Top Five Computer Is Overheating Fixes

These are some of recommended fixes if you suspect your computer is overheating.

1. Perform routine maintenance. Dust is a cumulative, silent killer. It clogs and slows down your fans, puts a blanket of dust on the motherboard, video card and other components that traps heat inside. Every few months, vacuum the front and rear grills of the computer case, and then open the case and blow off the motherboard and internal fans (when blowing off the fans, hold the blades with one finger to prevent them from over-spinning and damaging their bearings).
2. Consider upgrading your power supply. Seems harsh, but a modular power supply–meaning a power supply that has separate cables that are not hard-wired to the power supply. You only connect the amount of cables you need to power the devices in your computer. A traditional power supply will have a tangle of wires–most of which are never used. This restricts air flow that could cause overheating. Here is an example of a modular power supply.
   
3. Evaluate your hard drive setup. Some PC cases allow you stack hard drives directly on top of each other. Hard drives generate a lot of heat. If you have multiple hard drives, it’s best to space them apart, if possible, to allow for better circulation. In addition, if you have older IDE drives, replace them with SATA drives which use a thin interface cable as opposed to the wider IDE cable. Even better, the next time you replace a hard drive, replace it with a Solid State Hard Drive, as these have no moving parts and will run much cooler.
   
4. Reduce the amount of programs you have running. Programs equal CPU cycles. CPU cycles equal heat. Reduce the unnecessary background programs by going to Start>Run and typing msconfig, and then hit OK. This will launch the Microsoft Configuration Utility. Under the Startup tab, deselect any programs you know do not need to startup when you boot your computer. You’ll be surprised to see how many programs that automatically load themselves.
5. Install a rear fan. Most cases will have a grill for an extra 80mm fan. that can be mounted to the rear of the computer, and will help draw air out of the computer and prevent it from being drawn up into the power supply. Some cases will even have a place to mount a fan in the front of the computer. The concept is to pull in cool air so it can help circulate air over the CPU and out the rear of the case. But this can also increase the amount of hair, dust and other debris that enter the case. So if you use a front fan, be sure to elevate your computer off of the floor.

Computer Is Overheating Resolution

If your computer is overheating, follow the aforementioned tips to help keep your computer healthy and out of the computer repair shop. Most of these tips will help if you laptop is overheating, as well. If you have a laptop,though, they require some additional care:

1. Remove batteries when plugged into the wall. Batteries generate heat and are unnecessary if you always keep the laptop plugged in.
2. If you use the laptop in bed or while watching TV with the PC on your lap, consider using a notebook cooler to help dissipate heat and keep the vents and fans unobstructed by blankets or clothing.
   

If your computer is overheating, this video will help you visualize the cooling process:

For other tips, be sure to read our other hardware tutorials.

Download Memtest86

Download Memtest86 from here. Scroll down about midway and look for the section that says Download (Pre-Built And ISOs). You will likely want the .zip version. Click the link and save the application to a location where you can easily find it. Unzip the file and locate the .ISO image of Memtest86.  Next, create the bootable .ISO disk using your computer’s burning software. You will need a blank CD or DVD and.

Important: follow your software’s instruction for creating a .ISO disk. Simply copying the program to disk will not work, as this application needs to be bootable in order for it to launch.

Burn ISO file using ImgBurn

The above example was created using ImgBurn, which you can download here.  Once the .ISO disk has been created, you are ready to boot to the disk. Insert the disk in the CD / DVD drive and reboot the computer. If the computer boots into Windows, you will need to change the Boot Sequence of your computer. This is done in the computer’s BIOS settings. Your BIOS looks for a bootable disk based on its settings. Typically, this will be set to the hard drive first, as most people boot to the hard drive. On the rare occasion you need to boot to a different location, like a USB, DVD or network drive, you need to change the setting in the BIOS so the computer knows where to look for a bootable disk.

 How To Change A Computer’s Boot Sequence

The process for changing a computer’s boot sequence is pretty straight-forward. You will start the computer and tap the key that launches the computer’s BIOS setup. This key might be ESC, F1, F2, F10 or Delete. Most computer’s will flash a message on the screen during boot that tells you which key to press to access the BIOS, so pay attention. In addition, if you’re using a laptop you may need to press and hold the (fn) key while tapping the corresponding BIOS setup key to access the BIOS.

