heat sink access steps 10

[HelenLong]

thread602-1530851
My laptop is an Averatec instead of Toshiba. After powered on, it is continuously overheating/shutting down within 3-10 min. Can you provide pictures of steps to access the fan and heat sink areas to check beneath for dust/fuzz/pethair?

Also, can you explain a method of replacing screws after cleaning work is finished, that prevents them from falling into adjacent spaces surrounding the fan area. The plate over the fan has such tiny screws you can't hold onto them by hand.

Helen Long

 

[Lemon13]

http://www.irisvista.com/

M. Knorr

MCSE, MCTS, MCSA, CCNA

 

[mscallisto]

I would refer the the manufacturer for repair instructions, for starters:

http://repair4laptop.org/disassembly_averatec.html

as for the screws, you can buy a small magnetic tip screwdriver or if the screws are brass you may need to find a screwdriver with head graspers.

we all have problems with small screws; you simply need to be careful and have patience.

you can also purchase a can of compressed air to blow the dust out of unreachable places.

good luck

sam

 

[Lemon13]

Also, can you explain a method of replacing screws after cleaning work is finished, that prevents them from falling into adjacent spaces surrounding the fan area. The plate over the fan has such tiny screws you can't hold onto them by hand."

forgot to mention,

either use a magnetic screwdriver, a forceps or simply a bit of chewing gum on the tip of the screwdriver

M. Knorr

MCSE, MCTS, MCSA, CCNA

 

[AnotherHiggins]

Hi, Hellen.

Do you know for a fact that the laptop is overheating? How hot is the CPU before it shuts down/after you start it back up?

Before proceeding, if you are not very "tech-y" consider having it professionally serviced or finding a friend who has experience tinkering with computers.

The chances of someone here both owning an averatec and wanting to take it apart to take pictures for you are pretty slim. So we're pretty much talking about finding an online guide that's already been made.

The guide that was linked to in the other thread you reference is called, "How to take apart and repair Toshiba laptops yourself".

So just for giggles I googled "How to take apart and repair Averatec laptops yourself". There were several hits. You could probably find even more results by generalizing the search a little - something like "[google]guide take apart Averatec laptop[/google]" or "[google]guide disassemble Averatec laptop[/google]" (without the quotes) should get you the illustrated guide(s) you need.

Feel free to post back with any specific questions.

The general information in the other thread should hold true for any laptop.

[tt][blue]-John[/blue][/tt]
[tab][red]The plural of anecdote is not data[/red]

Help us help you. Please read FAQ 181-2886 before posting.

 

[HelenLong]

Thanks to each of you, Lemon13, mscallisto, and anotherhiggins, for each of your expedient and excellent suggestions.

"How hot is the CPU before it shuts down..." - I don't know how to measure it or where to look or how to get to those settings. butit's too hot to touch for more than a few seconds on the bottom of the case where the fan is, and at the right end where the fan vent is. I don't have a cooling pad, but have never used it any place but on table top hard surface. I place it on a baker's rack to raise it 3/4-1" for easier ventilation of all the vents on the bottom of the case. A very tech-y friend thoroughly cleaned the pc's insides, reformatted and reloaded Windows XP in it in June 2006 when they gave this laptop to me. At that time he said it had an overheating problem they were never able to resolve, from sometime after they bought it in 2004.

I took the fan cover plate off and there is some dust on the blades, but nothing clogging the vent. Since I didn't know how to safely access further, I tried putting the fan cover plate back on...one screw fell "off a cliff" and I retrieved it by turning the pc upside down. Then is when I knew I needed a tip on tools to use, beside my Radio Shack kit..lol. I didn't know if a magnetized screw driver tip would affect the different boards in the pc. The screws are very tiny black ones. Use of gum sounds good!

After reading about overheating/shutdowns I thought I should try to clean look for deeper for more debris beneath the heat sink/CPU, and clean the old paste off and redo it. I bought Radio Shack's brand of heat sink paste. Is it of acceptable standards?

I will investigate the urls and suggestions, before reopening the fan cover, and will post back when I need more help. I'm a little techie but not real good yet at a laptop.

 

[AnotherHiggins]

Too hot too touch? Wow.

Are you sure the CPU fan is running at all?

As for getting actual temps, you can download the free program SpeedFan (download.com link). It has more functionality that you really need right now, but it will tell you the CPU temp.

Changing out the thermal paste might help. I haven't used Radio Shack's thermal paste, but if the two user reviews I just found are to be trusted, I'd advise getting some name-brand stuff.

Post back once you see how hot things are getting.

[tt][blue]-John[/blue][/tt]
[tab][red]The plural of anecdote is not data[/red]

Help us help you. Please read FAQ 181-2886 before posting.

 

[vacunita]

Try looking the the BIOS setup. Usually the have Temp displays there.
If you have enough time before it turns off press either f2 or f8 or f10 or delete when turning the laptop on to access the BIOS.








----------------------------------
Phil AKA Vacunita
----------------------------------
Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.

 

[kjv1611]

if the screws are brass you may need to find a screwdriver with head graspers.

You mean they make things like that?!?!?!?

Please do tell. Where could I find something like that? I mean, I must be dreaming to see someone say that even exists. Oh, it sounds like such a LOVELY tool.

I hate laptop screws. I can't say how many times I've had to go on a hunt for them little buggers.

--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me

 

[tlcscousin]

http://www.thefind.com/hardware/info-screw-holding-screwdriver

Screwdriver that holds screws.

They do sell laptop cooling pads which have a built in fan to help disapate heat.

http://www.nextag.com/laptop-cooling-pad/search-html

 

[mscallisto]

kjv1611

Please do tell. Where could I find something like that?

http://www.newmantools.com/kedman.htm

sam

 

[kjv1611]

Thanks for the links, guys! Maybe I can pick one up sometime, or at least make it a Christmas wish, so someone else can pick one up.

--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me

 

[paparazi]

Why do you assume that the chassis needs stripping to clean the heatsink? a compressor and blow off jet strategically placed at the exhaust will clean 95% of the dust bunnies (jam the fan first) really no need to strip.
Martin

On wings like angels whispers sweet
my heart it feels a broken beat
Touched soul and hurt lay wounded deep
Brown eyes are lost afar and sleep

 

[DonMc67]

A very tech-y friend thoroughly cleaned the pc's insides, reformatted and reloaded Windows XP in it in June 2006 when they gave this laptop to me"

Hi, I hate laptops even as I write from one..... based on that sentence buy a new one, it sounds like you got a lemon

 

[626F62]

the temp of the lappy might be normal, most laptops will advise you dont use them on your knee as they do get very hot... just for kicks try sitting it in your freezer and see how long it runs for... lol i understand this is not a long term solution but might give you long enough to write a crimbo list asking for a new laptop

best thing i find with opening laptops, be careful and slow, put everything down in order you got it out so its easy to out back and you should be fine.

as mentioned above, i would double check the fan is spinning and maybe give it some lube for good measure.

if your techy enough then go for ripping that heatsink off (whats worse you gonna do, break your laptop?? lol)

would be carefull when switching it on again, its not likely but i have seen chips burst into falmes before now.

good luck

 

[kjv1611]

just for kicks try sitting it in your freezer and see how long it runs for

Um, why would that make any difference? If you've got any or much cold temps coming out of your freezer, you may need a new one. You shouldn't see really cold temps outside of your freezer, unless maybe you've got a really really old model, in which case, it'd probably pay to replace it with a newer energy efficient model. Just like the heat off the processors is wasted electricity, any cold air coming OUT of a freezer or refrigerator is wasted electricity.

--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me