laptop overheating ?

Question

I am having problems with a dell loptop it keeps over heating .... what can I do to stop it ?

Answer 1

Don't actually use it ON your lap ! ! !

Answer 2

First, you'll need to identify why the laptop is overheating in the first place.

Is the fan spinning? Place your hand over the cooling vents, do you feel air throughput? Can you hear the fan? If the fan isn't spinning, then you'll need to find a replacement fan. There are many DELL part dealers on eBay.

If the fan is spinning, chances are the laptop is having trouble dissipating the heat. How quickly does the laptop die? If it's within minutes, and is quite consistent in doing so, then the processor's heat sink compound has probably gone bad. The heat sink compound helps conduct heat from the processor to the heat sink, where room temperature air travels through to cool it down. If this is the case, you'll need to take the machine apart, scrape off the old compound and put on some new.

How are your cooling vents? If they're clogged with dust, your laptop is going to have a lot of trouble trying to dissipate that heat. Get a compressed air can and blast that dust out of there!

Lastly, if you're using the laptop on your lap, there's a good chance you're blocking the incoming air vent. If this is the case, you'll need to buy a laptop cooling unit that sits beneath the laptop to help air throughput.

Answer 3

Chech to make sure your laptop is not running on one of those defective batteries that was in the news a lot last year. If that is the case then disconnect your battery immediately and run your laptop with the AC power cord only. And if that is the case, contact Dell to see about getting a replacement battery. If your battery is not the cause of the overheating problem...............make sure your laptop is getting proper ventalation while it is running. They also sell cooling pads for laptops that will fan force cool air into your laptop. Good luck and take action quickly because you don't want the over-heating to cause a fire and you'll end up losing your laptop and possibly even more.

Answer 4

Maybe you have too much stuff running in the background. Try shutting down all the junk that boots up but you don't use. There are cooling platforms you can buy for your laptop which is basically an elevated 'holder' that has a couple of fans underneath it that keeps your laptop cool.

Both Circuit City and Bestbuy have them. You can get them online too: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/category/category_slc.asp?CatId=3486&SRCCODE=WEBGOONOTE&CMP=KNC-GOOGL

Walmart might even have one.

If your computer overheats while your not even using it, it also may be an indication that you have something running in the background that's using your cpu very heavily. This would most likely be a trojan virus. So check for that as well.

Answer 5

You should make sure that the bottom of the laptop is on a hard surface - and the sides clear. You should also keep it away from direct sunlight and use it in a cool(ish) ambient temperatured room.
If this does not help, you can buy a laptop cooler - which has extra fans installed.

Answer 6

Means your internal fan is broken. If it's still on warranty, call Dell. If not, take it to a local computer shop and get it fixed asap. It shouldn't cost much to get it fixed. If it continues to over heat it will cause bad sectors on your hard drive and destroy your computer.

Answer 7

Check to see if the fan is running. Also check to see if the air inlets under the laptop are clear and air is free flowing.

Answer 8

buy a stand to keep your laptop of the desk so the air can get under it and it rises up towards you stops you getting a sore back leaning over it

Answer 9

Buy a laptop tray which allows airflow underneath the computer. I had the same problem, but I used to put it on my bed.

Answer 10

If you've been on for more than 3-5 hours just shut if off and give it a break its just ovverheating because its been on for so long no need to worry

Answer 11

I would buy a cooling mat. It is a mat with a built-in fan that fastens to the bottom of your laptop to cool the bottom.