Troubleshooting Laptop Shutdowns: Is Overheating the Culprit?

[kcjodih]

Does anyone else have a problem with their laptop just shutting down for no apparent reason? I'll be reading here on CS and then !! it shuts itself right off and I have to reboot it. It's happened 5 times in the last few days and the only thing different I can think of that I've been doing is reading it in bed on my lap on my duvet. Usually I'm sitting up in a chair, or walk away and leave it on my desk. It seems to be getting very hot and maybe that's the problem?

Maybe it's telling me to get off and do something else but there's nothing on tv, I'm tired of reading my novels and just wanna surf on here :cry: Not much else to do except sleep and I slept 10 hours today from 9am until 7pm. Probably because I only slept from 2 am to 6 am last night/this morning.

So anyone have this problem or know if because it's getting to hot that that may be the cause? I'll be LOST without my laptop if I'm stuck in bed

 

[DebbieJ]

Yep, it's too hot.

 

[kcjodih]

So do you think it's because of the bedding on my lap I have it on? I know I've left it on for days on the desk and never had a problem...

 

[pcchefjane]

They make laptop "trays" that are vented on the bottom to help this. It is definitely getting too hot!

 

[PC1]

It probably is to being too hot. My daughter had the same problem with hers, but hers was on her desk. We actually ended up getting her a stand for it and she constantly has a small fan blowing on it, because it would shut down often on her. As long as you keep it cool, it should be fine. Yes I would assume the bedding is just too much for it. Hope this helps.

 

[kcjodih]

Okay thanks all. Guess I'll get DH to look into a tray of some sort.

 

[DebbieJ]

when it's on the desk, it's propped up a bit and air can flow underneath. On your bed, the bedding is basically suffocating it.I have this for my laptop: Targus - Notebook Chill Mat - Silver (can be found at Best Buy)

 

[chefann]

I use one of our silicone hot pad/trivets on my lap as a laptop pad. It holds down whatever blanket I may be using so that it doesn't block the vents.

 

[chefjeanine]

They make laptop "trays" that are vented on the bottom to help this. It is definitely getting too hot!

You may already have a "tray" in your kitchen. Try one of our cooling racks. They work great for this!

 

[kcjodih]

What a great idea Ann (as usual!) I'll try that before having DH go out and find me something like Deb has. Being off work from my FT job right now, I'd rather not spend money I'm not making. Not to mention losing that commission from that PWS order....grrr

 

[kcjodih]

You may already have a "tray" in your kitchen. Try one of our cooling racks. They work great for this!

Really? Wow, thanks Jeanine! I'm gonna try both and see what works best for me

 

[janetupnorth]

when it's on the desk, it's propped up a bit and air can flow underneath. On your bed, the bedding is basically suffocating it.

I have this for my laptop: Targus - Notebook Chill Mat - Silver (can be found at Best Buy)

I have that exact one Deb - works great - I think I bought mine through NewEgg.com

Only problem is that if you overheated it too many times, your motherboard may be failing or you may have a clogged or failing fan. If it keeps happening even with a cooling pad, then make sure all your fan vents are blown out good with air and if it still happens, you'll have to have your fans and motherboard checked out.

Also, sometimes they shut down when hot when the harddrive is starting to fail so just in case make sure your data is backed up.

 

[ragschef]

hope its not a gateway! ARGH! I hate Gateways!!

 

[Chef Endora]

I have a Toshiba Satellite. It goes into sleep or hibenate mode. It's still under warranty
so I took it in for repair. Another problem was that the screen would go blank & the computer was frozen. I would have to shut it down by power button & reboot. The repair corrected the 2nd problem. They kept it & used it for bit and didn't have the first problem. I brought it home & it still hibernates/sleeps at times. I am thinking there may be interference from the 2 radio towers that are 800 feet away.