Lapdesk Cooling Pad - Laptop Overheating Prevention and Cures

I am assuming that you have read through the laptop overheating symptoms and laptop overheating causes articles that I have written so now we can delve into the cures for overheating.

Here in the list below are some options for getting your laptop or notebook computer to return to a reasonable level of functioning. Do bear in mind there is no one cure for an overheated laptop or notebook. The cures are as varied as the causes.

1. Cleaning The Air Vents

Desktop computers are fitted with vents and fans to keep the computers reasonably cool. Some have more vents then others but most have just one internal fan. The vent grills and fans can usually be found where the "Hotspot" areas of you computer are.

There are a few ways for removing any dust and debris from inside the vents or around the vent area. The best way to start is to buy a can of compressed air. This is vital for keeping your computer free of any dirt and is very easy to use. When you buy a can make sure it is made for electronic cleaning and doesn't contain any liquids. Point the sprayer at the air vents and blow around and inside. Make sure when you're using the compressed air that you don't blow the material that's clogging the vents into another part of the machine.

Some people actually go so far as opening the housing of the laptop to clean and poke around inside. Unless you have some electronics skills or have done this kind of thing before I wouldn't advise you to attempt this. Remember that opening up the housing will render your warranty void.

After cleaning out the inside of the laptop, blast the keyboard with compressed air as you'd be surprised at the amount of dirt that builds up underneath the keys. While you're e in a cleaning mood give the screen a gentle wipe with a soft cloth designed for computer screens.

Repeat this process every few weeks to keep your laptop's cooling system in good working. One more thing, when doing any kind of cleaning of your laptop make sure it is turned off!

Take note, if the heatsink has already been clogged, using compressed air will not be enough to unclog it. If you have never cleaned the heatsink and you had used your laptop for over a year, chances are that both the fan and the heatsink are clogged with dust and debris. The solution in this case is to remove the heatsink, clean it and install it back. This is best done in a laptop repair shop, as it takes quite a lot of experience and dexterity.

2. Mending The Fan

The fan is used to either suck cool air into the machine or blow hot air out of it. If it malfunctions in any way then this can cause some serious problems as the laptop will inevitably overheat.

If you can locate the fan use the end of a cotton swab with the cotton removed and clean off any dirt. Then give the area a light blast with the compressed air. If you find that the fan still isn't working properly then I would suggest getting the laptop repaired by an expert. You will be glad to know that a malfunctioning fan is not a common fault.

3. Choosing The Right Surface

If the surface you have chosen to work on is in any way blocking your laptop's air vents then you can expect an over worked internal fan and a major build-up of laptop heat.

Yes, laptops are designed to be used on all kinds of different surfaces but within reason. For example, setting up on a bed or pillow might be comfortable for you, but it essentially smothers the laptop, preventing the intake of cool air and the release of hot air. The same will happen if you are on the floor, couch, and your lap or even when placed directly on a flat surface.

Many laptops overheat in part because not enough air flows underneath the laptop's base. When a laptop is too close to a desk or other surface, it cuts off air flow, and makes cooling more difficult.

What you need to do is keep the bottom of your laptop elevated so air can circulate underneath it and to the sides. Some laptops have little rubber feet on their base that may do the trick. You can try using books, small boxes, bottle caps or whatever you can find that will prop the machine up. Truth is, all that is a lot of messing around when all you have to do is buy yourself a lapdesk cooling pad that will elevate your laptop and cool it with its built-in fan.

Cooling pads are a popular solution to the problem of overheating and with so many different varieties to choose from it shouldn't be hard to find one that suits your laptop. They come in all shapes and sizes some with fans and some without. Some are built with very light plastic, perfect for travelers. Others are mainly designed for ultimate comfort; a must for those of you who place comfort as your priority.

A huge bonus with these is that most of the units are below $50 which I think is an investment considering it will prevent your $500 laptop from burning up! Saving you money!

4. Fixing Software Issues and Settings

BIOS upgrades tend to cause problems with laptops. If you've upgraded to a newer version of BIOS and start having problems, try to uninstall that version and reinstall the version you had originally. Or you can adjust your BIOS settings. Most laptops have features built into the system BIOS that allow fan speed, CPU temperature alarms, and other settings to be adjusted. Read your owner's manual to learn how to enter the BIOS and change the settings for your particular laptop model.

Another way to reduce overheating problems is to operate the computer at slower than full design speeds by changing its default settings. It is annoying to pay a manufacturer extra for a faster chip, and then have to operate the chip at less than full speed, but on occasions an operational but slightly slower computer is better than a non-operational computer.

Take a look at all of your settings and change any that may be using up valuable power. An example would be to reduce screen brightness. Modern laptop graphic cards can generate surprising levels of heat, and dialing back otherwise desirable screen brightness can alleviate heat problems.

Some Additional Prevention Tips

Don't place your laptop next to a vent blowing hot air or a radiator. Never place your laptop in a laptop bag while it is still running; even if it is on standby. Before you put your laptop into some sort of case, either turn it all the way off or set it to hibernate. If your laptop shuts down on its own, don't try to start it back up again and again. The shut-down is a sign of overheating. Give it time to cool down. Shut down if you spill anything on or near your laptop. Never keep your laptop in sleep mode for over an hour. Shut down if the battery is overheating. If you're recharging your battery, unplug it after the process is finished and run your laptop on battery power. Keeping the full battery plugged in can cause overheating.

As a precaution I would consider adding a heat-monitoring program on your laptop. This will keep an eye on the temperature and alert you if something seems wrong. Once again, to improve your laptop cooling in general invest in a lapdesk cooling pad; you won't regret it.

These are just a few of the more popular laptop overheating prevention and cures that you can use. For help on deciding what laptop cooler pad to buy take a look at my website

http://laptop-cooler-pad.com.

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