Set First Boot Device To CDROM

Once in the BIOS, look for an entry that says something similar to Boot Sequence. Select the CDROM (CD / DVD) option, then press F10 to save and exit. The computer will reboot and should launch the CD you have in the optical drive’s tray.

RAM Test

The RAM test will begin once the ISO image is burned and the PC is booted to the appropriate disk.

Run Memtest86

The test should run for several hours depending on how many passes you want the test to make and how much memory you have installed. You can let the test run overnight. If the memory reports errors, replace the memory. Faulty memory can result in computer crashes and corruption of your computer’s hard drive contents.

Memtest86 USB

Another method for testing your computer’s RAM is to download Memtest86 to a USB stick. You can download their USB auto installer from the same location as the ISO image. The only difference is you will need to set the BIOS boot sequence to look at the USB drive first, not the CD drive or hard disk. Insert the USB into an available USB port on your computer, then boot up your PC. The program will launch when the BIOS finds the USB drive.

Windows 7 Memory Test

While you can run the Memtest86 program on a Windows Vista and Windows 7 computer, those Operating Systems come with their own memory diagnostic program already installed. You can access the Windows Memory Diagnostic Tool  by going to Start and typing memory into the search box. You can also get there by accessing the Admin Tools area of the control panel. If you’re not logged in as admin, you will be asked to submit your password before continuing.

You will then be presented with the option to restart your computer to begin the test or begin the test the next time you boot your PC. When your PC restarts, the diagnostic tool will begin and present you with a few test options: Basic, Standard and Extended. The Standard test is selected by default. Choose the type of test and how many times you want it to run and the diagnostic tool will begin.

If you have any questions about how to run a memory diagnostic on your computer, join our free forums and ask!

Setup The LaCie WiFi NAS

Insert the setup disk into your computer. You will be asked if you want to use this as a NAS or a router. If you already have a router, you will want to use this as a WiFi NAS. Select “Do not enable WiFi” from the options. You cannot run the wireless until the setup is complete. You will then be prompted to connect the LaCie drive to your computer. When your computer finds the drive, you can configure its IP address, password and WiFi capabilities

The LaCie WiFi NAS model, Wireless Space, is clearly a unique NAS and we highly recommend it if you do not already have a backup storage solution. The box includes the LaCie Wireless Space, Ethernet cable External power supply, Utilities CD-ROM and User Manual, Quick Install Guide.

LaCie Wifi NAS

LaCie WiFi NAS Features

• Compatible with wireless b/g/n standards
• Acts as a router or an access point
• Perform multimedia streaming
• Compatible with Windows backup and Time Machine
• Three Gigabit Ethernet ports

LaCie is known for their external drives, but having a built-in wireless access point put this drive far above others in its class. The LaCie WiFi NAS is a great addition to any growing network.

Read more about the LaCie Wireless Space 1 TB Wi-Fi here.

In addition, this computer is capable of running Microsoft Office and do some minor photo and video editing.

While this is not a gaming PC, the specifications make for a solid, capable machine.

Build A $500 Computer

This build does not include and Operating System (we recommend either Windows 7 Home or Windows 7 Premium). If you want to save money, you can install Ubuntu Linux, which is very similar to Windows. Ubuntu is free.

We also did not include a monitor, because most people already have a good monitor. A mouse and keyboard are personal decisions, so they are also not included.

This kit is for someone looking to build a budget computer that will last a few years without any issues.

Part List To Build A $500 Computer

Broadway Com Mini Tower ATX Case – $30.00
Caviar Blue $500 GB hard drive – $40.00
GIGABYTE GA-870A-UD3 AM3 AMD 870 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard – $105.00
Broadway Com 600 W Power Supply – $29.00
2 GBs of Memory – $21.00
AMD Athlon II X4 640 Propus 3.0GHz CPU – $110
GIGABYTE GV-N450OC-1GI GeForce GTS 450 graphics card – $129.00
DVD Burner – $25.00

Total Price: $489.00

These prices were obtained from NewEgg.com.

