Overheating Laptop?

[Cameron S]

I have a Sony Vaio PCG-K33 laptop, and I'm wondering if it's overheating. I decided to put the Windows 7 Beta on it, as preliminary benchmarks show that it outperforms XP and Vista. The laptop was able to stay on for a consecutive 2+ Hours (full format and installation). Within a minute of a completing the installation and getting to the desktop, it randomly shut off, without notice, for no apparent reason. I haven't been able to get it to stay on for more than 10 Minutes or so after the first time it happened; on some occasions it shuts off before getting to the desktop. However, I can always turn it on again immediately after it shuts off (I've read about people with similar issues, except some of them couldn't turn theirs back on for some time.)

I've had this issue in the past, but only when attempting to run a hard drive erasing application (which boots from a CD). I previously had XP installed, and never had any similar problems, although I do know that the processor can heat up to a blistering 75°C in under five minutes (from a cold boot, on XP). Unfortunately there isn't a temperature monitor in the BIOS, and it probably wouldn't stay on long enough for me to install a hardware monitoring program.

I've read online that numerous Sony laptops are prone to similar symptoms and that the solution is to either reapply thermal compound or just dust the CPU fans with compressed air. Based on my situation, would eithere likely fix the problem?

 

[sabashuali]

Can you access the temp monitor (if there is one) in BIOS?
Also, do you notice that the cooling fan is constantly blasting?

 

[Ghostman 1]

When you are using your laptop,Are you raising the rear of it so it can breath ?
What is the surface like, when using this laptop? Plus how much ram does this laptop have ?

 

[Cameron S]

Can you access the temp monitor (if there is one) in BIOS?
Also, do you notice that the cooling fan is constantly blasting?

While there isn't a temp monitor in the BIOS, I have been able to get Everest Ultimate installed. I have noticed that the fan gets extremely loud, even when it's only idling at a low utilization (although the temperature would still be high too, which explain that).

When you are using your laptop,Are you raising the rear of it so it can breath ?
What is the surface like, when using this laptop? Plus how much ram does this laptop have ?

No, I haven't ever raised the rear before, however, I've always made sure that it was on a flat, level surface. It has the maximum possible 1GB, which is shared with video.

After installing Everest Ultimate, I let it idle with the rear propped 2" above my desk. It stayed between 59°C - 64°C for 10 Minutes (it didn't shut itself off). I then placed it flat on the desk, and it stayed between 64°C - 67°C for an additional 20 Minutes.

I tried to run the Windows assessment test, to increase processor load. The test didn't run (gave an error), but just navigating to System Properties caused the temp to almost instantaneously rise to 76°C. It seemed to stay between 70°C - 77°C with normal browsing in IE8. While it's been on for almost a consecutive hour without shutting off once today, it sounds like it might still be beneficial to at least clean the dust out of it.

Edit: I've discovered that it apparently shuts off whenever the CPU reaches 90°C.