Overheating Laptop?

[Toasty]

So, yeah... See, it's done it several times today, worse than ever, and has been going on for months. It started when I was playing it while it was sitting atop some bed sheets. It overheated, apparently, and instantly shut down. I figure it's overheating, because the bottom is always terribly hot and it only does it while it's running a lot of programs. Of course, I stopped sitting on beds to play, and now use the hard surface of my computer desk. My dad told me that's get the fan more air. =P

But it's been getting worse lately. We even had to use cardboard to elevate the darn thing (It helped, somewhat.). Usually, it'd have to have been on for a while and I'd have to be playing a game for it to shut off. But now, if I'm downloading iTunes songs or something of the sort and doing something else at the same time, it usually shuts off. For example, a CD was burning while I downloaded some songs, just a bit ago, and it shut down...

Also, when it shuts down, it literally goes black in an instant. Just a "CLICK!" and it's off at the very second. It cools down for about ten to twenty minutes and works fine until I start doing too much.

Do you think it could be that my fan is just getting worn? Or does anybody know of any other problems it might be? Also, aren't there some things you can buy to help the fan, like that cooler thing that goes on an Xbox?

[Commander Thor]

The heatsink is probably clogged with dust, hair, ect.
(Something like this)
http://www.laptoprepair101.com/wp-images/Toshiba-Satellite-A35-heatsink.jpg

You will need to open up your laptop, and clean out the fins on the heatsink. Afterwards, it shouldn't overheat, at least 'till it gets clogged again. :p

[Skhorpion]

Sounds like you need to clean out the dust like xbox360922 said.

Next time, listen to the fan between the time you turn it on and right before it cuts off. Pretty much all laptops have temp controlled fans and it should be quiet when you first turn it on and screaming like a banshee before it cuts off. If you don't hear a fan on it at all the entire time the fan may have gone out and should be replaced before you use it.

Keep in mind every time it overheats you risk damaging the processor or reducing its lifespan.

EDIT: Install hwmonitor from www.cpuid.org and look at the processor temp. Post the temp when it first comes on and after using it for a few minutes.

[Beautiful Obsession]

well how long have you had your laptop for?

maybe your on it to long so its overheating. or your charging it to much.
that happened to mine. I charged it for a few hours but wen i was on it i wasnt chargin it. Try it. if it dont work i wud get it checked out?

[Halibut]

is it hard to wreck your computer when you clean the thing

[wavey]

What i would do
A) Open up the (BACK) (BOTTOM) of the laptop to reveal the compoments sucha s the MObo and so on. if you can see an obvious onstruction blocking any fan movement, remove it with great care and try to identify what it is, if it is a sompoment of your pc or somehting fallen off it, take to a compiuter spec immidiatly. if its alot of dust i find that if you have a powerful hair dryer put it on cool (or warm if ur not gonna use it for a while) to blast the dust. or a 'ANTI' static vacuum You could also buy a air canister for around £6 which will last a few blasts off a laptop. once removed, screw the laptop back to gether.

B) Check heat AFTER following step A.
Downloading 'SpeedFan' or another temp monitoring tool will help. if you cannot find one or want a more accurate one, just look in bios, eg, let it open up bios then leave it for up to 30mins monitoring the temps shown, if it jumps from let say 32*C - 64*C within a few minutes and its keeps going, we have more of a problem.
if all seems to be working fine, continue to last step mentioned.
C) i would now after trying the first 2 solutions, be checking and opening the full mobo off and lookign to see if the compoment which is flaring up (probbebly the CPU / GPU) if one of the fans is not working corectly try to reposistion it and make sure all wires are in correctly.

D) if all else fails, see a computer specilist.

Final Step : If you have fixed it, well done, if you feel a drag or similar symtoms again, check the temp and follow these steps again to remove the heat, possibly buying new fans to keep up to speed with the power used.

(WARNING)
This information is by me and my knowledge, No responisbilitie due to breakage or damage to you're system can be claimed over me. i am saying, Use @ Own Risk.
(WARNING)
ALSO, BUY A ANTI-STATIC-WRISTBAND or TOUCH THE OUTTER SHELL OF PC CASE TO DISCHARGE ELECTICAL STATIC ENERGY BEFORE TOUCHING THE COMPOMENTS OF YOUR SYSTEM!
(WARNING)-

Thanks!