Laptop Overheating - What to Do?

[brownsfan019]

My girlfriend's laptop this past week started shutting itself down with no warning. Today I finally had time to look at it and after running for maybe 5 minutes, the bottom of the thing was very hot - in particular, where the fan is located. I unscrewed the cover and used some compressed air to clean, but no luck.

I am all over google, but thought with our tech guys here someone might be able to suggest what to do.

First, what can I do here before taking to a shop?

Second, if it is the fan, what should that cost to replace for parts and labor?

Third, if I can't fix on my own, is it even worth spending the money to repair?

The laptop is a Gateway. Here's a link to the product page.

Thanks!

[brownsfan019]

Here's the fan/heatsink part if that helps at all. If that needs replaced, looks like something I could do.

[btrader2]

Also some months back there were Laptop battery recalls in the news. Certain battery models became fire hazards. Don't recall any more details but you could news search it down.

[MC]

	Quote:	brownsfan019
	Here's the fan/heatsink part if that helps at all. If that needs replaced, looks like something I could do.

I had to do the heatpipe on my old HP cause the fluid in them looses its effectiveness. You pretty much have to dismantle the whole laptop and unless you've opened a laptop it's nothing you should attempt. The laptop would just turn off after a few minutes with no warning, sounds like what you have going on most likely.

I'm certified to service laptops and have ripped apart many, it's not a fun task even having done it many times.

Depending on the age of the laptop it may not be worth the cost of servicing?

[brownsfan019]

	Quote:	mcichocki_
	I had to do the heatpipe on my old HP cause the fluid in them looses its effectiveness. You pretty much have to dismantle the whole laptop and unless you've opened a laptop it's nothing you should attempt. The laptop would just turn off after a few minutes with no warning, sounds like what you have going on most likely. I'm certified to service laptops and have ripped apart many, it's not a fun task even having done it many times. Depending on the age of the laptop it may not be worth the cost of servicing?

That's what I was thinking MC. It's 3 yrs old and I'm not going to spend hundreds to fix something when a brand new is about the same. She doesn't need much, so a $500 or so laptop would be plenty.

[mister ed]

Anyone used a laptop cooling pad, might do the trick?

Here are some links to information (from Australian websites but sure there would be little difference):

http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum...fm/844521.html

http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum...s.cfm?t=776081

http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum...m?t=776081&p=2

http://www.overclockers.com.au/article.php?id=320201

[MC]

	Quote:	mister ed
	Anyone used a laptop cooling pad, might do the trick? Here are some links to information (from Australian websites but sure there would be little difference): http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum...fm/844521.html http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum...s.cfm?t=776081 http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum...m?t=776081&p=2 http://www.overclockers.com.au/article.php?id=320201

If the heatpipes shot nothing will help but a replacement.
It sits directly on the processor with thermal grease and has to work for the computer to not fry, or shut itself down.

Those pads work well, I know many that use them though. The laptops of today crank out heat like mad.

[Szymon]

Hi Guys,

Two years ago I bought a brand new Toshiba Qosmio G30 laptop, used it around 18 hours a day, then it started to switch off unexpectedly, this started to happen more frequently until the whole motherboard died. One day the thing just did not want to start.

After analysing all this I came to the conclusion that it was that the thing overheated itself and that is when the problems started occuring.

I had the same issue occur with my second wifes laptop.

I sorted this issue by buying brand new laptops and now I make sure that there is air circulation whenever they are not on the desk as it is crucial for the air to circulate.

Simon

[brownsfan019]

Looks like I got a little lucky here - after finding the part to replace I decided to give it another try with the canned air and something worked b/c now it's running fine. There must have been a small enough buildup of dust to cause it to overheat but small enough that I did not see it.

Running like a champ once again.

I know what part to change out if it does happen again though.

[MC]

	Quote:	brownsfan019
	Looks like I got a little lucky here - after finding the part to replace I decided to give it another try with the canned air and something worked b/c now it's running fine. There must have been a small enough buildup of dust to cause it to overheat but small enough that I did not see it. Running like a champ once again. I know what part to change out if it does happen again though.

Good to hear.