Windows 7: CPU running hot

When I first got my laptop (see system specs) my core temps were mid 30s average and I'd have to PUSH to get them over 50. Now, they're running mid 50s average and I can't get them under 45. Anyone have any idea what's going on?

The cooling is all on the bottom of a laptop, check for clogged vents, don't use on your lap or bed or pillow they get no cooling. That's where i'd start looking, then you can go deeper if nessisary

If you have a hoover with suction pipe it is very useful to carefully such the muck back out through the vents without the need to open your lappy
Edit Remember to power off the lappy before you try this

yep, check your cooling vents to see if they've got fluff/dust/crud in them.

use a can of compressed air or an old toothbrush to clean them out.

also, check that something isn't making your cpu work real hard all the time, by using taskmanager.

if you do use it in bed, rest it on a book or something, so the vents don't get covered by your bedding.

An i7 in a laptop will run hot, its like packing an elephant in a match box. Unless this lappy is oldish (in which case you can clean out with compressed air), try using it with the rear raised or with a cooling usb pad.

Use a balanced power plan if you dont need the power all the time.

If you have a fan control utility (i dont think HP has one and the bios is dumbed down to exclude any fan speed options), try ramping up fan speed or try speedfan- it may or may not detect the fans.

In advanced options of the current power plan, set system cooling policy to active in both plugged in and battery.

Now I have it setting on my kitchen table and my temps are mid 40s. I'm not sure what's up with this. I've had this laptop for 6 days and it's acting up already. I am sure the vents are not clogged as it's so new.

I would treat it for clogged vents first and then we can go from there if the problem is not sorted

new or not if you had the fans blocked for any amount of time you could have done some serious damage, cpu's don't like overheating.

follow the advice above and if that doesn't work then consider contacting your manufacter to get it looked at under warranty, given how new it is be very carefull how you proceed as you could void the warranty trying to solve it yourself.

I already voided the warranty, day one of owning the laptop I formatted the hard drive and did a clean installation of 7 Professional. What more do I have to lose by opening it up to clean it out?

However, I do have this to ask: I've heard a rumor that HP puts sensors in their laptops that if you open it up, it disables the mobo and kills your laptop. Is this true?

i would be very surprised if that were true.

recently i replaced the keyboard on a pretty old (five years) hp laptop. i had to open her right up, with no ill effects.