notebook crashes steadily

Today, while folding, my notebook crashed, then I restarted it. After 10 or so minutes, it crashed again. I figured it may have to do with the malware infection I had earlier in the week. So I decided to nuke it again (for the 4th time). During the first round, that crashed, there was a message about the processor overheating.

I'm now in the process of restoring the backup, I just don't know what else to do if it keeps crashing, I've kept a fan forcing air underneath it. There are no obstructions that would cause it not to breathe, in fact, I've kept the DVD open and the battery removed while folding to keep it cool. It has done this over and over the last few days.

Other than throwing a Mint disc in and installing that, then installing XP within it to fold, I'm running out of ideas, unless this restore works without problems (doubtful). How else can I keep the processor cool enough to run, stick it in the fridge?

I'm surprised it hasn't crashed during this restore, the left side (top corner) is hot as hell just restoring from another drive. Plus, the restore process is very slow, I've restored this notebook dozens of times (no exaggeration) and it completed faster than this. Is the processor about gone? I have Acronis Drive Monitor installed, according it it, the temps are fine, around 107, although it has risen to 127 on a couple of occasions when three programs were running at once.

Plus, flashing the BIOS has done no good, I've flashed it five times today (once after each crash). So the BIOS has been flashed enough, I believe. I just can't believe this restore is taking so long. If it finishes, I'll shut it down for the night after doing a disc check on each partition, if it has enough backbone left to do that without crashing.

Any suggestions here?

Cat

Folding is extremely processor intensive, this session may be more than your puter can handle, can you skip to a different section?

My other idea was to throw it in the refrigerator but I worry about the moisture, plus you couldn't exactly run a power cord in there, so I wouldn't do that but it is what popped into my head.

Are you running your A/C? Is your place particularly warm today?

I always run the A/C in the summer, plus I failed to mention that the notebook is right by an A/C vent. I've done everything I can think of to keep it cool while it's folding. It's ran virtually non-stop for two months, although I give it an occasional break.

Now, after restoring Win 2K & XP Pro, Macrium is reporting that the Vista backup is corrupt. If it weren't for the warranty, I'd slam it through the wall. I'm not one who loses my cool often, but this notebook is pushing me to the limit.

Do you have any crash dumps to look at? I'd be curious to see what they are saying. Post them if you want if you get further ones...

Instructions are in the sticky thread of the BSOD section.

Finally, I got the thing going again. I noticed that with the Acronis Drive Monitor (a free tool from Acronis) is showing abnormally high drive temps (around 117 on all four OS's). The critical point is over 125, it should be below 107. The fan is working, so I don't see the problem. The DVD is open, the battery removed, what else am I to do? I suppose if the battery was in place, there would be a danger of a fire.

For all of the trouble it's given me tonight, it's going back to folding, hot or no. The BIOS has been flashed five times, so it should be cleaned out. At any rate, it's running now, but how for how long, I don't know.

These overheating problems...do they still keep happening if you quit folding on the laptop?

By the way, didn't you mention this computer has some motherboard problems? That could also be the problem.

Yes, they continue. In fact, all that I'm doing now is a new backup, and the Acronis drive monitor is reporting temps as high as 127, above the critical rating of 125. I now have the unit on some of my granddaughter's blocks (one on each corner), over an A/C vent. The fan is working. Yet with all of this cool air, it still overheats. I've checked the vents, looking for anything in the holes that may obstruct air flow, but have found nothing.

I've wondered about disassembling the notebook, and cleaning everything, but that would be one PITA, and I don't expect a miracle to happen by doing it. And I'm not good with handling those tiny parts that notebooks has. It would do me one great favor by crashing and not restarting at all, I can file for a warranty claim, have my money within a week, and be on my way to get another. From this point forward, all that I'm looking for is problems, having to come in to check to see if it's crashed, so I can resume folding. I'm trying to keep this notebook going to keep the WU's flowing, to help the team.

It's only been this severe for three or so days, and I'm wondering about those "previously used assemblies" that is in the notebook. Dell once had a decent reputation, but piecing together computers and reselling them on eBay as "Dell Recertified" is causing problems for many users, not just me. At least I had enough sense about me to obtain a warranty for it. However, this will make the third Dell that I've filed a claim on, this sure will make me look bad, but I've been burned again, and that's what they're there for, is customer service. They (SquareTrade) emailed me the offer, and they offer fantastic service. So I'll deal with it then.

Yes, it does have a history of MOBO problems, this can be verified through Wikipedia, just enter "Dell Latitude", and you'll have to read through the article, you'll find the MOBO issue that's dogged them.

Ya know I hate to do something to make myself look stupid, but sometimes a man's just gotta do what a man's gotta do..............

What the hell is "folding" ??