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Laptop Overheating Causes and PreventionBy Kecia | September 18, 2008 |
Allowing a laptop to continuously become overheated is a sure fire way to damage the motherboard, if not kill the entire computer. Some symptoms of an overheating laptop include an unexplained beeping, smoke, and automatic restarts or shut down. Fortunately for laptop users, there are some steps you can take to detect the signs and causes of the overheating, and to prevent them in the future.
One of the first things you should check if you suspect your laptop is overheating is whether or not the fan is working. On most newer laptop computers, the fan should run continuously, although sometimes it will be quieter than others. If the fan is not running at all, check it and its settings. The fan should be cleaned regularly, as dust can settle in and prevent proper air flow. Having a fan that has completely stopped running will eventually lead to overheating if not fixed.
Being aware of the environment you are using your laptop in is another way to prevent overheating. Sometimes the fan alone is not enough to keep your computer cool, especially when it is used in a car or room with no air conditioning (especially during the summer) or in direct sunlight. Inside your home, make sure that you desk is not under an unshaded window, and that you do not use your laptop on any hot surfaces. Also, do not lay your laptop on a soft surface such as a bed, pillow, or cushion while you are using it. This will cover the fan, and will prevent air from flowing freely through the fan.
Obviously, if you see smoke or smell a burning odor from your computer, you should shut it down immediately. The exception to this rule is the very first time the laptop is powered on. At that time, there may be a hot plastic smell which should go away after a while. This is normal, but any other strange smells coming from your laptop at any other time is not. Powering down your computer and looking it over (or having a computer repair person look over it) is the most effective way at saving it from overheating.
Laptops are not cheap, so there lives should be prolonged by taking proper care of them. Keeping your PC from overheating is an excellent way to have it running for years. Educate yourself on the symptoms, causes, and prevention of an overheating laptop, and above all, use common sense. If the laptop is acting up, and its bottom is very hot to the touch, it’s likely to be having issues with its cooling system.
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