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    Compaq Presario 2100 locking up...

    Discussion in 'HP' started by solopach, Mar 2, 2009.

  1. solopach

    solopach Newbie

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    I have a Presario 2195U and it locks all the time. At first it seemed to do it at random, but then I noticed it would lock every time during installation of XP Service Pack 3, or other long laborious installations. Any time you hear the fan kick into overdrive it seems that it will lock up shortly after. It locked several times during the installation of Windows XP itself.

    I hear the fan spinning, and I keep the system on a hard, flat surface to maximize airflow, but it will still lock up during larger-scale installations.

    I ask if the issue could possibly stem from over-heating; the system reaches a certain temperature and locks as a fail-safe. I've also noticed that it will lock less frequently when the battery is removed. When I remove it, the battery is very warm, Perhaps the battery is absorbing some of the heat being produced in the system, contributing to the overall temperature inside the chassis?

    I have since installed Ubuntu Linux on it and it locks MUCH less frequently, and from what I understand, Linux is much less CPU-intensive. I do like Linux, but it isn't suitable for what I use the system for.

    If over-heating could be the issue, I'd like to purchase a better/more powerful fan, power draw isn't so much an issue as it's almost always plugged in.

    The specifications for the system are:
    CPU: AMD Athlon XP 1.8ghz
    Memory: 1gb SDRAM
    Graphics: ATI Radeon Mobile
    HDD: 120gb
    OS: Ubuntu 8.10


    If the problem is indeed thermal-related, then comes the question of how do I open the chassis...
     
    solopach, Mar 2, 2009
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  2. solopach

    solopach Newbie

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    I forgot to mention the mainboard was replaced... Probably shouldn't have left that out.

    After thinking about thermal issues, I wondered if perhaps there was insufficient thermal compound applied to the CPU/heatsink. I have some Arctic Silver 5, but then I am faced with the question of opening the chassis...
     
    solopach, Mar 2, 2009
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  3. tmerritt530

    tmerritt530 Notebook Guru

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    It may have built up dirt. It sounds like you need to take it apart and clean it.

    Also if/when you do, put new thermal paste on the CPU/heatsink. This can dramatically improve cooling on machines that still have the original stuff after several years.

    Here is a service manual:
    http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c01122313.pdf

    I think that I found the correct model so that should be a great step by step helper!
     
    tmerritt530, Mar 2, 2009
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  4. evil534768

    evil534768 Notebook Enthusiast

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    This could probably be due to overheating. How much temperature does it go upto?

    You can even do a RAM reseat. Flip ur laptop, u will see a lid, unscrew it, to the left of the open area (after u remove the lid) you will see RAM fitted to two white clips in both sides. Just pull the clips away from the RAM horizontally. The RAM will pop out in a 45 degree angle. Take it out and re-insert it after some time.
     
    evil534768, Mar 3, 2009
    #4