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I'm almost too embarassed to post this problem as I am an IT professional supporting +a network of users over 2500 strong covering EMEA! I have a second laptop which I bought in January 2005, and it just won't stay on any longer. I have done everything possible and even taken it into work so that my colleagues could help out.
It starts up fine after it has been left alone for some days, runs smoothly and quickly for, oh, say 15, 20, 30 minutes, depending on it's mood. Then it just freezes!! You wouldn't know until you touch the mouse. A hardware shutdown and restart and it won't even blink. Leave it for 5, 10 minutes and it starts up again, this time running for only about 10 minutes or less. Process repeated and each time it runs for less the previous time. But each time, surely, it freezes again!!!
Any ideas?? I suspected HDD failure, ran tests and now think the cooling system and CPU need upgrading...:rolleyes: :?: Anyone??
And, nevermind your problems. I am here now and I spend my entire time helping people with PC problems. I'll try to plow through the list here as quickly as possible.
Cheers
Valdy

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Dani AI

Generated

The pattern you describe — long idle, then a period of normal operation followed by a sudden freeze and only starting again after cooling — matches a thermal shutdown. @toollazy2work was on the right track, but before replacing parts it helps to confirm cause and follow a safe, low-risk troubleshooting sequence.

Start by verifying temperatures and fan behaviour. Boot and run a temperature monitor (eg. HWMonitor/Core Temp) and watch temps as the machine runs. With the bottom cover off, observe the fan: does it spin at idle, ramp up under load, or stall? Check Windows Event Viewer for unexpected shutdowns (Kernel‑Power, thermal events). If the freeze happens only under load, it’s almost certainly heat-related.

Cleaning and thermal rework are the usual fixes on a laptop. Steps in order of risk and cost:

  • Clean vents, fan and heatsink with compressed air and a soft brush.
  • Confirm fan bearings and replace the fan if it stalls or makes grinding noises.
  • If temperatures remain high, remove the heatsink, clean old thermal compound with 90%+ isopropyl alcohol, and reapply a quality thermal paste (apply sparingly and re-seat the heatsink evenly).
  • Replace thermal pads on VRMs/GPU if crumbling.
  • As a temporary fix, limit max CPU state in power options or use a cooling pad.

Two important notes: many laptop CPUs are soldered/BGA and cannot be upgraded — check the service manual before considering CPU replacement. Take ESD precautions and disconnect battery/AC before hardware work; if unsure, replacing the OEM fan/heatsink assembly (part number from the service manual) is safer than invasive DIY.

Member Avatar for toolazy2work

From the sounds of it, The laptop is overheating. Next time you turn it on, feel the bottom after it shuts down or try to prop the backend up on a book or something to allow circulation beneath the notebook. Respond with results.
Hope it works,
Nick

Member Avatar for whitehills7

Toolazy,

Thanks for your response. I'd suspecte that already after having tried all ther stuff. As soon as I got home from work, I opened the back pat that covers the CPU and Fan. I placed the machine on a table in a way that that part is free of any cover. It is working. How do I change the cooling system and how do I improve the CPU's cooling ability

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