The laptop shuts down on its own when playing games. All other time it works fine.

Possible cause:

Laptop overheats.

Possible troubleshooting steps and repair solution:

Most likely the laptop shuts down while running games because it overheats. When you run a game, you push the CPU to the limit and it generates a lot of heat. If the laptop cooling module (fan and heat sink) is clogged with dust, the laptop will overheat and shut down.

Make sure the cooling module is clean. Remove dust using canned air or air compressor.
Apply fresh thermal paste on the processor if needed.

The laptop shuts down while installing Windows. The installation process runs fine for a while but after some time the laptop shuts down on its own. Same problem happens if you start the installation process again.

Possible cause:

1. Laptop overheating.
2. Memory failure.

Possible troubleshooting steps and repair solution:

It’s possible that the laptop shuts down on its own because of overheating. Take a look inside the cooling module. If the cooling fan and heat sink are dirty and clogged with dust, clean it with compressed air. After the cooling module is cleaned, try installing the operating system again.

Also, this problem could be related to the memory failure. Test laptop memory with Memtest86+ utility. If it fails test, replace the memory module.

If you have two memory modules installed in the laptop, remove them one by one and try installing Windows with only one memory module in place. If one of the memory modules is bad, the installation process will run smoothly when this module is removed.

When the laptop is turned on, the screen remains completely black/blank and the cooling fan starts running at full speed. The fan runs at unusually high RPM until you power down the laptop.

Possible cause:

Motherboard failure.

Possible troubleshooting steps and repair solution:

Most likley this problem is related to the motherboard failure and the motherboard has to be replaced.

The laptop turns off while playing games. It works fine with all other programs, but after running a video game for a while the laptop just turns off by itself without any warning.

Possible cause:

Laptop turns off because of overheating.

Possible troubleshooting steps and repair solution:

Most likely the laptop turns off while playing games because the heat sink is clogged with dust and the laptop overheats. Video games require a lot of computing resources and push the CPU and video card to limits. Because of that the laptop runs hotter while playing games. Apparently the CPU is getting so hot that the laptop turns off by itself to prevent the damage.

You can fix the problem by cleaning the heat sink. There are two ways:
1. Blow off dust without opening the laptop. Find an air compressor or buy a can of compressed air and spray it into the fan grill on the bottom of the laptop. This will remove most dust from the fan and heat sink and should fix the problem at least for a while.
2. Disassemble the laptop, access the heat sink and clean it. This is the proper way of cleaning but requires some technical skills.

The laptop cooling fan makes rattling noise. The noise comes and goes.

Possible cause:

1. Something stuck inside the fan.
2. Fan failure.

Possible troubleshooting steps and repair solution:

First of all, make sure it’s not the hard drive noise. In some cases a faulty hard drive can makes noises very similar to a faulty cooling fan.

Take a look inside the cooling fan under a bright light. It’s possible that something got stuck inside the fan and prevents it from spinning freely. You can remove a stuck object with needle nose pliers.

Try cleaning the fan with compressed air.

If there is no stuck object inside the fan, most likely the fan has a failed bearing and has to be replaced. Replace the cooling fan if needed.

The laptop gets very hot. The bottom part of the laptop, keyboard and palm rest feel uncomfortably hot.

Possible cause:

1. Heat sink clogged with dust and laptop overheats.
2. Cooling fan failure.

Possible troubleshooting steps and repair solution:

Most likley your laptop gets very hot because the heat sink is clogged with dust and because of that the laptop overheats. You can fix the problem by cleaning the heat sink.

Buy a can of comressed air or find an aircompressore. Spray air inside the fan grill on the bottom of the laptop untill all dust is gone. Test the laptop.

Also, this problem could be related to the fan failure. Turn on the laptop and take a look iniside the fan grill on the bottom. Can you see the fan spinning? Will it start when the bottom of the laptop feels really hot? If not, probably you have a faulty fan. Try replacing the fan.

The laptop cooling fan runs all the time. It was turning on and off before but now it runs constantly.

Possible cause:

The heatsink is clogged with dust.

Possible troubleshooting steps and repair solution:

Most likely the cooling fan runs all the time because the heatsink is clogged with dust and has to be cleaned.

A dust buildup inside the heat sink stops normal air flow and because of that the CPU runs hot all the time. The extensive heat triggers thermal sensors and the cooling fan starts running.

Because of the dust buildup the CPU temperature is always above the norm, and as a result, the cooling fan runs all the time.

Most likely you can fix the problem by cleaning the heat sink.

The laptop makes a lot of noise when it’s on. The noise was getting worse over time.

Possible cause:

1. The cooling module is clogged with dust.
2. The cooling fan failure.
3. Hard drive failure.

Possible troubleshooting steps and repair solution:

Firts of all, take a look int the cooling module. It’ spossible that the cooling an is clogged with dust and the laptop makes a lot of noise because of that.
Clean the cooling fan and heat sink and test the laptop again.

If the laptop makes noise only when the cooling fan spins, most likley you have a faulty fan. Try replacing the cooling fan.

The hard drive also can be a source of loud noise. Remove the hard drive and boot your laptop from a live Linux CD (you can use Knoppix). Test the laptop for a while. If the noise is gone when the hard drive is removed, most likely you have a faulty hard drive. If that’s the case, back up all personal data from the hard drive as soon as possible becuase it may fail any time.

The laptop works fine for a while but after some time shuts down on its own without any warning. After you restart the laptop it works fine but lately shuts down again. When you touch the bottom of the laptop, it feels hot.

Possible cause:

The problem related to overheating.
1. The cooling system is clogged with dust.
2. Cooling fan failure.

Possible troubleshooting steps and repair solution:

If the laptop shuts down on its own without any warning and the bottom of the laptop feels hot, most likely it happens because of overheating.

1. Try cleaning the cooling system – heatsink and cooling fan. Take a look inside the heat sink and if it’s clogged with dust, blow off the heat sink with compressed air.

2. Make sure the cooling fan is spinning. If the fan doesn’t spin when the laptop is hot, it’s possible the fan has failed and has to be replaced. Replace the fan with a new one.

3. Check thermal grease between the processor and heat sink. If thermal grease dried out, you have to clean the processor from the old grease and apply a thin layer of new thermal grease.

Always use your laptop of a flat surface. Make sure there is some space between the bottom of the laptop and the surface. In most the cooling system air intakes are located on the bottom. If you close them, the laptop will overheat and shut down.