New laptop freezing

Cuda1447

Lifer
Jul 26, 2002
11,757
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I've got this new laptop, not more than a few weeks old. Seems to function perfectly other than the fact that after about 15 minutes of usage (plugged in or not) the laptop starts to freeze. I try to bring up the task manager but I can never get it to load completely. Initially I'm able to tab through windows for a few minutes, but can't really exit any windows or perform much in the way of functions in those windows. There are no viruses/spyware on the laptop and its pretty barren as far as apps go, just a few harmless things.

I'm giving it a run through in safe mode, but I won't really know what is the problem if it works fine in safe mode, just that its probably not hardware.

Any other suggestions on where to look for troubleshooting?
 

mpilchfamily

Diamond Member
Jun 11, 2007
3,559
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How do you use it? Does it sit on a hard or soft surface? Do you hear the cooling fan running?

Its sounds a bit like an overheating problem.
 

Cuda1447

Lifer
Jul 26, 2002
11,757
0
71
I use it on my lap generally, it doesn't seem very hot. I also don't hear much in the way of cooling. Hard to tell. That thought had crossed my mind though, but I can't seem to find any cpu temp monitoring tools that work. I tried something named NHC but it said the drivers could not be found and won't work. Any suggestions on other tools that might work? If it matters I'm running a core 2 duo with vista on it.
 

KGB

Diamond Member
May 11, 2000
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Please give the make/model of your laptop.

And like asked earlier, do you hear the fan come on?
 

mpilchfamily

Diamond Member
Jun 11, 2007
3,559
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While they may be called laptops they do not work well in your lap. Depending on the model, having it in your lap can restrict airflow causing it to overheat. Many models depend on the heat disipating threw the bottom of the unit. So if its not on a hard surface they can overheat.

If the fan is comming on you will hear it. The fans are small and they tend to make a good bit of noise.
 

Cuda1447

Lifer
Jul 26, 2002
11,757
0
71
Laptop is a Gateway W650l. I'm almost positive the fan isn't coming on. Anyway to fix this short of sending it back to the manufacturer? Also, what temp programs can I use to measure the temp, just for the hell of it?
 

Cuda1447

Lifer
Jul 26, 2002
11,757
0
71
I found a pgoram that seems to measure the temperatures of myu two cores, not sure if its zccurate though. On my broken gateway my cores are running at between 30 and 36c. on my working HP laptop they are running at around 62c, so significantly more. The only other temperature being measured is the Tj. Max, whatever that is. On the gateway its running at 85c, on the working HP at 100c.

The program I am using is Core temp 0.99.3, if that makes a difference. As I was typing this the gateway laptop started to freeze up, with no spikes in the temperature readings. The laptop is sitting on a hard surface. It also does not feel very hot, so I don't know what the deal is. If it helps any, it also froze up while in safe mode.
 

Cuda1447

Lifer
Jul 26, 2002
11,757
0
71
I actually reinstalled the OS with the 32 bit option instead of the 64bit and it seems to have fixed the problem. Don't understand why though.