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Resolved Question

PC slowing to stop after a few hours use

Jan 6, 2012 7:30PM PST

Hello peeps,
I have a Lenovo G560, about 8 months old. Lately, after about 2 hours use, it begins to get slower and slower until in the end it freezes.
I have de fragged, run virus scans and done a registry cleaner etc, but it make no difference. It does not appear to be getting over heated as the fan kicks in and out, not permanently running.
Can anyone suggest what I could try next ~ oh and please you are talking to a computer numpty so baby language would be greatly appreciated Shocked)

Discussion is locked

rockmouse has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer
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Clarification Request
similar problem
Jan 7, 2012 9:25PM PST

I also have similar problem. I'm using Compaq CQ61 laptop with win7 install. It have battery problem, Also I play computer games on my laptop.

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Doesn't seem to be
Jan 8, 2012 4:33AM PST

a battery problem in this discussion, so I'm thinking your post is misplaced.

Best to return to the Windows 7 Forum Listing, create your own new discussion, and provide full details of the problem.

Mark

Best Answer

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Laptop
Jan 6, 2012 9:16PM PST

The Lenovo G560 is a laptop so my first question is, is the battery almost empty?

Mark

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Battery low
Jan 6, 2012 11:27PM PST

Hello, no, battery is always full as I leave it plug in all the time Shocked)

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As noted below
Jan 7, 2012 4:21AM PST

In that case the next step is as noted below. Heat.

Is this laptop used on a hard surface? If not then perhaps the air vents are blocked.

Also, see about cleaning the vents, as suggested in the post here;
http://forums.cnet.com/7726-19681_102-3196452.html

After that? We look at what's running in the background.

Mark

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Heat
Jan 7, 2012 9:12PM PST

Thank you Mark, I do use it on my lap but one side resting on the chair arm, allowing air to circulate underneath, could this be the problem? I previously had a Acer which used in the same position, would get hot enough to make me put a cushion under it to stop it roasting my leg, but it never ground to a halt like the Lenovo Shocked)

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Laptops.
Jan 8, 2012 4:53AM PST

Hi again rockmouse.

The difficulty is that laptops really are not laptops; meaning they are not for laps. Some of them are too large and heavy anyway for the lap, (my Packard Bell for example I could never use on my lap), but the problem is heat.

Laptops don't have the number of cooling fans that Desktops do, and they have to use different ways to dissipate heat. Heat is the processor killer, and motherboards are designed to shut down if they overheat to prevent damage to the processor and the rest of the electronic circuit board and hardware.

Many laptops have vents on the underside but when the laptop is sitting in the lap, the vents are blocked and cannot circulate air and remove the heat. You say you have noticed this yourself when it starts roasting your leg. That's a danger sign, not just for your leg, but for the laptop itself, and, if I may say, placing it on a cushion is only going to make matters worse.

A table or desk is best, or some other hard surface top. Have a look at Bob's advice about cleaning laptops in the link below. All laptops are different of course, but in all cases, vents can get blocked by dust;
http://forums.cnet.com/7726-19681_102-3196452.html

One more thing. How old is the battery? As a general rule, laptop batteries are good for about 300 cycles, (fully charged > empty > fully charged is one cycle), or 18 months to two years. Batteries can overheat as well and should only be replaced with the makers recommended make and model batteries, not cheap ones. I'm not saying the battery is the cause of any overheating, but a bad battery can overheat.

Laptop cooling pads are also available, examples at http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Laptop+coolers&x=0&y=0

Hope that helps.

Mark

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Roasted leg
Jan 8, 2012 9:06PM PST

Hello again Mark, I was referring to the Acer roasting my leg, the Lenovo barely gets warm, but I appreciate what your saying ~ when is a laptop not a lap top ~ when you cannot sit it on your lap :o)
I will think of one of those cooling pads, as I cannot use a table in my current position!
<div>
Your question about the battery age, well it came with the Laptop about 8 months ago. I do however, leave it plug in and charging all the time, is this wrong?
</div>

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That's an interesting question
Jan 9, 2012 4:04AM PST

and I don't know the answer.

Whenever I use my laptop, (rarely, it is a backup for if and when my desktop fails me, or simply to give it a work-out), I use it connected to the mains supply, with the battery still in. But then, when it is not in use, I disconnect it from the mains completely so my laptop battery always completely discharges. When unplugged from the mains and shutdown, the battery is still in use keeping the CMOS battery fully charged, or so I believe.

Just an aside, CMOS battery is a small button like battery on the motherboard that keeps the BIOS active during non-use.

My first thought with your position is, why keep the battery in if you only ever use the system from the mains, but if you read the discussion in the link below you will see that many do the same;
http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/1049649

There are various points of view in that discussion and although I didn't read them all, I suspect that no clear guidance was offered. So I backtrack from my own thoughts.

However I am alerting your post to ask other experts here what they think. Lets see what other thoughts, (if any), are posted.

Mark

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Battery not in
Jan 9, 2012 5:50PM PST

You know I said you would be replying to a numpty ~ well if you doubted it, I did not know you did not have to have the battery in when running directly from the mains, it makes sense now you say it, like a transistor radio that is either battery or mains, it just never occurred to me. However, I do occasionally unplug it and trundle off to another room with it, so i suppose it would mean I could not do that unless the battery was charged!!!!

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I agree entirely
Jan 9, 2012 10:06PM PST

And I do like Bob's reply below; it explains better than I could.

I'm guessing that since your Lenovo is only 8 months old, it will have the latest battery care technology.

Mark

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Answer
PC slowing to stop after a few hours use - New!
Jan 6, 2012 10:56PM PST

Just a thought here, If it's an Intel CPU they will cycle back the clock speed as the temperature increases until finally a freeze state where the CPU stops. This will happen as the CPU ramps up the temperature due to load ( useage). Measure the temperature of CPU - Most BIOS settings have a method of just measureing the temperature of CPU as well as fan speed. Just because a fan runs, doesn't mean that it provides the necessary air flow to cool the CPU thus the lower the CFM ( cubic ft/min ) the slower the air flow thus allowing the cpu to heat up. Not sure if AMD has this safety built in like Intel but I know they didn't a couple years ago. The AMD would just allow you to literally blow it's top by overheating. Let me know what you finally find. It just sounds like when you say about 2 hours - are you playing a game during this time - running a specific program - loading multiple applications?

Mike

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Over heating
Jan 6, 2012 11:28PM PST

No I am not playing games, usually I am just on forums on the web or typing documents Shocked)

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Answer
Hi rockmouse.
Jan 9, 2012 4:48AM PST

There are some rather long discussions about laptop batteries. The sad part is when you find ideas from the bad old days of NiCad. Today we don't have those and today's laptops have much better battery management.

And my new laptop has a really nice feature to extend the battery life by letting it sit at 80% full rather than 100%. What a great option.

For now, the advice on today's laptops is to leave the battery in and on the AC power as much as possible for many reasons.

The best reason is that if power goes out suddenly and you can't properly shutdown the hard drive contents can be lost. Since most can't deal with that, I think the laptop's built in UPS is a fine thing.
Bob

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power cut
Jan 9, 2012 5:53PM PST

Now there's a thought, we are in and area that is often hit but sudden power cuts, so perhaps it is wise for me to leave it plug in all the time.