Well since you changed the original OS Dell support will more than likely not be forth coming until you change back to the original shipped OS. Also unless you purchased a separate software support you will again run into closed doors.
You most likely have hit on the issue, that of heat.
I've been a Dell & a Linux user for several years. I've used and tested many distros of Linux. Currently, I manage a few laptops and desktops with Ubuntu. I'm also an active participant in four main Linux user forums. I've never heard of Linux being responsible for a PC heating problem. I run Puppy Linux on a few laptops to significantly speed them up & to lower average temperature. Puppy loads and runs from USB Flash & RAM memory, so laptop battery power is saved from the HHD not running and lower temperature is achieved by small memory and processor use.
Ubuntu should lower heat since Linux is not constantly doing read-writes like Windows & you are not running heat generating resource hog virus & malware scanners or a firewall. You may want to get a copy of Puppy Linux (you can download the ISO of 4.3.1 from the Puppy Linux site.) Burn the ISO to a CD and simply boot from it. Within 15 minutes or so you will be ready to go. Click on the "Install" icon and search for "pwidget". Install "pwidget" and activate the CPU Temp & Ram memory widgets, track what they read.
Meanwhile, make sure your laptop is on a flat surface (desk or table top.) Elevate it with some small wood pieces, etc. Position a fan so it blows under the laptop and see if that lowers the temp. Perhaps your interior fan is failing or the sensor and on/off control electronics is malfunctioning.
I cannot think of anyway Linux could be causing a heat problem.
Thanks for the replies. I did not suspect that the problem was with Linux but as the laptop was originally delivered Windows Vista, I thought maybe Dell would dismiss the problem down to a change of OS. As Davet50 confirmed, if I contact Dell Support I don't want to be fobbed off that the problem is because I am running Linux and not Windows.
Anyhow, this morning I put the laptop on a baking rack and ran the PSA diagnostics. It took approximately 1 hour to run through the test (including extended memory test).
I let the system cool down again and I have now started the PSA diagnostics with the laptop just sat flat on the desk, no obstructions, air vents clear, removed covers check for dust-bunnies. It has currently been running for +1hour and it has not yet reached the point where it asks if you want to do the extended memory test.
I'm sure it never had this problem previously. Is this enough evidence to call out Dell Support?
My other idea was to get some temperature strips, stick them to the bottom of the laptop and send photos of the results to Dell. Not ideal circumstances but I used a *meat thermometer* (yes I know) to check the heat on the bottom of the laptop. In places the temperature was in excess of 50deg C.
A friend at work as the Dell M1210 (with nVidia M7xxx GPU) and running them side by side with the same software/workload, his laptop doesn't break a sweat whereas my sounds like a jet-engine (ironic, I work on military flight-sims :-)
BTW, I have now installed Windows Vista back on the machine. I can't tell if it is slower that normal when the system has warmed up because in general it all feels sluggish compared to linux (this is not just a dig at Windows).
Davet50
4 Operator
•
14.4K Posts
0
March 27th, 2010 18:00
Well since you changed the original OS Dell support will more than likely not be forth coming until you change back to the original shipped OS. Also unless you purchased a separate software support you will again run into closed doors.
You most likely have hit on the issue, that of heat.
Coldquasar
9 Posts
0
March 27th, 2010 20:00
I've been a Dell & a Linux user for several years. I've used and tested many distros of Linux. Currently, I manage a few laptops and desktops with Ubuntu. I'm also an active participant in four main Linux user forums. I've never heard of Linux being responsible for a PC heating problem. I run Puppy Linux on a few laptops to significantly speed them up & to lower average temperature. Puppy loads and runs from USB Flash & RAM memory, so laptop battery power is saved from the HHD not running and lower temperature is achieved by small memory and processor use.
Ubuntu should lower heat since Linux is not constantly doing read-writes like Windows & you are not running heat generating resource hog virus & malware scanners or a firewall. You may want to get a copy of Puppy Linux (you can download the ISO of 4.3.1 from the Puppy Linux site.) Burn the ISO to a CD and simply boot from it. Within 15 minutes or so you will be ready to go. Click on the "Install" icon and search for "pwidget". Install "pwidget" and activate the CPU Temp & Ram memory widgets, track what they read.
Meanwhile, make sure your laptop is on a flat surface (desk or table top.) Elevate it with some small wood pieces, etc. Position a fan so it blows under the laptop and see if that lowers the temp. Perhaps your interior fan is failing or the sensor and on/off control electronics is malfunctioning.
I cannot think of anyway Linux could be causing a heat problem.
--Quasar
jrtokarz
2 Posts
0
March 28th, 2010 09:00
Thanks for the replies. I did not suspect that the problem was with Linux but as the laptop was originally delivered Windows Vista, I thought maybe Dell would dismiss the problem down to a change of OS. As Davet50 confirmed, if I contact Dell Support I don't want to be fobbed off that the problem is because I am running Linux and not Windows.
Anyhow, this morning I put the laptop on a baking rack and ran the PSA diagnostics. It took approximately 1 hour to run through the test (including extended memory test).
I let the system cool down again and I have now started the PSA diagnostics with the laptop just sat flat on the desk, no obstructions, air vents clear, removed covers check for dust-bunnies. It has currently been running for +1hour and it has not yet reached the point where it asks if you want to do the extended memory test.
I'm sure it never had this problem previously. Is this enough evidence to call out Dell Support?
My other idea was to get some temperature strips, stick them to the bottom of the laptop and send photos of the results to Dell. Not ideal circumstances but I used a *meat thermometer* (yes I know) to check the heat on the bottom of the laptop. In places the temperature was in excess of 50deg C.
A friend at work as the Dell M1210 (with nVidia M7xxx GPU) and running them side by side with the same software/workload, his laptop doesn't break a sweat whereas my sounds like a jet-engine (ironic, I work on military flight-sims :-)
BTW, I have now installed Windows Vista back on the machine. I can't tell if it is slower that normal when the system has warmed up because in general it all feels sluggish compared to linux (this is not just a dig at Windows).
This is all with A15 BIOS.