I have an HP desktop Product Number GN556AA#ABA and I have a OfficeJet J4580 Product # CB780A-238. I run a business off this computer which requires me to scan in multiple documents. When I use the feeder on the printer to scan in more than 5 pages or so, the computer will just shut down during scanning. It doesn't go through the shutdown process, it just shuts off. I called HP and sat on the phone with their printer tech support for 4 hours while they tried to find the issue. They completely uninstalled the printer software and reinstalled it, and that still didn't work so they blamed it on the computer, but the computer techs said it's impossible the computer is causing this. Then the HP printer tech said that it may be that I don't have enough free RAM space and the computer is shutting down while trying to hold the temporary files before they get saved into my computer???

Is this true, and if so how do I fix it?

While it is possible to run out of RAM space, Windows compensates for that by using the Page File on your hard disk. So if you are running out of free "disk" space (not RAM space) then your system may lock up. Windows may "spool" files to disk too - at least it does with printing, I would suspect something similar with scanning.

Can you fax large documents? If the document is less than 5 pages, no problems?

How much free disk space do you have? How much RAM do you have? Have you scanned for malware?

Yes I can fax 10 pages or more with no problems, and I can make 10 or more copies at a time with no problems. It only happens while scanning....and it seems to be getting worse. When the problem started it would happen after I scanned 7 or more pages, and now today it's shutting down after 4 pages.

I don't know where or how to check my free disk or RAM space or how to check for malware.

or how to check for malware

If your computer is connected to the Internet, or to a network with other computers with Internet access, then your computer needs some anti-malware program. This does not sound like malicious activity, but it always a good idea to make sure your system is not infected. Please read my sticky, Practicing Safe Computing. And if you think your computer might be infect, please note the "Malware Removal Notice".

If you right click on Computer and click Properties, it will show you how much installed memory (RAM) you have. If your computer is setup with standard defaults, then your boot drive, typically C drive, is the important one.

For your disk space, if you double click to open Computer, your drives will be displayed and you should be able see how much free space you have.