Is My Laptop Dying?

[kcmo]

Guys/Gals,

Perhaps a strange question to ask, but lately my laptop has been exhibiting some strange behavior and I'm wondering if its nearing its life end.....

Firstly, it gets VERY hot underneath after it's been running.....and I'm not talking hours here, as it starts getting warm within 15min of use. I've resorted to having to put a pillow underneath it as I used to get a red rash on my lap from the heat...

Second, it's starting to lose it's wireless signal which is weird. This varies.....usually if I've left it unattended (no activity) for more than 20min and I go back to 'wake' it up, it loses a connection to the net....sometimes it takes 2-3min to get back up, and other times as much as 10-15min! SO annoying!

Third, I don't believe I have any 'sleep' settings on, but if I leave it unattended for say, 30min or so, I have to hit the power button to wake it up again. Don't recall this happening in the past...have always been able to just touch the track pad to wake it up.

I thought about bringing it in to my local computer place to check it out but figured I'd ask you all for your input first

Oh, I should mention that it's a Dell Inspiron 1521....I know it's a discontinued model....have had it about 3 yrs. Luckily I don't rely on it heavily....just do lots of internet surfing! We have a desktop too.

TIA for your help

[Mockingbird]

Well, with the first one, clean out the fans in the laptop. That's the reason why your computer continues to overheat. The second I really don't know about, your wifi receiver on your laptop may have been damaged. The third: My laptop has done things like this all the time, changing it's own settings that it is. For a few months it would auto-lock itself after a minute. This actually just switched itself a few months later.

The second one is probably the only one I'd really be concerned about if I were you.

[STEELINOX]

Could be time to let 'er go, she's served you well right, so why not go and get a new one...

[TheDude]

I second the thought that it's a fan issue. This can and does happen to laptops quite often. Get a proper stand for it to allow the heat to escape.

I use a Rain Design mStand. Solid aluminum.








It is possible that overheated components might be having "issues", like the WiFi chipset, etc... Your issues might possibly stem from a driver update as well. If you have auto-updates on, it might have installed a newer/different driver (presumably one that isn't working as well).

Has the laptop shut down spontaneously? This can happen if it overheats.

[Rscmaine]

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[CoopJr]

Could it be the battery on it's last legs?

[kyle L]

Its probably overheating, causing all those problems. Try purchasing a laptop cooler, it will expand battery life and cool down the laptop.

[erwin]

Try cleaning the vent and reset your modem/router if you're using one by unplugging to the power supply cable for about 1 minute! Hope you get your laptop running smoothly again!
ps
I suggest a cooling pad too!

[Skullring]

Here is a little tutorial on removing the fan from a 1521. I also have a dell laptop and after a couple of months the fan has collected enough lint and dust that it is not able to cool itself off properly. This is the best way to clean it out but you can also try to blow it out from the fans exhaust side with some canned air if you don't feel comfortable taking it apart. Computers can act very buggy when they are too hot. Hope you figure it out. It is too young to give up on yet. http://support.us.dell.com/support/e....htm#wp1179841

[kcmo]

Originally Posted by TheDude

I second the thought that it's a fan issue. This can and does happen to laptops quite often. Get a proper stand for it to allow the heat to escape.

I use a Rain Design mStand. Solid aluminum.








It is possible that overheated components might be having "issues", like the WiFi chipset, etc... Your issues might possibly stem from a driver update as well. If you have auto-updates on, it might have installed a newer/different driver (presumably one that isn't working as well).

Has the laptop shut down spontaneously? This can happen if it overheats.

Thanks so much! I'll definitely see about having the fan cleaned out and I'll go buy a stand too. As far as it shutting down spontaneously, I don't really recall this happening more than once or twice over the past 8 or 9 mos.

[kcmo]

Originally Posted by kyle L

Its probably overheating, causing all those problems. Try purchasing a laptop cooler, it will expand battery life and cool down the laptop.

Thanks Kyle! By 'laptop cooler', are you also referring to the stand, or is this something else?

Originally Posted by erwin

Try cleaning the vent and reset your modem/router if you're using one by unplugging to the power supply cable for about 1 minute! Hope you get your laptop running smoothly again!
ps
I suggest a cooling pad too!

Many thanks!

Originally Posted by Skullring

Here is a little tutorial on removing the fan from a 1521. I also have a dell laptop and after a couple of months the fan has collected enough lint and dust that it is not able to cool itself off properly. This is the best way to clean it out but you can also try to blow it out from the fans exhaust side with some canned air if you don't feel comfortable taking it apart. Computers can act very buggy when they are too hot. Hope you figure it out. It is too young to give up on yet. http://support.us.dell.com/support/e....htm#wp1179841

Thanks for the tips! I'll either take it to my local guys to clean it out for me, or try the compressed air. Not brave enough to take it apart myself! Hopefully this will solve the problem

[kyle L]

Originally Posted by kcmo

Thanks Kyle! By 'laptop cooler', are you also referring to the stand, or is this something else?



Many thanks!



Thanks for the tips! I'll either take it to my local guys to clean it out for me, or try the compressed air. Not brave enough to take it apart myself! Hopefully this will solve the problem

They kind of look like this:

[David Woo]

Originally Posted by kcmo

it's starting to lose it's wireless signal which is weird.

Try switching the wireless antennae (little switch on the side of the laptop) off and back on, make sure the switch is firmly in the "on" position.
Another dell laptop sufferer, lol.
DW

[kcmo]

Originally Posted by kyle L

They kind of look like this:

Ahhh, interesting! Thanks....will add that to my shopping list!

[kcmo]

Originally Posted by David Woo

Try switching the wireless antennae (little switch on the side of the laptop) off and back on, make sure the switch is firmly in the "on" position.
Another dell laptop sufferer, lol.
DW

Yup, have made sure the switch is on...thanks