XP Pro laptop locking up

[TCRonson]

I need some ideas, folks. I have a Gateway 600 laptop with Win XP Pro, and
am set up as part of a domain (if this matters). The laptop worked fine for
2 months or so, but has lately started doing hard lockups. I'm leaning to
believing that it is hardware related for the following reasons:
1. It seems most of the time to lock up just as the cooling fan comes on
2. If I try to reboot immediately, it will lock up during boot up
3. If I try to boot to an emergency floppy immediately, it will lock up
during boot up (either XP emergency disk, or 98 emergency disk)
4. If I let it sit for 10-15 minutes, it will boot up and work until the
next lock up, which can happen at various times
5. I can't put my finger on any software changes that occurred at the time
the lock ups started.

How can I confirm that it is hardware related, and pin down how to fix it?

Thanks in advance for your help.

TCR

 

[Willit]

well , it sounds like the CPU is overheating. I would ck
for a BIOS update and make a post on the gateway site. For
dell someone has written a fan program that will allow you
to set the fan cut in/out temps. Set it up on a book and
make sure that you're not blocking any of the air intakes
for the fan system. A example of my own was I had a little
hot plate for my coffee the fan was pulling in air off of
it and causing the same condition to occur as you're
describing. I bought a "Apple" stand that raises the
computer 6" off the desk that I like, has the right angle
and solved the heating problem and gave me my desk space
back.

 

[CS]

I need some ideas, folks. I have a Gateway 600 laptop with Win XP Pro, and
am set up as part of a domain (if this matters). The laptop worked fine for
2 months or so, but has lately started doing hard lockups. I'm leaning to
believing that it is hardware related for the following reasons:
1. It seems most of the time to lock up just as the cooling fan comes on
2. If I try to reboot immediately, it will lock up during boot up
3. If I try to boot to an emergency floppy immediately, it will lock up
during boot up (either XP emergency disk, or 98 emergency disk)
4. If I let it sit for 10-15 minutes, it will boot up and work until the
next lock up, which can happen at various times
5. I can't put my finger on any software changes that occurred at the time
the lock ups started.

How can I confirm that it is hardware related, and pin down how to fix it?

Thanks in advance for your help.

TCR

Hi TCR:

Sounds like it may be heat related. Sometimes the small fans that
are used in notebook computers will bog down from dust or the intake
vents which draw the air for circulation become blocked or partially
obstructed. Overheating is a fairly common problem with notebook
computers because of the confined area which houses the motherboard,
CPU, memory, and hard drive. All which create heat.

If your Gateway is still under warranty, don't mess with it and take
it to the closest Gateway service and sales store if one is in your
area. If it's not under warranty and you feel qualified, remove the
case and carefully examine the vents and fan for dirt. Usually you
can clean them with a small soft brush and canned air. You may be
able to download a service manual from Gateway for your model which
will help in removing the case - more importantly - getting it back
together again.

Good luck.

 

[TCRonson]

My first thought was CPU overheating. Most of the time, it's setting in it's
docking station which should (I would think) elevate it enough for cooling.
I have posted on the Gateway site, and received only one response. The
responder had the same trouble and sent it into Gateway. It worked fine for
a few months and started in again. This is a company provided computer, so I
don't know anything about warranty. I don't want to send it back to our IS
department- they are fairly uninformed on these matters- give them a server
problem and they will knock it out immediately. Stand alone PC's are not
their bag. Do you know if any of the CPU temperature monitor programs work
on notebooks? I might try to see just how hot it is getting.

Thanks for your response.

TCR

 

[TCRonson]

Hi TCR:

Sounds like it may be heat related. Sometimes the small fans that
are used in notebook computers will bog down from dust or the intake
vents which draw the air for circulation become blocked or partially
obstructed. Overheating is a fairly common problem with notebook
computers because of the confined area which houses the motherboard,
CPU, memory, and hard drive. All which create heat.

If your Gateway is still under warranty, don't mess with it and take
it to the closest Gateway service and sales store if one is in your
area. If it's not under warranty and you feel qualified, remove the
case and carefully examine the vents and fan for dirt. Usually you
can clean them with a small soft brush and canned air. You may be
able to download a service manual from Gateway for your model which
will help in removing the case - more importantly - getting it back
together again.

Good luck.

I also believe it is heat related, but don't know how to check for sure. As
this is a company provided laptop, I don't know what the warranty situation
is, and I don't want to send it back to our IS department. I have looked
into the duct areas, and inside as far as I can see by removing floppy and
CD drives, and I see no sign of dust build up. I'm a little reluctant to
take it apart at this point. If it were mine, I wouldn't worry, but it's
not.
Thanks for responding.

TCR