Laptop gettin Hot..Hot........Hot

[sue1952]

I have to keep turning my laptop off because it keeps getting really hot. It has switched itself off before now because of overheating. As you can guess I am not very computer savvy. Can anyone help as to reason please and solution......................Thank you.....................Sue

[thatguy]

Two probable reasons

1. Failing fan. Normally you'll hear a rattling before the fan fails ( the bearings tend to be the component that goes)
2. Dust buildup. As laptops like PCs rely on airflow for cooling, they end up with a lot of dust inside. This can clog up fans and vents. Really needs disassembly to fix, but spraying compressed air into vents and fans can help to alleviate the problem for a while.

Other than this, the only other relatively common problem is that the battery or a power regulator is seriously overheating, but the two reasons above are most common.

Try the compressed air at first to see if it helps, but don't be tempted to get a vacuum cleaner to suck dust out, the static generated can fry your laptop.

[sue1952]

Oh dear ........ compressed air? What could I use for this? What about an empty puffer bottle would that have enough pressure in it? I think I may just have to take it to a computer hospital . Would it be very expensive to remedy thatguy? what do you think?...................Sue

[VapingBad]

Air duster

[ronaldo]

pound shop sells cans of air duster one can is more than enough take battery off first unplug power supply a roll of kitchen roll and a good blast do keyboard as well to stop all those sticking keys then a good rub with the kitchen roll 20 mins to air dry then jobs a good un

[VapingBad]

Jul 26, 2014 14:17:15 GMT ronaldo said:

pound shop sells cans of air duster one can is more than enough take battery off first unplug power supply a roll of kitchen roll and a good blast do keyboard as well to stop all those sticking keys then a good rub with the kitchen roll 20 mins to air dry then jobs a good un

I didn't know they did them, have to pick up a couple next time I pass.

[ronaldo]

I always buy them from there if yours doesn't do them send me a message on Wednesday and I will pick you a couple up if I get near ours I can bring them to vapefest

[sue1952]

Thank you so much ronaldo and VapingBad. I feel the bus pass coming out and a trip to town is in order . I am very greatful for the help..............................Sue

[djs]

Can you see the fan vent? (on the side). Put your ear to it. Can you hear/feel anything? (It doesn't necessarily make lots of noise all the time, but should gently work with the occasional big burst)

No messing around with compressed air is going to fix a dead fan.

[vinny41]

Is it a HP laptop and is it placed on a desk or on your lap

[Super-Shiny]

sue1952 the BIOS is more than likely set to a certain temperature and once it reaches that temperature the computer will shut down as a safety measure, there is software out there like this that can tell you if your fan is working and at what temperature.

As above try the compressed air and if that fails replace the fan/s.

[sue1952]

It is an HP laptop vinny41 and I use it on a laptop tray. Is that the problem?..............Thank you @djs , yes I can hear the fan when it starts up, quite noisy really and @super-Shiny do I just download the Speed Fan thingy and that will tell me what's happening? Is it safe? Thank you so much...............Sue

[vinny41]

Hi Sue, Hp are quite well known for over heating, when you say a laptop tray do you mean a laptop cooler which has built in air vents and fans and connects to your laptop via usb sometime like this
www.amazon.co.uk/Zalman-ZM-NC3-Ultra-Cooler-Laptop/dp/B0091CVSYU
most HP air vents are on the bottom of the laptop so the laptop needs somewhere for the air to go, if you are using just a laptop tray without air vents and built in fans this might be your problem.
I would go for the compressed air , replacing the fan sounds like it will be expensive as you will as that will require someone to open up your laptop unless you know someone that can do that for you

forget to mention laptop coolers go from as about £1 +  postage on that well known auction site

[sue1952]

@vinny.......no not as upmarket as that one , I,m going to get a can of the air duster on Monday and give it a go. Other than that I think a new laptop might be in order. I use my tablet when the laptop gets too hot and I have to switch it off but the writing is so small for these old eyes................Thank you for explaning to me.......................Sue

[Clivia]

just be really careful sue1952 - don't have it switched on unattended - a lot of house fires are caused by over heated laptops - go to pc world or curries and have it checked