laptop runs hotter as time goes on -- should I clean something?

Daanii · 9th July 2009

My Compaq laptop runs hotter as time goes on. I've had it since March 2008, so nearly a year and a half now.

The cooling fan seems to run constantly now, where before the fan would run only when a game was running. The laptop feels hotter too, again pretty much all the time where before it would run fairly cool unless playing a game.

Does the fan get blocked with dirt and dust, or an inlet? I can see an inlet and outlet for air to the fan, but I cannot see the fan itself. Is there some maintenance for the CPU cooling that I should do by now?

Thanks.

Evan Omo · 9th July 2009

Hi Daanii. The best way to keep a labtop cool is to make sure all the air vents are free from dust and dirt and to make sure that the air vents aren't being blocked by any objects. You can also go to Fry's or Best Buy and get a labtop stand which will elevate the labtop to allow better air flow. Where is the labtop located? Do you use it on a desk, on your bed etc?

**mattman** · 9th July 2009

I came across a Compaq laptop with the same symptoms. I put a thin screwdriver through the grill to hold the fan from spinning and blew compressed air back through the air vent in the reverse direction. A large cloud of dust came out. It worked perfectly after that.

On other laptops I have worked on, taking the keyboard out allowed access to the cooling fins then the dust could be loosened and blown out.

Take it to a repairers if you are not confident.

Matt

Daanii · 12th July 2009

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm on vacation but I'll try them when I get home.

Daanii · 15th July 2009

Not having a can of compressed air, I decided to take the laptop apart and clean the fan and heat sink.

Turned out to be much harder to do that than I thought. I got partway through, then decided to put it back together and buy a can of air tomorrow.

I've been using the laptop mostly on my lap, but sometimes have it lying on a bed or couch. Rarely do I put it on a table or desk. I suspect it has a lot of dust inside.

**mattman** · 15th July 2009

Thanks for the update. Let us know the outcome.