Laptop constantly crashing

[SonOfCrusader76]

It's either switching itself off, or the sound locks up requiring a hard reboot. Sometimes the sound locks up for a period then comes back. No BSODs, not one. To me, this points to overheating - am I right? If so, would one of those laptop cooling pads with built in fans help at all? Laptop's an Acer Aspire.

[Karamazovmm]

better post the specs on that acer and sincerely clean the fans on that thing, it does point to overheating.

[SonOfCrusader76]

How do you clean a laptop's fans - it's not like opening a PC case is it? So wouldn't the laptop cooler help?

[RZZZA]

Download a temperature monitoring program like afterburner.

[Karamazovmm]

How do you clean a laptop's fans - it's not like opening a PC case is it? So wouldn't the laptop cooler help?

there is probably a manual for reaching the fans, its usually simple, remove the necessary cover, use a canned air and you are done. Its usually better to remove the heatsink assembly completely, since the dust usually accumulates between the fans and the heatsink fins

and a cooler is only interesting when the notebook throttles already from factory.

and yes, download some temp monitoring program

[Taiji]

It's either switching itself off, or the sound locks up requiring a hard reboot. Sometimes the sound locks up for a period then comes back. No BSODs, not one. To me, this points to overheating - am I right? If so, would one of those laptop cooling pads with built in fans help at all? Laptop's an Acer Aspire.

Is this while gaming or what? Seems it might be overheating if so, from the crashing.

But it's also switching itself off, rather than restarting or blue screening, which is a bit strange.

Try it with no battery (take it out), and try it powered by the battery.

[SonOfCrusader76]

It happens during Runescape, if you can call that gaming. Or Youtube, basically stuff that doesn't really tax the laptop at all.

It's not my laptop, it's my nephew's.

[RZZZA]

If you have reason to believe it's a software or virus issue, places like officemax and bestbuy can remove those for you. For a nominal fee, of course.

[SonOfCrusader76]

If you have reason to believe it's a software or virus issue, places like officemax and bestbuy can remove those for you. For a nominal fee, of course.

No, a virus isn't even on my list. I've scanned it with numerous software packages and it's fine.