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my laptop has just died???

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Hi, I'm a lorry driver and was on my laptop while being unloaded about an hour ago and closed the screen to leave it ready for my next drop an hour away. So I've just gone to have my break and the thing was red hot!! And won't do anything now :( have I lost everything on here like an idiot I never got round to backing up on a flash drive.

Comments

  • asininity
    asininity Posts: 1,615 Forumite
    I'd let it cool down first then try and turn it on see if it works.
  • I thought that and hours later its still dead :(
    Gonna try and plug it in when I get home and hope its ok, there was no smell of burnt wires so I'm holding onto that hope!!!
  • lwbe
    lwbe Posts: 24 Forumite
    Most laptops shut down automatically if they get too hot - If your laptop does this then it's unlikely I think that it's been damaged by it's own heat. You might have to wait for it to cool down past a certain point though...

    If something has burned, then your data might still be recoverable if the hard drive itself hasn't been damaged...
    I have enough money to last me the rest of my life, unless I buy something.
    Jackie Mason (1934 - ) :rolleyes:
  • S0litaire
    S0litaire Posts: 3,535 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Might be a thermal cut-out fuse. Laptops can get VERY hot VERY quickly. If they are left in enclosed spaces or on fabric seats the temps go through the roof!!!

    At first glance, If you're lucky the thermal fuse will reset once it's cooled down, at worse the fuse is blown and you'll need to get the laptop repaired but the data should be fine. But untill you let it cool for a while (take the battery out as well for an hour or 2) you won't know!

    Next time use the "Suspend" or "Hybernate" options if you are leaving the laptop for any length of time. It saves power and keeps it cool.

    Suspend uses the ram memory. It holds everything there and powers down everything except the memory (laptop will last for a day or so on a full charge running in suspend mode). The start up only takes a second or 2.

    Hibernate is sort of the same, but it saves it to the disk instead and turns the power of totally. So it's like powering down the laptop, but it starts up a bit quicker. Hibernate is very temperamental though, it either works on your laptop or it doesn't.

    When you get the laptop working, do a backup ASAP and have a play about with suspend and hibernate see what works for you...
    Laters

    Sol

    "Have you found the secrets of the universe? Asked Zebade "I'm sure I left them here somewhere"
  • Thanks a lot for the replies, however my concern is that if I get it repaired do I have to leave in a shop over night or days? The material I don't want to lose is shall we say 'blue' and although nothing that could see me in trouble with the police I don't want anyone watching or even copying the files I have on there so how trust worthy are these places???
  • S0litaire
    S0litaire Posts: 3,535 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    I'd take the hard drive out before you send it in for repair (since they can't guarantee you won't loose data) Also if it's dead they my issue a replacement Laptop and you'll loose everything...

    Just let them know there's sensitive information regarding work on the drive and you are keeping it to comply with the "data protections act" ^_^

    Or if you have a home PC, pick up a sata-to-usb external box plug the laptop's drive into that and copy off the "offending" data to a secure location ^_~
    Laters

    Sol

    "Have you found the secrets of the universe? Asked Zebade "I'm sure I left them here somewhere"
  • Just got in from work and would you believe my luck it worked as soon as I put the charger in :D I'll get a dongle this weekend and do it. I didn't even know you could remove the hd from a laptop. Thanks a lot for your help guys it stopped me moaning all day :)
  • asininity
    asininity Posts: 1,615 Forumite
    Can we safely assume that it ran hot but really the battery just ran out??:)
  • cit_k
    cit_k Posts: 24,812 Forumite
    Check its going into suspend/hibernate when the screen is closed, the switch that is triggered by closing the lid may be dodgy, and it may not be powering itself down at all when the lid closes, causing it to overheat (especially if there are airvents blocked when the lid is down).

    To be on the safe side, dont leave it on and unattended in case something more serious is wrong, as if a li-ion battery catches fire, good luck trying to put it out (dont use water!)
    [greenhighlight]but it matters when the most senior politician in the land is happy to use language and examples that are simply not true.
    [/greenhighlight][redtitle]
    The impact of this is to stigmatise people on benefits,
    and we should be deeply worried about that
    [/redtitle](house of lords debate, talking about Cameron)
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