overheating sony laptop

[mollymoo]

Hi I have a 17 inch sony laptop brought sept last year...I always got a bit hot...but now seems to be getting to the point of challenging a cooker for heat...even if you prop it up so the underneath is not covered it still gets very hot...I do have the machine on for most of the day for work...but still that should not matter if proped up...does anyone else have this problem...thanks

[gucciman]

hi molly

my sony vaio gets quite hot as do all laptops. i use a silver tray made by ilap that lifts the laptop clear of your lap.

if your saying the laptop is getting hotter than it used to then perhaps its developed a fault, do the cooling fans come on?

has you only bought it in sept your still in the 12 months manufacturers warranty so contact sony asap.

[mollymoo]

no sorry i meant sept 2005...so is outside of 12 months...although have just found that sony have recalled some of its batteries so am checking now...I have a stand that lifs it up but makes no differnce.,..also the slight smell of burnign also seems to suggest it is not right...

[TeeGee]

Let's see if we can identify exactly what is getting hot.

Let the machine run for a little while ( until moderately warm ) then switch it off, turn over and remove the battery - is it very warm / hot?
Is it hottest near where the power goes in?
Is it hottest underneath or on top?
If underneath, is it hottest near the cooling outlet ( fan )?
Is the fan running when on ( a little smoke could detect this or a lit match in the air-flow)?
Try these things please and come back and report.

[mollymoo]

Hi...yes the fan is defo running did the smoke test and can also hear it...it gets hot underneath and on top all over really...i have since taken out the battery and just run it on the ac power supply and for the last hour of running it has cooled down and is no longer hot...so it must mean it is the battery...

[zimzam]

I would read this link as a matter of urgency if I were you.
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/10/17/sony_j apan_recalls_90k_vaio_batteries/

[mollymoo]

hi Tee gee

so althought i thought removing the battery was cooling ti down it did slightly however i let it cool down then started it up again to see where it gets hot first...it is above the keyboard and below the speakers.....do you think the fan ghas prehaps got dirty and needs claning....

[fo3nix]

Please check your battery's serial number with those here:

http://www.vaio-link.com/hotnews/details.asp?l =en&nid=24&ts=one

If it's one of the recalled batteries, then return as soon as you can.

[mollymoo]

it is not the battery as is overheating without the battery ...but thanks

[fo3nix]

What do you mean by overheating?

Does it crash?

Or just get very hot underneath? Can you still pick it up without burning your hand?

And how many programs do you have running all at once? Does it ever get switched off, or at least sleep?

[fo3nix]

And btw anyway, check the battery regardless of whether it's this issue or not. Several of the affected batteries have exploded; you don't want that happening!

[mjhunt59]

Dust can cause some problems on heat elements if you haven't already or don't want to remove the case and clean it put a very thin material over a vacuum cleaner hose and secure with and elastic band then put the nozel next to air intakes and you'll be surprised how much dust shows on the material.

[mollymoo]

fo3nix

it gets hot on the top and the bottom and is too hot to touch after a while...the only thing I will have runnign is msn and outlook most of the time...and webpages that is all mainly....

mhunt

will give that hoover thing a good...

thanks guys

[TeeGee]

Hello mollymoo</>,
Thanks for coming back. I would most definately follow the battery recall advice and whilst you're having a good vacuum pay particular attention to the air inlets ( little grills all over the place ). From your description it would seem that it is the processor that's not being cooled as well as it used to be. Modern laptops use a 'heat pump' to transfer heat from the processor to a radiator in the fans air flow path, so any air constriction could cause overheating in the areas you describe.