Macbook Pro heat issues

I've got a very weird question, sorry in advance.

Due to circumstances that were out of my control (I was out of town) my Macbook Pro ended up sitting on its spine against a wall, right next to my radiator. It was in a soft case, but it sat there for about a week, I think. Since then it's been slowly getting worse and worse:

- My trackpad no longer scrolls, highlights or drags, it only clicks. It is however still responding to just tapping it, I don't actually have to click down. This computer's never had trackpad issue before this.
- Within 5 minutes of coming out of sleep mode, even if I'm only typing in Word or reading the news on Firefox, the fan is cranked up and the bottom is super hot. It tends to go back and forth between on and off, if I'm streaming anything/on Youtube it stays blasting the whole time. Before this I think my fan clicked on about once every month or two. Now I can't even set it on my lap, even when I'm in heavy jeans.
- A few times it's come out of sleep, but only gotten as far as the black screen, never prompted me for my password. I had to restart in those cases.
- A few days ago the computer started running INSANELY slow. I routinely edit photos in Photoshop and videos in Final Cut Pro without issues, but now Final Cut Pro is freezing the minute I open it, and Photoshop lags like nothing else. Even just typing in Word/the internet is lagging, I can finish typing a whole sentence before it finally shows up. Scrolling has started doing the same thing.

Like I said, very odd. So my question is - did the computer literally fry? Or is this just a few things acting up at once that can be fixed by replacing parts? (All my software is up to date, although I am still running OS 10.5 just because I've had the computer since 08.) Thanks guys!

 

Well I'd say reset the SMC and PRAM, do both, then try using the computer again.

It is possible some other issue is the cause but I'd reset both of those first and then report back from there. You'll have to look on support.apple.com or google to find the specific procedure for your specific model.

 

I actually did reset both when the issues first started, just tried it again just in case, and still no go. Well, the lagging typing seems to be fixed, but only in Firefox, so seemingly that was just an issue with Firefox needing a restart.

 

Agreed, Reset SMC and PRAM and if that does not work you may have the heatsink installed incorrectly. I would take it in after dusting out the inside with compressed air to make sure it is not you.

Have you checked temps with iStatPro yet?

 

I totally forgot about iStatPro, right now I'm reading between 60 and 70C, but it's nice and cool for once. I'll check it when my fan kicks in the next time. Either that or just resetting the SMC/PRAM this last time finally did something. Although my trackpad is still a disaster. Granted, I'd rather take just the trackpad being screwed up over both the trackpad at the battery/fan at the same time.

 

If you've had this computer for a while now and haven't cleaned it, then I'd recommend cleaning out the internal cooling system for dust and other debris. You can do this with a powerful vacuum cleaner and a canister of compressed air. It may solve some of your problems, but after a week on top of a radiator it is likely that the machine has suffered hardware damage to multiple components. This would explain the variety of problems you're having.

 

I do try to use compressed air from time to time, so I think it's fairly dust free. Assuming this is hardware damage, what would that entail - a replaced battery and cooling system (plus trackpad possibly)? Sorry for the question on top of a question.

 

Its very difficult to recommend replacing expensive parts when we're not even sure that it is a hardware problem. The best way to be sure that it is a hardware problem is to back up your personal data and reinstall the OS.

 

i had a macbook pro and i had this similar issue

 

...

Care to elaborate on the resolution of the problem?

 

guess the "had a macbook pro" was the resolution...

 

I tried the following product and got to say it reduced by overall temp by nearly 20c (75c - 55c). Try and get ahold of the Targus chill hub XC.

Its definitely an expensive product, but I highly recommend it and have been using it for two days. THis is how I setup my mbp.

Essentaially, I let the fans on the cooling pad run at medium pace (there is a medium and high setting). My MBP already has the cool feet podiums so pretty much I rest the mbp on top of the cooling pad and the mbp is held in place by the cool feet podiums. I tried to remove the cool feet and just place the mbp on top of the pad, however the temp drop was only around 5-10c. IF you try the method I have mentioned earlier you will definitely see the differentce. the laptop is pretty much cool to the touch, especially on the left side. Hope this helps