Apparent thermal shutdown

Clyde Mattocks · Post by **Clyde Mattocks** » 27 Oct 2015 5:07 pm

Over the past couple of weeks, whenever I play several videos or attempt to play a long one,my Dell laptop will complete shut off. When this happens, I notice it has become quite warm to the touch. I have to manually restart it, but I cannot do so for about five minutes. When it comes back up, it will return to the video it stopped on. To me, everything suggests a thermal problem. What would be the cause and remedy?

Scott Duckworth · Post by **Scott Duckworth** » 27 Oct 2015 5:28 pm

Vacuum and check the fan.

Might want to invest in a cooler pad.

Clyde Mattocks · Post by **Clyde Mattocks** » 27 Oct 2015 5:51 pm

Thanks Scott. Sometimes the obvious has to be pointed out to me. I had never noticed the air intake on the bottom. It was completely blocked. I vacuumed it and I am confident that will do the trick. I love this forum and all the people who are so helpful.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 28 Oct 2015 2:20 am

You have to be careful with laptops. They run hotter than a desktop so air flow is especially important with these. They also sacrifice cooling (fan noise) over being quiet.

There are laptop coolers available that the laptop sits on the help with removing heat.

Scott Duckworth · Post by **Scott Duckworth** » 28 Oct 2015 2:36 am

And laptop designers seem to never take into consideration that laptops sit on laps or desks or beds, etc. and they put the vents on the BOTTOM!

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 29 Oct 2015 3:39 am

Makes me love my Sony Vaio; side vent keeps my coffee cup warm.

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 29 Oct 2015 7:18 am

Scott Duckworth wrote:And laptop designers seem to never take into consideration that laptops sit on laps or desks or beds, etc. and they put the vents on the BOTTOM!

Every manual I have seen for laptops warns against putting them on anything but hard flat surfaces for that reason.

I read where a person set their laptop on the bed, fell asleep, and the bed caught on fire and killed them. I don't have time now, but I can probably find that article.