Laptop cooling fault? Keeps cutting out frequently

[MattJohnston]

Hello, I have a Novatech Neptune Elite (8050D) with the following details

Sales Order Number: 3694623
Stock Code: cannot find this
Serial Number: PNA511000056

After about 3 months of use, the laptop began to cut out sometimes at random moments, and recently the frequency of these cut outs has been increasing, until now I can't use it for more than about an hour with anything more CPU intense than Notepad running or it cuts out. I'm pretty certain its a fan/overheating problem because I can feel the keyboard getting really hot, and sometimes I can hear a brief whining from the fan.

As the laptops less than 1 year old, I've already requested a returns receipt, but I'm wondering whether if I ask for a repair, the problem will just occur again (because theres been no catalyst for it happening now, no droppages or spillages or any sorts of accidents), but also that because this laptop model is discontinued, what happens if I require a replacement?

Also I would like some advice on replacing the fans myself for this particular model (8050D). I assume the OEM fans aren't really built for extremely high usages like some of the programs I would use would need (3DStudio, intensive music production applications etc), so how would I go about finding a replacement fan that would do a better job, and how difficult is it to replace this? I've done tonnes of desktop upgrades and repairs, but I've never ventured inside a laptop. Also I assume any sort of self-upgrading would null and void any remaining warranty? Like I say the laptop will be returned but I wanted to know these details beforehand.

Thanks
Matthew Johnston

[Nox]

When you say cut out, whats happening?

A straight power off? bsod or reboot? and what OS do you have? anything in eventvwr?

Nox

[Atheros]

It is Possible that down to the high usage of the laptop that the thermal contact could need replacing.

Also have you tried a simple cleaning job of the airway's/Vents?

It is only possible to fit the manufactures standard fan into this laptop so if you require a new one you will have to get one from Novatech or Mitac themselves. The manufactures fan should be sufficient for the tasks that your doing.

opening the doors to the notebook shouldn't VOID your warranty if your only cleaning and Novatech dont mind their customers adding upgraded components (if its within the max spec guidelines). Although if you break it yourself then that will be a problem.

I suggest you only carry out any of the work yourself if you are confident in your ability to do so. :-p

[MattJohnston]

When I say it cuts out I mean it powers right off. My troubleshooting skills were totally thrown off by the fact that it was never with a common circumstance, it happened whilst playing Battlefield 2, whilst running Macromedia Flash, whilst listening to music through Windows Media Player, and at various other times. I was running Windows XP Media Centre Edition 2003 (I think it was 2003), and I've never heard of eventvwr before, but I'll be sure to check it out in the future. Laptops been posted off already via TNT, so hopefully I won't be embarassed by a simple dust problem causing it :?

[Nox]

i'll keep fingers crossed. eventvwr is a log of events that happen to your computer, depending on the type of crash, it could contain useful info...

If the machine was literally just switching off, its won't though, the OS would not have time to write the fault. Could well be caused by overheating, or faulty memory of some description.

Nox

[Coops]

When your unit powers off do you get a flashing RED LED on the Power LED light?

[MattJohnston]

nope, just a full instant power off like at a normal shutdown. Anyway its with Novatech now so no point bothering myself about the problem anymore, but does anyone know how long it can take for repairs to happen/exchanges?

[David T]

I'll look into that for you, its around 5-7 days at the moment.

[MattJohnston]

alright, thanks very much