Slow Computer. Overheating.

[Dana]

I spent over a year reading all sorts of suggestions about how to speed up my
computer. I wasted countless hours trying all sorts of software ideas.

My problem was that my computer was DUSTY! I have a Toshiba laptop. I read
in www.laptoprepair101.com that a great deal of slow computer problems are
caused by a build up of dust inside the computer. A fellow suggested using a
Shop Vac to suck out the dust. It worked. My computer speeded up and it is
no longer overheating. I did not even KNOW it was overheating, since I work
in an environment without air conditioning and the temperature seemed all
right to me. I did not KNOW it was dusty because it was closed up, as all
laptops are!

The problem with discussion groups is that solutions are sometimes just
other people's opinions. For those of you who are as frustrated as I was,
try a Shop Vac or a blow out with compressed air.

 

[Jim Gordon MVP]

Actually, I think one of the most solid advantages of newsgroups to any
other format is the ability to find correct solutions that are posted by
people such as yourself who take the time to let the world know how they
solved a particularly vexing problem.

On behalf of anyone else who comes across this solution and it works for
them, I thank you.

-Jim

I spent over a year reading all sorts of suggestions about how to speed up my
computer. I wasted countless hours trying all sorts of software ideas.

My problem was that my computer was DUSTY! I have a Toshiba laptop. I read
in www.laptoprepair101.com that a great deal of slow computer problems are
caused by a build up of dust inside the computer. A fellow suggested using a
Shop Vac to suck out the dust. It worked. My computer speeded up and it is
no longer overheating. I did not even KNOW it was overheating, since I work
in an environment without air conditioning and the temperature seemed all
right to me. I did not KNOW it was dusty because it was closed up, as all
laptops are!

The problem with discussion groups is that solutions are sometimes just
other people's opinions. For those of you who are as frustrated as I was,
try a Shop Vac or a blow out with compressed air.

--
Jim Gordon
Mac MVP

MVPs are not Microsoft Employees
MVP info

 

[Kurt]

I spent over a year reading all sorts of suggestions about how to speed up my
computer. I wasted countless hours trying all sorts of software ideas.

My problem was that my computer was DUSTY! I have a Toshiba laptop. I read
in www.laptoprepair101.com that a great deal of slow computer problems are
caused by a build up of dust inside the computer. A fellow suggested using a
Shop Vac to suck out the dust. It worked. My computer speeded up and it is
no longer overheating. I did not even KNOW it was overheating, since I work
in an environment without air conditioning and the temperature seemed all
right to me. I did not KNOW it was dusty because it was closed up, as all
laptops are!

The problem with discussion groups is that solutions are sometimes just
other people's opinions. For those of you who are as frustrated as I was,
try a Shop Vac or a blow out with compressed air.

Shop Vacs rule! I use one to suck the sludge out of my pond. Got this
tip from a ponding newsgroup.

As for the Toshiba laptop, I feel your pain.

 

[John McGhie]

Ummm... "Carefully" The suction from a vacuum cleaner is sufficiently
strong to dislodge some delicate components in a modern computer.

If you have a vacuum cleaner that "blows", that's a hell of a lot safer than
a blast of compressed air. Computer internals are DELICATE

And if your BIOS did not warn you that it ha slowed the processor down
because it was overheating, I would check with Toshiba to see if an update
is available. A modern BIOS should put up a dialog box warning that this
has happened.

Thanks for your post

I spent over a year reading all sorts of suggestions about how to speed up my
computer. I wasted countless hours trying all sorts of software ideas.

My problem was that my computer was DUSTY! I have a Toshiba laptop. I read
in www.laptoprepair101.com that a great deal of slow computer problems are
caused by a build up of dust inside the computer. A fellow suggested using a
Shop Vac to suck out the dust. It worked. My computer speeded up and it is
no longer overheating. I did not even KNOW it was overheating, since I work
in an environment without air conditioning and the temperature seemed all
right to me. I did not KNOW it was dusty because it was closed up, as all
laptops are!

The problem with discussion groups is that solutions are sometimes just
other people's opinions. For those of you who are as frustrated as I was,
try a Shop Vac or a blow out with compressed air.

--
Don't wait for your answer, click here: http://www.word.mvps.org/

Please reply in the group. Please do NOT email me unless I ask you to.

John McGhie, Consultant Technical Writer
McGhie Information Engineering Pty Ltd
http://jgmcghie.fastmail.com.au/
Sydney, Australia. S33°53'34.20 E151°14'54.50
+61 4 1209 1410, mailto:[email protected]

 

[Kurt]

Ummm... "Carefully" The suction from a vacuum cleaner is sufficiently
strong to dislodge some delicate components in a modern computer.

If you have a vacuum cleaner that "blows", that's a hell of a lot safer than
a blast of compressed air. Computer internals are DELICATE

And if your BIOS did not warn you that it ha slowed the processor down
because it was overheating, I would check with Toshiba to see if an update
is available. A modern BIOS should put up a dialog box warning that this
has happened.

I stick with canned air. Shop Vac is too big and noisy, plus I've got
these all over the office:

http://tinyurl.com/o78nn

 

[litttle.creature.inc]

I agree I have been warned to do so, the other problem concerned is
static electricity a compressed air is better, it is used for cleaning
optics from dust as well.
I'm quite happy with my toshiba laptop for 4 years, although I let it
check and clean the dust in service. It's very reliable laptop I
haven't have trouble so far.

 

[Diane Ross]

Ummm... "Carefully" The suction from a vacuum cleaner is sufficiently
strong to dislodge some delicate components in a modern computer.

There is also static electricity that could fry some parts too. I recommend
buying a can of compressed air for a buck and use that instead.

 

[CyberTaz]

FWIW, I agree on the compressed air... With a few points of caution to
emphasize:

1- Don't shake the can
2- Don't turn the can upside-down
3- Don't hold the nozzle too close to any components
4- Don't press the button for more than 2-3 seconds at a time (use short
bursts)
5- Watch out for condensation dripping from the can.

Another option - for about $10-20 you can get a small battery-powered vacuum
tool designed for use with electronic devices that does a nice job &
includes attachments to get into the "nooks & crannies" - and they don't run
the risk of blasting away connections the way other techniques might.

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac

 

[Diane Ross]

Another option - for about $10-20 you can get a small battery-powered vacuum
tool designed for use with electronic devices that does a nice job &
includes attachments to get into the "nooks & crannies" - and they don't run
the risk of blasting away connections the way other techniques might.

What kind of collector does it use? I get a lot of cat hair in the intake
area. There is a grate to supposedly catch stuff, but cat hair has a way of
infiltrating the grate.

 

[CyberTaz]

What kind of collector does it use? I get a lot of cat hair in the intake
area. There is a grate to supposedly catch stuff, but cat hair has a way of
infiltrating the grate.

The unit I have has an impeller & uses a small dust collection bag. There
isn't any sort of grate or filter - the impeller just draws the stuff in &
blows it right into the bag. The bag has a Velcro closure so it can be
emptied w/o having to remove it from the exhaust port - a rather nifty unit.
Uses 4 AA batteries, so it has sufficient power, yet it's quite compact.

I'm not even sure it's still available - I've had it for years. It came in a
computer care kit I got at an Ames Dept. Store [now defunct] (it included a
3.5" drive cleaner). The vacuum doesn't have a brand name on it, but the kit
was branded as HandyPro & distributed by Ames. I looked around some on the
net & haven't been able to find one like it.

Regards |:>)
Bob Jones
[MVP] Office:Mac