Inspiron Fan Issue - Computer is Overheating

Question

Hi Everyone; I have a Dell Inspiron 5100 that I have owned for a few years now. I have run into an issue time and time again where the system overheats.....as it sits right now, I have to have my laptop propped up with books on my desk so that the cooling fan gets enough air to keep things running smoothly...but if I open Microsoft Excel, Powerpoint, Word and have any other applications going, the system overheats and then crashes. I have sent the laptop back to Dell 3 times to have the issue 'dealt' with, and each time I get the computer back, it works for a little while and then it overheats again. The average CPU temperature for my laptop is between 70-75 degrees C...when the fan is working as it should, the temperature is down around 20 or 30 degrees.....I have cleaned the fan intake and exhaust ports out using compressed air, but the computer is still overheating. Dell hasn't been able to provide a solution and I need this computer for school. I am an engineering student and need to have a reliable computer for lectures, however as it sits, I can't use my laptop because it will only run for a few minutes before it overheats. What can I do to correct this issue? Thanks; Peter

pcressman · Answer

Thanks for the reply...

Sorry for the following stupid question, but if I update the BIOS for my computer, am I going to loose everything that is on the computer now? I'm not the most computer literate person in the world.....I am good with mechanical things and I know AutoCAD really well, but things to do with the actual running of the computer.....not so much.

Any help that you can offer would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks;

Peter

RoadiJeff · Answer

There are many threads on the Inspiron 5100 overheating problem.  Do an advanced search at the bottom of this page for Inspiron 5100 overheat and you'll see what I mean.   Here's a popular one: Inspiron 5100 Overheating   Some people have gotten theirs to run cooler by updating the BIOS to another version.  Others have had success with a vacuum cleaner and extracted large pieces of dust, although you said you already used a can of compressed air.   I always like to at least remove the keyboard when I blow out dust so I'm certain nothing is lodged in there.  It's quite easy to remove with the online how-to guides Dell furnishes. Here's the one for yours:   Inspiron 5100 Service Manual   When I do a major cleaning in addition to the above I remove the heatsink, clean it off along with the CPU top, apply a thin layer (too much is bad) of a quality thermal paste such as Arctic Silver and reassemble.   Here's a thread on the recommended BIOS version: Inspiron 5100 BIOS & Overheat Message Edited by RoadiJeff on 12-17-200610:19 PM

RoadiJeff · Answer

No, flashing the BIOS has nothing to do with whatever is stored on your hd.  However, if you do not follow the procedure correctly you can end up with an expensive doorstop.    Don't let that scare you, just follow the steps.  An expensive doorstop can result if you were to do something like turn off your notebook while it is in the middle of flashing the BIOS.

RoadiJeff · Answer

Press F2 at startup to get to the BIOS screen.  The current version should be at the top.   Did you say the fan wasn't always operating correctly?  In your original message I think you said something about 'when the fan is operating as it should' and lower temps.  A fan not up to speed can certainly cause overheating.   Many people use a utility called FanGUI to monitor and/or control the fan speed.  You might look a little more into that.   Also, if your system did happen to freeze during the flash BIOS it could cause a big problem.  Might be a good idea to do this after it has been off for a while.

pcressman · Answer

The fan runs all the time, but the volume of air coming out of the exhaust port is minimal at best. As well, the heat sink gets really hot......If I look closely at the back of the computer where the exhaust port is, I can see that the plastic has deformed from the heat.

Where do I get a new version of the BIOS and how do I go about installing it?

Thanks;

Peter

pcressman · Answer

Is there a comprehensive step-by-step for flashing the BIOS? Also, since I am currently running so hot, what happens if the computer overheats and crashes when I am doing the BIOS flash?

How do I tell what BIOS version I have?

Thanks;

Peter

jocase · Answer

pcressman wrote:
The fan runs all the time, but the volume of air coming out of the exhaust port is minimal at best. As well, the heat sink gets really hot......If I look closely at the back of the computer where the exhaust port is, I can see that the plastic has deformed from the heat.

Where do I get a new version of the BIOS and how do I go about installing it?

Thanks;

Peter

Updated Bios probably won't help with overheating. Use compressed air and blow it in to the exhaust vent. If that doesn't work disassemble and use canned air to clean out everything. Also read up on thermal grease and how to grease a chip. I assume you don't have a warranty, because Dell will service an overheating laptop.

use To flash the bios, click technical support tab at the top of this page, type in your service tag number, and follow directions exactly. I don't recommend flashing the bios unless you are sure that you problem will be cured.

RoadiJeff · Answer

Certain BIOS versions can contribute to overheating, according to one of the links I provided.  Detailed instructions on how to flash it can be found in the online service guide link I already provided.   Also, the fan might be running but at what speed?  If it's running at 30% or so most of the time that means 70% of the potential air volume is not being used to cool it.  The fanGUI utility I mentioned will let you manually control the fan speed or at least monitor its performance.

pcressman · Answer

I have the fan utility running and I have the fan running at full throttle, but my CPU temperature is still hovering at the 75 degree mark.   How hard is it to remove the fan to clean it?   Thanks;   Peter

RoadiJeff · Answer

Detailed instructions can be found in the online service guide.  Look under the microprocessor thermal-cooling assembly section.

jocase · Answer

pcressman wrote:

Stupid question, but where do I find the online service guide that you speak of?

Tab at top of page, "Technical Support" ...type in model and number follow links to manual.

There are many choices so read carefully. This is the same tab you go to to flash your bios.

Message Edited by jocase on 12-18-200612:45 PM

pcressman · Answer

Stupid question, but where do I find the online service guide that you speak of?

RoadiJeff · Answer

Stupid question, but where do I find the online service guide that you speak of?   I included a direct link to it in a reply to you yesterday.

cbfoall · Answer

I have had many woes with this computer, but here is the latest one!

I called again (MANY little calls on various issues not described here because I can't pay the 40 bucks to have them talk longer) about the SERIOUS overheating of the system--even with it being on a desk or elevated. The design seems flawed--the little rubber posts to lift it up doesn't lift it high enough not to block the vent on the bottom. When I called, this time the rep sounded like they cared, but told me to pay $30 to have them ask me questions to diagnose the problem! So I have a 2 year old laptop that would burn your hand after only internet surfing!

Please somebody, what do I do about the overheating?! I have checked for dust bunnies and lint and also blew it out with a can or air. Still overheating--a very hot desk, tv table, etc. I am suspending it on two boxes so the vents aren't touching anything and has air under it. I hear the fan...but still horribly hot and only on the one side! It's not hot anywhere else but where the vents, etc are. HELP!!!

cbfoall · Answer

I have already downloaded Speedfan...I am reading the instructions because all it's doing is telling me what is obvious--that it's hot!

I have already tried running my lappy for two days without the battery in--it's still really hot. The laptop is the hottest on the left side where my wrist is. and going back. The keyboard is not hot and the right side is not really hot at all.

I have opened the case and cleaned it out--it worked fine for a while and they got tortuously hot.

From all that I have tried, the thermal grease thing seems to be my last option I guess. Does anyone know something about the heatsink or thermal cooler? Thanks!

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