Laptop overheating,

[All_Is_Great]

Right now there's a problem with my laptop, every single time i turn it on, the mousepad and the bottom get hot instantly (ok maybe in a couple minutes). And the fan gets very noisy.

 

I'm also having lag on Runescape on worlds where I didn't have any before. The kinda of lag where the frames get messed up and hits stack, etc. I look on my task manager and it says my CPU usage is 95%? Just yesterday I turned off most of the autorun programs that start when the computer turns on, but nothing seems to happen.

 

One more thing, my laptop can't run without being plugged into the adapter, once the battery life dropped from 90 to 2% in less than a minute.

 

Weird thing is this all started to happen last week, before that, the computer could run Runescape on OpenGL smoothly.

 

What kind of problems am I having, and how would I fix this?

 

EDIT: also sometimes when I start loading Runescape, I get an error message "Java platform SE binary has stopped working" and then my browser freezes, anyone know what's up with that?

[Guy]

A few things:

 

1. 
    
   
2. Where are you using it? Is it on a bed? If so, the covers will block up cooling fans. You should use your laptop on a solid surface only.
   
3. What does it say is using up your CPU? It may be a virus. That's gotta be the main source of the heat.
   
4. Maybe used some canned/pressurised air and try to clean out any vents in your laptop, there may be a build up of dust or something.
   
5. The battery life problem may just be the batteries being old and worn out.
   

 

Keep in mind laptops generally run hotter than desktops. Also, out of interest, how old is this computer?

 

Those are some of the common things, not so sure about anything else.

[OldJoe]

What is using 95%?

You might have collected some dust which needs cleaning out.

Also bear in mind, i don't know what temps you got in Canada, but where i am, my cpu is about 10-15c now during the summer than usual.

No need to look for this now, but there's also these "laptop cooling pads", but no need to buy one before we figure out what's going on.

[All_Is_Great]

I'm using it on a desk, which has a piece of glass covering it.

 

And yeah I thought about the dust thing, but had no idea it coud really cause so much problems. Mainly because everything was running find up until last week, when it started to lag alot and alot of crashes...

 

I'll try to clean out the dust, but would small vacuums work?

 

Also, how do i check what's using my CPU? I mean just running this site, the CPU usage is at 50% but sometimes spikes up to 68-70%

 

And a new question in first post.

[Solartide]

Is it a Toshiba?

 

Also, remember the good ol' days of system idle process?

[Guy]

allisgreat, assuming you are running XP, ctrl+alt+delete to get to task manager > processes > look at cpu column, see what is using it all.

 

Try using the rs cilent, thats what I use cos java kept giving out on me in browser version.

[ClareJonsson]

We repair a LOT of laptops, and overheating is a big problem as all components are crammed into a small space. Now the thing is they can easily collect dust internally and eventually clog the heat sink vents. it my look clear externally but internally might have a carpet of fluff. This blocks airflow and then the system never gets the cooling required.

 

You have 2 options:

 

1. if there is an access flap at the bottom revealing the fan and the vent, open it and make sure there is no fluff clogging the airflow.

 

2. Take it to a good laptop repair specialist.

 

NEVER ever try to dismantle a laptop yourself if you are not a qualified technician. you are only asking for a bigger repair bill.

 

 

@Solartide:

We have found Toshiba to be the most reliable, we see less Toshibas than any other brands, also they are the easiest to service. From a techniciansl point of view I would buy a Toshiba as I know it's a safe bet. A bit like Panasonic rule the TV market from a repair specialists point of view, they go wrong less, and if they do go wrong servicing is easier, contributing to a smaller service bill.

[Solartide]

Oh sure, sure, toshibas are easy enough to service. But take the Satellite A200 series- That thing was HOT! Right out of the box, I was heating my soup for dinner next to it. Not just me mind you, I've worked several years as a network admin, and for some reason everyone assumes the network admin is the guy you go to when you have the smallest problem with one of your computers. And I'd say Toshibas are much hotter than your Sony or your HP.

 

And no, I wasn't using it in bed, I was using it on this Asbestos counter that we have at work. Yeah, I know, asbestos is bad, but this third arm is really helpful for getting work done.

[All_Is_Great]

Well, right now the heating problem is somewhat better, I cleaned it with some compressed air.

 

Now what's bothering me is these firefox crashes. I updated firefox 2 days ago, and now I still get Java crashes, and some "plugin"? crashes. Whenever this happens, firefox stops responding and I have to restart it.

 

This is so annoying lol.

 

Also, I'm not using a toshiba, I think my laptop is a HP Pavilion dv6000, I bought it around 3 years ago.

[Guy]

Maybe try playing RS with the rs client (here) and that will eradicate the java problem.

 

If you're computer is really slow, I find that defragmenting it + clearing up the registry helps tonnes.

[All_Is_Great]

Thanks for the link Guy, I had some trouble finding it, but its working now :^_^:

[Guy]

Coolio.

Is your laptop still hot? CPU usage still high? Or is it better now?