When working at home on your laptop, you often might be thinking, “Wow, my laptop is really hot!”  Overheating laptops can be a serious problem for a variety of different reasons.  If your computer gets too hot, it could crash.  However, an overheated laptop can have more serious impacts than just on computer performance.  Overheated laptops have caused house fires, burned users, and studies have even linked hot laptops to male fertility problems. Yikes! Here are some tips that explain why your laptop is really hot and how to keep it cooler:

Check your fans

Because laptops are designed to be compact, all of their internal parts are more tightly packed giving them a tendency to overheat. It is important to make sure the fans are running properly for this reason. You can do this by downloading diagnostic software from the website of your laptop manufacturer, or from another reliable online vendor.

Clean out your vents

Laptop vents are narrow, so it is already difficult for the heat they generate to escape.  This problem can worsen when the vents get clogged with dirt and dust. You can fix this problem by blasting them with compressed air, which you can purchase at office supply stores. You can also try cleaning the vents using a lightly damp cloth, never a wet one.

Check your BIOS settings

Software settings inform your computer when it is too hot and trigger the fans to start working.  Computer manufacturers sometimes release BIOS updates with revised temperature settings that can help optimize cooling.  Check your laptop manufacturer’s website for information on BIOS updates, but proceed with caution because BIOS software is more complex than basic computer settings.  It may be safer to consult an expert for help with BIOS updates.

If you try these ideas and your laptop is still hot, or if you need further laptop assistance, visit TalkLocal, which will find you local computer repair professionals and have them call you back within minutes.

This entry was originally posted on Thursday, July 5th, 2012 at 6:00 am and is filed under Computer Repair. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.