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laptop shutting down - overheating?
I have a Dell Inspiron 1525 laptop, several years old. Recently it's started suddenly shutting down a couple times a week. If I let it sit for a few minutes, it starts back up fine and stays up ok. What's chances it's just overheating, and if I opened it up and cleaned out the accumulated dust and cat hair, it would be fine? And would this be hard to do? Any tips?
Thanks.
Actually, contentious otter, I do have 2 cats but also have a masters in computer science, am not a PC guru by any means but have personally replaced a keyboard in an earlier laptop with no problems. But thanks for the tip and the smile.
10 Answers
- suzonkaLv 49 years agoFavorite Answer
try a regular vacuum cleaner with the round brush attachment and clean around the fan hole if this doesn't work, its time for a new lap top . sometimes when a computer gets on in age , it not only has t work harder to keep updated with newer programs , it also hasn't the what you call GB bytes in its memory part to handle all the updated programs that keep getting more in need for more GB space to work properly . a little hint if you do decide to get a newer computer ,make sure it has at least 2 to 3 GB gig a bytes of memory in it and you'll have fun for another 4 to 5 years. and if your tight for money to purchase a new one try a refurbished one at this site they are much cheaper and like brand new.
- 9 years ago
Sounds like a good place to start looking. You can try entering the BIOS and looking for the MB and CPU temps. It should be relatively easy to clean with a couple cans of duster. You should be able to remove some of the panels for better access such as the HDD access cover or possibly cpu/gpu cover if your model has it. Sometimes motherboards will just start to die and the trouble of limping technology that old is hardly worth it except for system critical operation. Try cleaning and if that doesn't work then its time to chuck it and buy a new one. If your just using it for e-mail,pictures,and banking then upgrading to a new $250 laptop every 3 years should keep you going without much or any hassel. Our society has become so consumer based that products are being designed for disposal after a certain time period.
- 9 years ago
All laptops collect dust dandruff and hair which gets into the cooling fans and fins this can be cleaned out some with about 50psi of continuous air pressure but it would be recommended to take to a reliable computer repair shop to completely clean and inspect your laptop some charge a minimum fee others charge to much so check around first and make sure they are trustworthy
- Anonymous5 years ago
Yes. I just went through this with my Vaio. The fan must be changed. I found person who matched on ebay for 10 bucks. My husband replaced it. Took about an hour and now it really works like a peach! You can also need to get a cooling method that sits below your computing device. The Sony Vaio's are known for overheating.
- 9 years ago
shut it completely down, use an can of condensed air to clean it out, do a full system scan make sure its completely clean, do all upgrades and it should be fine and yes get a cooling system and it should be alright
- PJ (PAPA JOE)Lv 79 years ago
1st I would try to clean you fan and use the laptop on a flat surface. next you might want to invest in a dual fan cooling system like one made by taurus
Source(s): Tech, Author, and RN 30+yrs - Anonymous9 years ago
small ear intake is block by dust or hear, or the fan is not running, blow the dust out and will be ok
- 9 years ago
you can buy a cooling system for like 15 bucks
Source(s): i have one
