As it starts getting closer to summer and warming up, we all need to think more about our computer.  Most of us don’t give too much thought to the computer when it starts getting hot, but an overheated computer is not a happy computer.  Apart from potentially causing permanent damage, a hot computer runs slower.

Many homes in the Motherlode do not have central air conditioning and depending on where the cooler is located, some rooms can get pretty hot in the summer.  If location is a problem, you may need to move your computer to a cooler location with adequate air flow. 

Hot environments are not the only cause for computers overheating.  Internal hardware problems can also cause overheating problems.  A lot of dust and dirt on the components inside the computer can also cause overheating.  Compressed air can be purchased at most office supply stores allowing you to blow out any crud.

One sign that your computer could be overheating is if it reboots or shuts itself off.  Windows will shut down to prevent damage to your PC.  This can repeat itself until the problem is resolved.  If this is happening to you, you can try removing the side panel of the computer to see if the problem persists.  While doing this, you can visually check to see that the fans are running as they should.  Listen to see if the fans are making any strange noises. See if the computer still shuts itself off with the side panel open.  Please note that this is for testing and diagnosis only, it is not recommended that you keep the side panel off.

If you are uncomfortable diagnosing the problem yourself, or if you have reason to believe there may be a hardware problem causing your computer to overheat, it may be time to have it checked by a professional.

Happy (and cool) computing!

If you have a technology question or topic you would like to see posted here, email mark@calaverasit.com.