[Anika]

Hello everybody,

I have seen there is so much useful information here, so I decided to ask for your help. I've had problems with trojans lately, I saw there are some programs to run before posting, but I have another problem to solve first (because my pc can't run all these programs).

Sometimes when I run a program, the CPU usage goes up to 100%, the fan starts buzzing more and more and the computer shuts down. It happens when I run AdAware, Ewido, and even Disk CleanUp, or when my daughter starts to play a game. If I want to run AVG, I have to pause the scanning many times and leave the computer cool down.

Sometimes when I run a program which takes up a lot of memory, I shut down many other programs, but the CPU still goes up and the fan buzzes more and more.

I think (but I'm not sure) it all started when the new DSL connection was installed (it should be wireless, but the wi-fi connection doesn't work). The DSL provider doesn't have many specialists, so they use electricians who took a short course on computers. Three people worked on installing the connection, on two different days, right now I'm happy it can connect to the Internet (even without the wi-fi, though).

I have a Packard Bell laptop, Windows XP, Intel CPU 2,66 GHz, 1.60 GHz, 480 MB of RAM, about 25% free space on the hard disk.

Thank you very much

Anika

[acklan]

This could be a heat issue from a blocked or partially blocked heatsink on the processor. In a notebook computer it does not take much to block the fan. Try running [CPUz and post what your temperature is.

[Anika]

Hello Acklan,
thank you for your answer, here is the report from CPU-Z (I couldn't find the info for temperature) - by the way, this report was made when the fan was buzzing:

Processor(s)

Number of processors 1
Number of cores 1 per processor
Number of threads 1 (max 1) per processor
Name Intel Pentium 4
Code Name Northwood
Specification Mobile Intel® Pentium® 4 CPU 2.66GHz
Package Socket 478 mPGA
Family/Model/Stepping F.2.9
Extended Family/Model F.2
Brand ID 8
Core Stepping D1
Technology 0.13 um
Core Speed 2664.4 MHz
Multiplier x Bus speed 20.0 x 133.2 MHz
Rated Bus speed 532.9 MHz
Stock frequency 2666 MHz
Instruction sets MMX, SSE, SSE2
L1 Data cache 8 KBytes, 4-way set associative, 64-byte line size
Trace cache 12 Kuops, 8-way set associative
L2 cache 512 KBytes, 8-way set associative, 64-byte line size

Chipset & Memory

Northbridge Intel i855GM/GME rev. A2
Southbridge Intel 82801DB (ICH4-M) rev. 03
Memory Type DDR
Memory Size 512 MBytes
Memory Frequency 166.5 MHz (4:5)
CAS# Latency (tCL) 2.5 clocks
RAS# to CAS# (tRDC) 3 clocks
RAS# Precharge (tRP) 3 clocks
Cycle Time (tRAS) 7 clocks

System

System Manufacturer Packard Bell NEC
System Name EasyNote M5xx
System S/N 231101590125
Mainboard Vendor NEC COMPUTERS INTERNATIONAL
Mainboard Model NEC Versa Premium
BIOS Vendor Insyde Software Corporation
BIOS Version V1.04
BIOS Date 10/02/2003

Memory SPD

Module 1 DDR, PC2700 (166 MHz), 256 MBytes, Infineon
Module 2 DDR, PC2700 (166 MHz), 256 MBytes, Infineon

Software

Windows Version Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 2 (Build 2600)
DirectX Version 9.0c

Is it what I was supposed to do?
Thank you again,
Anika

[Retired Tech]

Download, install and run Everest Home Edition

http://www.filehippo...d_everest_home/

Click + next to computer, then sensor, it could take a while to show the temperatures, post any it gives

[123Runner]

It does sound like heat related. Look at the fans and see if you can see any blockage.
Till we come up with a solution for you, make sure the laptop is on a flat surface. Try propping it up to give more air flow. Do not leave it on your lap or bed. This will hinder the cooling.

Continue with the other suggestions.

[Anika]

Hello everybody,
thank you for your answers.

I have downloaded Everest, here are the results:
After having turned on the pc and not doing too many things:
31°C – 88°F
Atfer that I started the antivirus, the temperature rose to: 38 C- 100 F. I stopped the antivirus when the fan was going too fast, after that the temperature rose slowly to 42C – 108F. I then started Disk CleanUp, the temperature rose to 44C-111F and the pc shut down.
Now I've turned it on again and the temperature is steady, 43°C-109°F.
Anyway, I'll put something under the pc (I keep it on my desk), so that there is some space near the fan.

Thank you very much,
Anika

[acklan]

There is a device that you place your notebook on and it draws the heat away with a fan. You can find it at most computer stores. I would think about letting a shop look at it and see if the fan duct or heatsink are obstructed.

[Anika]

Hello again,
I have put my pc on a support which leaves free space under the fan, so the air can circulate freely under the laptop. Everest shows me it reached up to 48°C (118°F) during scanning, but the pc didn't shut down and it even managed to perform a Disk CleanUp :-)
Now it's 46C (115F) and the fan is completely silent.
I'll also look for that special support for laptops.
Thank you very much for all your help, now I'm off to the Malware forum!
Kind regards,
Anika