Laptop Problems
 

I got a laptop around the 28th of December, 2005

Bought from Cyber Power System, it was custom built based on an MSI-1029 laptop.

It has been functioning fine until recently...

It starts shutting down on it's own while I'm doing stuff on the computer. The power cord IS plugged in, I am not relying on my battery so that isn't the problem.

It first happened while I was (trying) to play Rise and Fall, where it'd shut down every 10 minutes. Now it happens when I am just using the computer regularly. And it's happening more frequently.

Also, another problem I have when trying to rely on battery power, is that the computer doesn't function. The screen freezes, and I cannot access ANY programs. Can't even shut the computer down, have to push and hold the power button down for 10 seconds. Plug it in, turn it back on, and it functions fine (except for the turning on bit).

I e-mailed CPS (this morning at 12:00 AM), but they haven't responded and it's 10:30 at night (though the same day).

Now my computer is shutting down so frequently I am afraid I won't be able to connect to the internet. I'm typing this message on my sidekick.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

Any hardware changes or additions?

Use Event Viewer. Does anything in your event log sync up with the failures?

You've made sure the vents are clear? That it isn't full of dust/grunge?

Does it still happen when you safe boot? (f8 just before it's booting) Try safe boot with network so you can get something done.

No hardware changes/additions.

Event Viewer? Event log? Where can I find those?

Yup, vent is clear.

I'll try safe boot the next time it shuts down, see what I can do.

It ALMOST seems like there's a connection with how hot it gets (and it gets pretty damn hot sometimes - but it's been like that since I bought it).

Certainly heat can cause problems. Your system may be degrading or you may just have blocked heatsinks.

Do you use it on fabric surfaces? On carpets? Give it a shot of canned air in the the exit and intake vents. If you see clouds, repeat.

If you're desperate before CPS responds, set it on a fan and see if it doesn't last longer.

Event viewer can be accessed from Computer Management. Right-click my computer, select Manage. You'll see Event Viewer under System Tools. Check the logs for errors corresponding with the times it chokes.

If you're gonna do that, get a vaccum ready or at least, do it outside where you won't choke up on the dust ;)

Stuff like this i always assume its heat problems. Laptops arnt exactly easy to clean the dust out of and they are so small cooling can be a real problem. lots of compressed air would help. Depending on how worthless the company is that you got it from on helping you might have to take it apart yourself to clean it out and remove all the dust. But... dont do that if your not confedent in your ablity to put it back together without damageing it. I have never done this to a laptop but i have with a few desktop pcs that had the same problem. you wouldnt believe how much dust can build up in a computers heat sinks and fans after a year of alot of use. My personal PC sits on the floor and after about 9 months of use i open it up and find so much dust in it im surprised it dosnt overheat and shut itself down.

Got a response from CyberPower Sustems.

So I went out and got a can of duster air and blew out my vents. Didn't get much dust out, but I hope it helps. He didn't really answer my question about the battery problem though...

It hasn't been a full year, is the laptop under some sort of warranty? If so then you should send it in as soon as you can - with "technical support" as worthless as that email I can't imagine them being anymore easy going if you discover it's not just dust build up but a severe problem.

I found with the (shitty) Emachines laptop I had that to blow compressed air into it's single vent wasn't enough - it'd overheat so much that I've have to take it apart at least once a month and manually clean the vent and fan as well as reapplying thermal paste.

I'd second the warranty call. It isn't fun cleaning/restoring your drive and being without the thing for a week but it's worse missing free warranty service. If you've given it a good shot of air and maybe the fan cooling treatment without improvement then let them fight it.