Laptop getting warm & turning off?

DayDreamer

DayDreamer

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My wife is using my old laptop - about 5 years old - and you can hear the fan working and now & again the whole thing switches off. She leaves it a while then turns back on and all OK. Any suggestions if there is anything we can do (DIY) would be gratefully taken on board.
 
Good blow-out to remove dust, possible needs opening up to remove it all if it's got compressed over time.
 
It sounds as if it is overheating and shutting down to protect itself (and your wife!)

Take off the bottom cover and use a blower to flush out any dust. Don't use a paintbrush.
 
Ah yes, and even when switched and unplugged from the mains, don't put your fingers in there or poke around.
 
I also find that the fan blades get covered in sticky dust and this is preventing the fan from blowing/sucking sufficient air to cool the unit, think about cleaning this while you have the thing open!
 
Wow so many replies and so fast - I am very grateful and tomorrow I will get the screwdrivers out and see what I can do.

If you see no posts, from me, from tomorrow onwards I have probably electrocuted myself :nuts:
 
DayDreamer said:
Wow so many replies and so fast - I am very grateful and tomorrow I will get the screwdrivers out and see what I can do.

If you see no posts, from me, from tomorrow onwards I have probably electrocuted myself :nuts:
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Unplug it first and take the battery out. :lol: :thumbs:
 
My 1.5yr old machine has been displaying the same symptoms currently being addressed under warranty however, my previous machine which was from the same manufacturer never suffered with this type of issue.
 
Note Laptop make and model then go on you tube and look for disassembly instructions. If there are no video instructions then google for pictorial steps. Disassembling a laptop with no prior experience could be disastrous. Lots of fragile parts and small flimsy wires and ribbon cables in there but it really is best to get at those heatsinks inside and give them a proper clean.
 
If you do get it apart it may be worth taking the heatsink off the CPU, giving it a clean with some alcohol and re applying some thermal compound such as Artic Silver. If it's an old laptop the existing compuond might be dried out and useless by now.
 
Echo the comments on re applying some heat sink paste whilst it's apart. Very well worth doing!
 
Yv said:
:whistling: ....don't forget to remove the battery... :lol:


Nah, he is a sensible chap, most of the time ;)
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I'll ask Nod - he'll stick up for me :razz:
 
Well I laid out the laptop on my table, got an assortment of tools No not a jack hammer), found the YouTube video clip on 'how to', watched it, cacked my pants, then quickly put the tools all away, the laptop back in it's usual place and stated looking at Amazon for laptop cooling stands :nuts:

No way I could tackle that :nono:

No problem getting it apart but getting back together would be my problem :eek:
 
steve_lyt said:
the pound shops do cooling fans that sit under the laptop , they cost you guessed it £1 , powered by usb
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Yes sounds good to me :thumbs:
 
The problem is that your laptop isnt moving enough air in and through itself so the laptop cooler underneath wont really make much difference.
 
Get one of THESE and direct it into the air vents of the laptop - it won't do the same as a full clean but it'll be better than just using a dinky cooler.
 
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