Hardware issue?

[Twilit Soul]

My computer isn't BSOD'ing per-say, but it is crashing[?]. It is instantly powering off as if I unplugged the battery on it. With a slowly but seemingly increasing frequency. Is this more likely a software/drivers issue or a hardware one? It's a laptop with Windows 7. About 2 years old. Does it need replacing?

 

[panais]

My computer isn't BSOD'ing per-say, but it is crashing[?]. It is instantly powering off as if I unplugged the battery on it. With a slowly but seemingly increasing frequency. Is this more likely a software/drivers issue or a hardware one? It's a laptop with Windows 7. About 2 years old. Does it need replacing?

Hi.
A hi temperature issue maybe?If is that the case maybe your laptop needs just a good cleanup.
Lets see....
The easy way is,download Core Temp ,the standalone version,extract it in folder to ur desktop,start the coretemp,snip and add the attachment here.
The other way is to,enter in the BIOS and watch the temps in there,how?
Restart your computer.At the first text on the screen or when the Dell logo appears, tap F2 until the message Entering Setup appears.
Some oldest computers use alternate keys for the bios,as....
<Ctrl>+<Alt>+<Enter>
<Delete>
<Fn>+<F1> (laptop computers only)
<Fn>+<Esc> (laptop computers only)
--------------------------------------------------
The attachment is from my computer,those are <<normal>> temps.
For laptop is a bit different.

 

[theog]

On boot, Press F12 & run the Dell diagnostic tool.

 

[Twilit Soul]

I ran the dell diagnostic tool, which started a pre-boot assessment. I allowed it to run the extra memory tests, and no problems were found to my knowledge. When I booted, it said that the Windows 7 Home Premium was (recovered) though. That's unusual. Both my cores are usually around 45 degrees according toe the standalone 64-bit coretemp program. I almost always have a fan under this laptop, by the way.

 

[Twilit Soul]

Both cores were only around 50 degrees when it shut off this time.

 

[marsmimar]

Have you checked for accumulated dust around fan and vents? Compressed air in quick, short bursts might help. Also, is laptop placed on a firm surface with good airflow around and underneath, or is it on a soft surface like a blanket which would restrict airflow.

 

[Twilit Soul]

I haven't done that, I'll try that. But is all of that important if I'm not overheating?

 

[marsmimar]

It won't hurt. Overheating can occur for just a few minutes at a time like when you're doing something that's CPU or GPU intensive. If components reach or exceed the maximum recommended high temps often enough, they can become weakened leading to weird behavior (like random shutdowns.)

 

[Twilit Soul]

Well that's not good. I'll give this a compressed air spray soon, it has been a little while since I did it.

 

[Twilit Soul]

I rather wish I had a powerful fan just to point at my computer every so often. In fact, back when I lived in a certain dorm I would often pick up my laptop and put it up to the window unit. Worked quite well. Anywho, how bad is it for the laptop's cores to sit around 60 degrees celcius? or 70? Mine seem to be hanging out around there. Although it's odd. They weren't nearly that high before I hit the fan with compressed air and left it off for a bit. Now coretemp is reading around 75 and climbing. What the heck? 80 now.

 

[Twilit Soul]

My laptop is cool to the touch and yet coretemp is reading higher than ever. I'm going to suppose it bugs out sometimes.

 

[Twilit Soul]

Coretemp wasn't lying. I used my house's vent to cool this thing off and it knows it. Also, my performance was taking a heavy hit from the high temperatures. Amazing how much that affects speed.

 

[marsmimar]

This appears to be a definite overheating problem and possibly because you "...hit the fan with compressed air..." I've heard that a fan can be damaged if it's allowed to spin from anything other than it's own electrical power. I usually keep the fan from spinning by holding the blades with a toothpick - then hit it with the compressed air. If you feel comfortable working inside the computer, here's the Dell Service Manual that shows how to remove and replace the fan.

Documentation

It's possible that the fan may not be the problem. If the CPU was previously damaged by heat, it may be operating at a much higher temp than the fan was designed to handle. Perhaps the processor heat sink needs some work (also covered in the Service Manual.)

 

[Twilit Soul]

Hmm. I did not know of holding it with a toothpick or something, never thought it'd be necessary. I might try to replace the fan sometime if it needs work, but for now I'm sitting around 60 degrees and operating fine. We'll see if heat management keeps the laptop from shutting off in the meantime. Thanks for the help =) I'll be back if more problems come up.

 

[panais]

Well that's not good. I'll give this a compressed air spray soon, it has been a little while since I did it.

BE CAREFUL!!
Sometimes compressed air spray make things Worst!Especially in laptops,common sense,are more delicate.
First remove the charger adapter and the battery.
You must always hold the fan when you use air spay or blower and spray from some distances NOT to closed to the fan or hardware.
When allowed to spin from anything other than its own electrical power the fan sometimes act like power generator and send power back to the motherboard with results to do damages in hardware's.

 

[Twilit Soul]

That would be an awful betrayal of trust on the can's part. And I love it so dearly for my keyboard, too.

 

[panais]

That would be an awful betrayal of trust on the can's part. And I love it so dearly for my keyboard, too.

Is a good idea to buy and use a laptop cooler laptop cooler - Google Search
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When in idle,(close all programs,dont use any program)Please snip and attach here ur task manager,let us check something.

 

[Twilit Soul]

Aye, I use a cooler.

For the sake of curiousity and knowledge, what're you checking?

 

[panais]

Aye, I use a cooler.

For the sake of curiousity and knowledge, what're you checking?

Im checking ur CPU usage in idle.
And with 0% in idle is just fine,perfect
When you use programs the CPU usage naturally start to increase and the temperature follows.
If in idle with 0% CPU usage you get a high temperatures something is wrong.
Just a tip: better dont use a toothpick to hold the fan,the reason,if the fan spin with forse it may brake the toothpick and send it inside the laptop.
Questions: When you have the instantly powering off,you use the battery power? u use the adapter for charging? Or in both cases?
Are you still get those high temps?