Overheating laptop

fruit-loop

Hi

My compaq cq60 laptop keeps overheating and shutting down. I am quite prepared to take it apart and try cleaning the heatsink. What I would like to know is if I start taking it apart will I lose any data (files, os, etc)?

macman

No, all your data is on the hard drive, even if you couldn't reassemble it again after cleaning, the data would still be there unless you physically wipe or destroy the hard drive. Most laptop HD's can be easily removed anyway.

closed

no backup?

http://www.nvidiadefect.com/is-compaq-presario-cq60-307sa-affected-t996.html

fruit-loop

Thank you both.:j Yes I do have a back up of all my files but I don't fancy having to re-install everything if I don't have to.

Browntoa

if you are taking it apart that much then take the heatsink off and replace the thermal paste (use some decent silver based stuff , about £7.99 from maplins) as its often dried out on laptops

TonyMMM

Before you start removing the heatsink/processor etc. Take a good look at the fan, especially where it blows out through the case. I have taken apart many laptops where a thick layer of "felt" builds up - remove that and you may find everthing is OK.

macman

Use a can of compressed air to blow through the fan inlet and outlet before you go to the trouble of dismantling it. But laptop heatsinks are often too bunged up for this method to remove everything.

PlutoinCapricorn

I have an ACER that used to do that - apparently they are well known for it - but it hasn't done it since I made sure it was always used on a hard surface. Tablecloths, carpets, your skirt etc all cause extra heat.

It will be 5 years old in January, and I have never cleaned anything inside.

JasX

For around £20 you could invest in one of these..... a good quality aluminum one (not plastic!) with quiet fans works wonders getting rid of heat.... you can keep re-using it for future machines too.

http://www.akasa.com.tw/update.php?tpl=product/product.list.tpl&type=Notebook%20coolers&type_sub=NB%20Coolers

Alternatively some people use one of these from the oven for a similar effect but doesn't look as flash

flexrider

Is your CPU somehow overclocked in speed just curious does happen if your laptop is a old laptop and bought from ebay or off a mate ect.
check also if your sync fan is ok and air is coming out/going into the laptop. Most laptops these days or around 3 years old is a internal/exteranal blow out fan sync.

Is your hard drive too fast(does happen) lets say if you have installed a 7200rpm hard drive in a laptop that orginally had a 5600rpm speed hard drive that can overheat the system also.

Tip:Buy a external closure hard drive and new hard drive on cheap and back it up that way all your files and o/s system(windows xp,7 ect) and use a free tool called superdupa to move all the hard drive contents to your other drive that way when your machines decides to go to laptop heaven you can take that new hard drive and fit it elsewere in the current machine or desktop and use it as a duel boot.

fruit-loop

TonyMMM wrote: »

Before you start removing the heatsink/processor etc. Take a good look at the fan, especially where it blows out through the case. I have taken apart many laptops where a thick layer of "felt" builds up - remove that and you may find everthing is OK.

This is what I think has happened as the laptop gets a lot of use in various places.

macman wrote: »

Use a can of compressed air to blow through the fan inlet and outlet before you go to the trouble of dismantling it. But laptop heatsinks are often too bunged up for this method to remove everything.

I think it may have gotten too bunged up for a can of air too.

flexrider wrote: »

Is your CPU somehow overclocked in speed just curious does happen if your laptop is a old laptop and bought from ebay or off a mate ect.
check also if your sync fan is ok and air is coming out/going into the laptop. Most laptops these days or around 3 years old is a internal/exteranal blow out fan sync.

Is your hard drive too fast(does happen) lets say if you have installed a 7200rpm hard drive in a laptop that orginally had a 5600rpm speed hard drive that can overheat the system also.

Tip:Buy a external closure hard drive and new hard drive on cheap and back it up that way all your files and o/s system(windows xp,7 ect) and use a free tool called superdupa to move all the hard drive contents to your other drive that way when your machines decides to go to laptop heaven you can take that new hard drive and fit it elsewere in the current machine or desktop and use it as a duel boot.

The laptop is 12months old, bought from staples. So I don't think anyone has tampered with it.

Thanks all , think I will try opening it up and cleaning it out tonight, will let you know how it goes.