There is a thread in our forums for those who want to submit their suggestions to build a computer for less than $1000 and one for those who want to build a computer for less than $500.

We did not include a monitor, because most people already have a good monitor. A mouse and keyboard are personal decisions.

This kit is for someone looking to build a decent computer that will last a few years without any performance issues.

High-Performance Computer For Less Than $1000

Thermaltake 600 W Power Supply – $75.00
Western Digital 500 GB Caviar Blue SATA 7200 RPM 32 MB Cache Hard Drive – $49.00
Antec Three Hundred Gaming Case – $57.00
Lite-On LightScribe 24X SATA DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Drive – $25.00
Intel Core i7 Processor i7-960 3.20GHz 8MB LGA1366 CPU BX80601960 – $289.00
ASUS Socket 1366/Intel X58/Quad SLI & Quad CrossFireX/SATA3.0&USB3.0/A&GbE/ATX Motherboard s SABERTOOTH X58 – $205.00
MSI GeForce GTX560 1 GB DDR5 2DVI/Mini HDMI PCI-Express Video Card N560GTX TI TWIN FROZR II OC – $250.00
4 GBs DDR3 PC3-8500 Memory – $45.00

Total Price: $986.00

These computer parts were selected from Amazon. Amazon Prime members get free shipping. When you build a computer, the shipping costs for the various parts can add up. Shop around for the prices and try and pickup an OEM version of Windows 7 Professional since you will be building a computer yourself.

There is a thread in our forums for those who want to submit their suggestions to build a computer for less than $1000 and one for those who want to build a computer for less than $500.

The first thing a person has to do is decide which of the methods best meets their needs. We can safely reduce the choices to either an external drive or an online backup service. Floppy drives have, for the most part, been replaced with card readers that are capable of accommodating an ever growing number of mini cards that hold data that used to take hundreds of floppies. CD and DVD burners seemed to be all that someone would ever need to save, until we had to label them 1 of 12. And the sixth one, with that tax return information we needed, was the one scratched or misplaced.

A Wireless ClickFree Backup Drive

Fortunately, as our need to back up more and more data grew, technology saved us with external hard drives, and finally online backup services. But what most people never realized was the alternative, and advantages, of making their own USB backup drive. The major manufacturers of hard drives had no incentive to market a device that holds a hard drive, typically with three year warranties, when they could sell the drive and enclosure with a one year warranty. The average consumer probably never looked twice at an enclosure and a hard drive, if they were able to see them in retail stores in the first place. Given the choice most users would think it was beyond their ability to make their own backup device.

The hard drive enclosure can be something that acts as a data retrieval tool also. Like times when a computer operating system or hardware, like a motherboard for example, fails and we are stuck with a working drive and no access to the data. The same device that holds the backup data can be opened and used to hold the computers main drive. Plugging that into a working computer through the USB connection and many times it will work seamlessly like it did in the original machine. Most importantly it will usually allow you to access the stuff you meant to save last week.

Of course for occasional use to retrieve data simple USB cables would work. Those simple cables, which can cost under $20, is what many computer repair shops use to charge people up the nose to get their files transferred to another computer or some DVDs. On the other end of the spectrum are hard drive docking stations which can hold multiple hard drives. As your need for space increases from 500 GB you can simply insert a 1 TB drive in the other station and transfer everything over. Remove the smaller drive and you’ll be ready for a 2 TB upgrade.

The possibilities and storage ability can grow with the technology. The likelihood to save you or an acquaintance some money, even perhaps make you some money, will increase the longer you have an external drive enclosure. If nothing else those cables costing under $20 will eventually be the most cost effective accessory you can buy.

Best of all is the ease of use. With data retrieval cables that will only be used now and then people should choose a one size fits all. These cables will connect to IDE or SATA hard drives for both laptops and desktops. For a permanent backup device people would normally buy an enclosure that holds a 3.5″ desktop drive.

