Solution #2
posted on Aug 18, 2009
Rank: Guru

Expert
Rating: 92%, 577 votes
Suggestions:
A.Laptop on, find the Air Intake Duct. This duct should be drawing air in. If it isn't, your Cooling Fan is bad. If it is working okay,
B.Laptop off:
1.Remove the battery, and AC adapter, (Charger)
Buy a can of compressed air for computers, and spray air into the Air Intake Duct. [Make SURE it is the Air Intake Duct, and not the Exhaust Duct!]
The above is an over simplification of a procedure, that warrants using much more finesse. Let's get a little more technical.
Inside the Air Intake Duct, way up inside, (Usually), is a small fan.
[Attached to the heatsink of the Cooling Tube]
This fan is made to operate, at so many revolutions per minute. Spinning it faster than it is designed for, could lead to premature failure of the fan's bearings. [Fan will quit spinning, way before it's Life Cycle of usage]
For this reason, I find it's best to attach the plastic 'straw' into the nozzle of the can of air, and come about one finger length away, from the Air Intake Duct grille.
Hold the laptop on a table on it's side, with one hand, use the other hand for the can of air.
If the Air Intake Duct is on the bottom of the laptop, put the edge of the laptop that is closest to the Air Intake Duct, close to the table top.
[Example: Laptop on it's side. You are looking at the bottom. The Air Intake Duct is close to the Top Left corner. Turn the laptop still on it's edge to the left, put the Air Intake Duct close to the tabletop.
The Air Intake Duct is now on the Bottom Left corner, close to the tabletop. You are going to be blowing Dust/Dirt/Hair, you name it, out of that Air Intake Duct. You want the 'gunk' to come out at the bottom]
Start at the top left corner of the Air Intake Duct grille. [Remember, finger length away] Press the trigger of the can of air in all the way, and go across. Go all the way to the other side of the grille. Let go of the trigger. Drop down a row. How far you drop down is up to you. You'll know what the correct distance is, by the dust that is being blown off.
Spray across again, as you did before. Keep going down in rows, until you are at the bottom of the grille.
Now change tactics. Bring the plastic straw right up against the grille. THIS TIME, use Short Bursts! Press the trigger in all the way, but let go quick. Spray along the top as you did before, and drop down in rows until you reach the bottom.
As you spray along with the can of air you will notice that the air pressure drops, and the top of the can develops frost. This is because the air is coming out so fast, that it freezes the moisture in the air. The propellant in the can, helps to cause this freezing effect also.
Let the can sit for 10 minutes or so. The can of air will warm up. Use it again.
[Tilting the can of air, will also cause propellant to come out. The can of air manufacturer, states to not do this. If you are doing a good job, it is inevitable that you will tilt the can. Don't worry about it, but try to refrain from doing so]
After you are satisfied that the Air Intake Duct is clean, move the laptop back to it's normal position. I suggest propping the side that has the Air Intake Duct, up with a book. This allows air to circulate better, so that the Air Intake Duct, and all related cooling components inside can dry out. Some of the moisture from the can of air, will have got in there.
When you are satisfied that it is dry, (20 minutes or so), remove the book, place the battery back in, set the laptop back to it's normal operating position. Plug the AC adapter, (Charger), back in. WAIT 1 minute, then turn the laptop on.
I also advise buying an inexpensive laptop cooler pad. There are models that are battery operated,and also ones that use power from a USB port on the laptop. An inexpensive laptop cooler pad should work just fine.
Examples;
http://www.xoxide.com/noco.html?utm_source=yahoo&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=laptop%20cooling%20pad&utm_content=laptop%20cooler&utm_campaign=YSM%2B-%2BS%2B-%2BLaptop%2BCooling&OVRAW=laptop%20cooling%20pad&OVKEY=laptop%20cooler&OVMTC=advanced&OVADID=31188774522&OVKWID=142345930022