try and install Ubuntu on it. How ever when turning on the laptop and booting it into Windows 7 I found that it just turns off randomly around the log in screen. I thought it wouldn't really matter so I put Ubuntu on a flash drive, went into the BIOS boot menu and selected it in order to install it. I got into the Ubuntu loading screen and the laptop turns off as well.
It can't be overheating since it's cool and I cleared all the dust out of it. Anyone know why it could be doing this?
 

Updates: 

So I figured it could be an issue with the hard-drive. Since I could go into BIOS but not into windows. I took the hard drive completely out and launched it. Still the same issue. I put the hard-drive back in and scanned it, I forgot what the process was called. Now the laptop stayed on a lot longer. I thought it was fixed, so I went ahead and tried to install Ubuntu again. I got into the progress nearly till completion when the laptop shut off again. 
I am close to giving up and am not sure what to do. I also tried running a memtest and it just turns off. This was after installing Ubuntu since it gave me an option at the start.

Update:

If I turn the laptop on now I can launch into Ubuntu, I can log in and reach the desktop. 

HOWEVER I can only leave it idle(so far I have left it idle for about an hour and no crashes yet) and do some basic tasks such as change desktop background and launch Firefox (if I keep it open to long or open a few pages the machine turns off). I am starting to think that a piece of unknown hardware causes the machine to crash when it is utilized. 

 

Current suggestions from people on other forums etc:

Re-partion the hard-drive and re-install Ubuntu.

 

Thanks so much to who ever helps me fix it, would be pretty cool to have this laptop running Ubuntu for family use. 

[QueenDemetria]

Are you sure that it isn't overheating? Just because its cool to the surface doesn't mean that its not burning up inside. Bad thermal paste or a malfunctioning fan can cause a computer to overheat, so you might want to check those. Also it could be your power button, since I am assuming this computer was used a lot. I had  a MSI that randomly shut of and the problem was the power button engaging while moving the PC around(or even typing). If you can, turn on the computer and unplug the power button(would try this after evaluating the thermals).

 

And so you get a notification: @Magically

[Magically]

Are you sure that it isn't overheating? Just because its cool to the surface doesn't mean that its not burning up inside. Bad thermal paste or a malfunctioning fan can cause a computer to overheat, so you might want to check those. Also it could be your power button, since I am assuming this computer was used a lot. I had  a MSI that randomly shut of and the problem was the power button engaging while moving the PC around(or even typing). If you can, turn on the computer and unplug the power button(would try this after evaluating the thermals).

 

And so you get a notification: @Magically

 

Thank you for the reply @QueenDemetria

 

I am sure it's not overheating ;l

Power button wise... it never used to have this issue when I put it away when I got a new laptop and it was no longer needed. Later I than took it out of storage and took the back off to check for dust and such in fans and thats when it started having the issue

[QueenDemetria]

 

Thank you for the reply @QueenDemetria

 

I am sure it's not overheating ;l

Power button wise... it never used to have this issue when I put it away when I got a new laptop and it was no longer needed. Later I than took it out of storage and took the back off to check for dust and such in fans and thats when it started having the issue

 

I'm not sure if its the power button, but it just reminds me of the issue I had with my MSI. Also when it turns off, are you running off of battery or is it plugged in? And what specific XPS model is it?

 

Also I only did the mention since I didn't quote your message. If I had quoted it you would have gotten a notification.

[Magically]

I'm not sure if its the power button, but it just reminds me of the issue I had with my MSI. Also when it turns off, are you running off of battery or is it plugged in? And what specific XPS model is it?

 

Also I only did the mention since I didn't quote your message. If I had quoted it you would have gotten a notification.

 

Im not saying it's not the power button either It just seems more logical for it to be something else from my past experiences with this machine. 

I am running it on power only, the battery has long been dead

It's a dell studio 14z

[Magically]

Have had it idle next to me the whole night without any crashes....

[Magically]

Might just re-partion the hard drive. Yay or nay?

[Magically]

I believe this issue has been resolved. The screws securing the CPU Chip down were loose. I think this is what caused the shut downs to happen

[SkimmyMcG]

I believe this issue has been resolved. The screws securing the CPU Chip down were loose. I think this is what caused the shut downs to happen

Sounds like that was the culprit.

[mark201200]

I believe this issue has been resolved. The screws securing the CPU Chip down were loose. I think this is what caused the shut downs to happen

remember if it's cool outside it's burning inside.