There are however also docking stations that will accept both 2.5″ and 3.5″ hard drives. The user will choose the drives data capacity on their expected needs and product costs. All products on Amazon have feedback details that are very useful in selecting products. Consider also that most of the data you will want backed up are not that large and would most often consist of My Documents folders. That being said, if you can wait and watch for sales a 1 Terabyte drive is often the most economical. A good shopper can find one with good feedback for about $65. Inquire about the enclosure to be sure they include cables that fit the type of drive you choose.

Fast External Hard Drive USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 Speed Comparison

The leap in throughput was as substantial in USB 3.0 as it was between USB 1.0 and 2.0. With the newer USB 3.0 specification topping out near 5 Gbps, it is faster than the wired computer networks in most homes.

USB Speed Comparison chart

USB 1.0 speeds are 1.5 Mbps

USB 2.0 speeds are 480 Mbps

USB 3.0 speeds are 4800 Mbps

Investing In USB 3.0 Fast External Hard Drive

Because the standard is relatively new, your computer may not have a USB 3.0 card installed. Motherboards will eventually ship with USB 3.0 on-board, but if your computer only has the older USB 2.0, then you’ll need to purchase a USB 3.0 card. The cable is also different. So there will be some investment costs in upgrading, but the price is minimal in comparison to the huge performance boost you’ll get after upgrading.

USB 3.0 Hard Drive

This USB 3.0 from Buffalo is a fast external hard drive said to out-perform internal hard drives. It is an external drive and would be great for moving massive amounts of data back and forth between computers or even just being used as a standard backup hard drive. It is backward compatible with USB 2.0, but you will want to invest in the USB 3.0 card to get the maximum performance. As with most external hard drives, this model also ships with its own cable, so you will not need to purchase the new USB 3.0 cable.

Buffalo Technology DriveStation 1 TB SuperSpeed USB 3.0 Desktop Hard Drive

View Other USB 3.0 hard drives

USB 3.0 PCI-Express

This Buffalo Technologies USB 3.0 card will enable your computer to get the full 4800 Mbps speeds out of your new USB 3.0 hard drive. You must have a PCI-Express port on your motherboard to install this, so make sure your motherboard has that expansion capability before purchasing. The card comes with a driver disk and is compatible with Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7.

Buffalo Technology DriveStation SuperSpeed USB 3.0 PCI Express

View other USB 3.0 cards

Fast External Hard Drive Conclusion

As file sizes and hard drives get larger and larger, the time it takes to backup and copy data will increase. Having a USB 3.0 external hard drive in your computer will eventually become a necessity. If you deal with a lot of files, or are into movie and photo editing, upgrading to a faster hard drive is paramount in maintaining a productive work environment.

Internal hard drive mechanism

Various Reasons For Hard Drive Recovery

Recover Deleted Files

If you delete a file and then proceed to empty the Recycle Bin, you can still get the data back as long as you do not overwrite the old data that has now been allocated as free space. Just because you cannot see the data, it is still on the hard disk waiting to be overwritten. If this has happened to you, stop using the computer immediately and make arrangements to find hard drive recovery software or contact a professional to retrieve the data for you.

Hard Drive Electronics Failure

Hard disks have circuit boards just like other components in your computer. If the drive’s electronics have failed it will no longer show up in your computer. A professional can order the correct circuit board for that drive and install it. If the electronics replacement is a success, the drive should work just as it had previously, with all of your data intact.

Media Damage

Your hard drive has platters, an actuator arm and a read/write head. There are a lot of moving parts. If the head crashes on the platter, it can cause damage to the media. Since the data on the drive is scattered around, a head-crash can destroy many different files or parts of files. Media can also be damaged due to a disaster, such as a flood or fire. Media damage is one of the more serious types of data recovery scenarios.

Hard Disk Mechanical Failure

A hdd mechanical failure can be caused by a seized bearing or broken actuator arm or head. Technicians will need to take the drive apart and replace the defective mechanism with a matching part. Since this is done in a clean room repairing hard drives is a professional job.

Hard Drive Recovery Conclusion

Data recovery can be expensive. Obviously, the best solution for this is to have a good backup regiment. If you have lost files or other data, you will need to act accordingly based on the value of the drive. If the files are marginally important, buy software to try and retrieve it. If the data on the hard drive is priceless–either emotionally or literally, you’ll need to contact a hard drive recovery business and send the drive off to them.