Dell Inspiron 5150 heat issue??

86Cutty · 06-25-2009, 05:53 PM

I have a Dell Inspiron 5150 that I bought in 2002 or 2003. I have recently had a problem with it when I'm working on it like studying for a test, watching movies, or whatever. All of a sudden the screen gets all weird and freezes. It's sort of like all the colors and pictures on the LCD gets distorted and scrambled. I like an old TV that you turn off/on. It's sort of hard to describe.

The top of the screen might still have part of the picture, but the rest is messed up. When that happens I have to hold the power button down and turn it back on, then the screen is fine again. Its only happened on two separate occasions, but I figured I should ask someone about it before it gets worse. I was thinking that it was a heat issue because usually it's hot when it messes up. I haven't done anything really different to it lately except, near the beginning of the year I put in new memory.

I guess my question is, does anyone think that the Processor is getting too hot and freezing up to save itself; or, is it maybe something else? When it happens again, and if I remember

I'll take a picture of it so I can show what the screen looks like after it messes up.

I almost forgot to say what I'm running:
Dell inspiron 5150 laptop
2GB RAM
60GB HDD
3.06GHz Pentium 4 Processor
NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200
Windows XP Pro

If anymore info is needed, just let me know. Thanks.

**TriggerFinger** · 06-25-2009, 06:31 PM

Can you make it happen again? If so, try with an external monitor and see if the same problems happen. Also try updating the video drivers.

86Cutty · 06-27-2009, 06:59 PM

Idk if I can make it happen again. I was using my laptop for about 7 hours the other day, and it didn't happen at all. (Then again, my room was a lot cooler than it was when it happened the 1st and 2nd time). I'll try updating the video drivers tonight when I get off work. I'll let you know what happens.

Also, if it is a heat issue, should I attempt to make my laptop hotter than it's supposed to just to see if it happens again, or can I really mess something up like the Video card, or the Processor?

Thanks for helping me on this.

**TriggerFinger** · 06-28-2009, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 86Cutty

Also, if it is a heat issue, should I attempt to make my laptop hotter than it's supposed to just to see if it happens again, or can I really mess something up like the Video card, or the Processor?

Thanks for helping me on this.

-- worse case is laptop will shut off.

86Cutty · 06-28-2009, 09:54 PM

But I'd be able to turn it on again though, right? lol

**TriggerFinger** · 06-29-2009, 01:10 AM

Yep, you can still power it ON again (let it cool down first should it be an overheating problem).

06-25-2009, 05:53 PM	#1 (permalink)
86Cutty Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 34 OS: XP	Dell Inspiron 5150 heat issue?? I have a Dell Inspiron 5150 that I bought in 2002 or 2003. I have recently had a problem with it when I'm working on it like studying for a test, watching movies, or whatever. All of a sudden the screen gets all weird and freezes. It's sort of like all the colors and pictures on the LCD gets distorted and scrambled. I like an old TV that you turn off/on. It's sort of hard to describe. The top of the screen might still have part of the picture, but the rest is messed up. When that happens I have to hold the power button down and turn it back on, then the screen is fine again. Its only happened on two separate occasions, but I figured I should ask someone about it before it gets worse. I was thinking that it was a heat issue because usually it's hot when it messes up. I haven't done anything really different to it lately except, near the beginning of the year I put in new memory. I guess my question is, does anyone think that the Processor is getting too hot and freezing up to save itself; or, is it maybe something else? When it happens again, and if I remember I'll take a picture of it so I can show what the screen looks like after it messes up. I almost forgot to say what I'm running: Dell inspiron 5150 laptop 2GB RAM 60GB HDD 3.06GHz Pentium 4 Processor NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200 Windows XP Pro If anymore info is needed, just let me know. Thanks.

06-25-2009, 06:31 PM	#2 (permalink)
TriggerFinger Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: USA Posts: 11,846 OS: Vista SP1, XP SP3, PCLinuxOS2007	Re: Dell Inspiron 5150 heat issue?? Can you make it happen again? If so, try with an external monitor and see if the same problems happen. Also try updating the video drivers. __________________ DBAN - Memtest86+ - BartPE - Linux LiveCD - ImgBurn - HDD Diags - Disk Copy HOW TO BURN AN ISO FILE

06-27-2009, 06:59 PM	#3 (permalink)
86Cutty Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 34 OS: XP	Re: Dell Inspiron 5150 heat issue?? Idk if I can make it happen again. I was using my laptop for about 7 hours the other day, and it didn't happen at all. (Then again, my room was a lot cooler than it was when it happened the 1st and 2nd time). I'll try updating the video drivers tonight when I get off work. I'll let you know what happens. Also, if it is a heat issue, should I attempt to make my laptop hotter than it's supposed to just to see if it happens again, or can I really mess something up like the Video card, or the Processor? Thanks for helping me on this.

06-28-2009, 09:54 PM	#5 (permalink)
86Cutty Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 34 OS: XP	Re: Dell Inspiron 5150 heat issue?? But I'd be able to turn it on again though, right? lol

06-29-2009, 01:10 AM	#6 (permalink)
TriggerFinger Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: USA Posts: 11,846 OS: Vista SP1, XP SP3, PCLinuxOS2007	Re: Dell Inspiron 5150 heat issue?? Yep, you can still power it ON again (let it cool down first should it be an overheating problem). __________________ DBAN - Memtest86+ - BartPE - Linux LiveCD - ImgBurn - HDD Diags - Disk Copy HOW TO BURN AN ISO FILE