Pancake Posted May 14, 2011 Posted May 14, 2011 Every few minutes my laptop starts to make a whirring noise, and everything slows down until it stops. I literally can't get anything done when it's in that state. It's as if it's struggling with multiple tasks or something, when actually all i'm doing is browsing the internet, with a few Windows open. I've tried all the usual, disk defrag, disk cleanup, junk file removal, blah blah. I'm thinking maybe it's a hardware problem. Last year it had to have a stick of memory removed, could that be causing this?? Surely even with some memory removed it'd be able to simply browse the internet without turning into a fucking spaz. IT'S DRIVING ME CRAZY. I'm on the verge of just buying a new laptop. Maybe shitty retail laptops are only built to last a few years. *Sigh* I really don't want to have to spend hundreds of pounds on a laptop right now.
Emasher Posted May 14, 2011 Posted May 14, 2011 What are the specs of the laptop? (if you don't know, there's a nice little free utility called Speccy that will tell you everything.) But yes, if you took out some RAM your computer isn't going to be able to multitask as well.
Nolan Posted May 14, 2011 Posted May 14, 2011 Did this start happening right after the removing memory or is it more recent? If it's recent we can discount that as the cause. Though Emasher (love the sig btw) is right that less RAM=poorer multitasking. Whirring sounds make me think Hard Drive. It is possible your laptop is slowing down to access the HD, but if you're just browsing the internet it shouldn't be accessing it to that extreme. Which...brings us back to RAM. RAM or possibly a virus, run a scan if you can.
Pancake Posted May 14, 2011 Author Posted May 14, 2011 Is this enough info? Did this start happening right after the removing memory or is it more recent? If it's recent we can discount that as the cause. Though Emasher (love the sig btw) is right that less RAM=poorer multitasking. Whirring sounds make me think Hard Drive. It is possible your laptop is slowing down to access the HD, but if you're just browsing the internet it shouldn't be accessing it to that extreme. Which...brings us back to RAM. RAM or possibly a virus, run a scan if you can. I can't remember if it started after the memory removal incident (ironic??). But it only seems to be REALLY bad the past few months or so. Either that, or i've just become more impatient. I've run comprehensive virus scans already.
Ville Posted May 14, 2011 Posted May 14, 2011 Overheating problem perhaps? Open up and remove dust, also elevate the machine to allow ventilation...
Cube Posted May 14, 2011 Posted May 14, 2011 A few things to try: - To to Start, type msconfig in the search box and hit enter. Go to Startup and untick everything that isn't anti-virus or driver-related. - Go to Add/Remove Programs and uninstall everything you don't need. Once you've done that run Ccleaner
Nolan Posted May 14, 2011 Posted May 14, 2011 It's the fan, which would be the whirring noise. Those temps are waaaay to high. Your laptop is overheating, oh and 2GB of RAM is fine. Back to the fan, my suggestion is you or someone who's comfortable if you aren't popping the case open and cleaning out any dust that has gathered. If there isn't any dust....well things get a bit more complicated. But at those temps your hardware will start to fry itself into oblivion and then you would need a new laptop.
Cube Posted May 14, 2011 Posted May 14, 2011 If you don't want to open it then hoover the fan. It may help clear it up a bit. While we're on the subject, what's "too high" for the CPU/Motherboard?
Pancake Posted May 14, 2011 Author Posted May 14, 2011 Omg, so seems like it's overheating! Ok... i have now propped it up off the desk with two books (making sure not to cover the vents!). If this makes no difference... then i'll i'll try those other, more strenuous suggestions. Thanks guys. UPDATE: Oh my god the humble book method appears to be working! I can't believe it!
Nolan Posted May 14, 2011 Posted May 14, 2011 If you don't want to open it then hoover the fan. It may help clear it up a bit. While we're on the subject, what's "too high" for the CPU/Motherboard? I'd say over 55-60C for CPU is what I'd be comfortable with for semi-significant amount of time, that's still rather high though. That said, a CPU will go to 100C before the fail safe kicks in and just shuts down the PC. The higher the temp the sooner the chip will burn out. Generally around high 30's to low 40's is a good place to be. Motherboards, I have no clue, but in Pancake's screencap the temp is in red so that's apparently severe. Of note, at 78C the color was only orange/yellow for the CPU. A high-end GPU runs much hotter though, 70-80 under load is not uncommon now, and Hard Drives should stay under 50 (according to what Speccy determined by mine).
Emasher Posted May 14, 2011 Posted May 14, 2011 In that case, you might want to look into a decent stand (they're not that expensive). I'd say over 55-60C for CPU is what I'd be comfortable with for semi-significant amount of time, that's still rather high though. That said, a CPU will go to 100C before the fail safe kicks in and just shuts down the PC. The higher the temp the sooner the chip will burn out. Generally around high 30's to low 40's is a good place to be. Motherboards, I have no clue, but in Pancake's screencap the temp is in red so that's apparently severe. Of note, at 78C the color was only orange/yellow for the CPU. A high-end GPU runs much hotter though, 70-80 under load is not uncommon now, and Hard Drives should stay under 50 (according to what Speccy determined by mine). I would expect a laptop to get a little bit hotter than that.
Nolan Posted May 14, 2011 Posted May 14, 2011 Laptops do run hotter than desktops. However, with relatively low air flow my CPU still only gets to about 50 under load (gaming) right now it's hovering at 40.
Rummy Posted May 15, 2011 Posted May 15, 2011 Omg, so seems like it's overheating! Ok... i have now propped it up off the desk with two books (making sure not to cover the vents!). If this makes no difference... then i'll i'll try those other, more strenuous suggestions. Thanks guys. UPDATE: Oh my god the humble book method appears to be working! I can't believe it! I'd say still whip the hoover out and stick it on the fan to suck out some dust if you haven't already.
Shorty Posted May 15, 2011 Posted May 15, 2011 Vacuums generate a lot of static. Static fries motherboards.
Rummy Posted May 15, 2011 Posted May 15, 2011 Forsrs? Has anybody ever fried their mobo by vacuuming their fans?
Pancake Posted May 15, 2011 Author Posted May 15, 2011 I've ordered a stand. My laptop will now be way too high up to be comfortable though, it already is just with the books. But i don't care, i'm just happy i'm not having to buy a new laptop. Might give it a hoover next time i'm hoovering... UPDATE: The books have stopped working! It's back to its old ways! Now i'm wondering if i've wasted money on this stand! *Sigh*
Shorty Posted May 16, 2011 Posted May 16, 2011 Forsrs? Has anybody ever fried their mobo by vacuuming their fans? Fans on a computer no but the vents on the bottom of a laptop are much closer to the circuitry. I'm not saying it will happen (I never really bother with anti-static bands) but it's worth being aware of the risks.
Raining_again Posted May 21, 2011 Posted May 21, 2011 yeah never never hoover any computer of any kind, especially with high powered hoovers.. My netbook does the same, its very common for laptops to have limited airflow.. Anything you can do to give it space underneath will always help. I use a couple of small bits of wood (of the same height) and set them so the fans aren't covered et voila. Lots of room for air!
Diageo Posted May 21, 2011 Posted May 21, 2011 I've hoovered my laptop twice and all it has done is make it less noisy and cleaner.
MoogleViper Posted May 24, 2011 Posted May 24, 2011 Forsrs? Has anybody ever fried their mobo by vacuuming their fans? I vacuumed my carpet and set my house on fire. Damn static electricity.
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