Something is wrong with my laptop, I think it is overheating?

Question

Yesterday I was on my Compaq Presorio R3000 just typing some family history on my Family Tree Maker 2005 in my living room. While I was typing I noticed that my laptop just froze and there was no movement. I thought that it might be overheating since I placed it on a Persian Rug, but I tried turning it on at least 3 times on a wooden, cold surface. Same effect. Then I went on Yahoo Answers and gathered up some information. One guy was saying that Zone Alarm might be the problem (which I had installed on my laptop). Another guy said that he used a computer duster to dust off the dust in the cooling fan. I tried that and didn't work. Then, out of the blue, my Norton Antivirus scanner says it detected and blocked a worm. What is going on with my computer? Is it overheating or is there a worm or virus present on my computer? The last time I went on I checked on Task Manager for the performance and this is what I had before it froze, again:
18% CPU Usage
396 Mb PF usage

Answer 1

Try running it on safe mode for a few hours, having it do something in the background to use CPU power. If it does freeze, then it's your hardware. If it doesn't, most likely there's something messing with the OS.





#### UPDATE ####

From the new data you've supplemented, I can only assume that it's an error in the memory buffer system, which in this case would most likely be RAM. Experiment with that theory for a while.



Good luck.

Answer 2

The first answer is quite thorough. And even with all programs closed, just the OS, anti-virus, and everything in the bottom right toolbar will cause some memory use. Also, dllhost.exe is a Windows program... it should show up in Windows\System32. However, dllhost.exe can also show up as Spyware or a virus from other sites (or at least harbors them)... therefore it's running and using so much memory because it contains spyware that's constantly running/tracking you. If it's in any other directory, then you have a problem. Even if it is in system32... I'd suggest scanning it with your anti-virus system. It's probably harboring spyware or something... and scanning it should reveal (and hopefully fix) that. One thing I'd like to add, the most basic/simple fix... it could just be that your fan is blocked with dust, debris, etc... that piles up. Buy a can of compressed air (at any office supply or hardware store for about $5 - $7) and spray the air directly into the fan, from all angles. It's happened to mine a couple times... and just by spraying compressed air it was completely fixed.

Answer 3

The Safe Mode suggestion is a good one. Normally if it is heat, you only get a couple hangs and then it won't start at all.



It really sounds like an excess of adware, spyware or any number of "bugs". Safe Mode with Networking might let you get to McAfee's website where they offer a free virus scan service via your browser. SpyBot Search and Destroy or Lavasoft's Ad-Aware will help you get rid of the other stuff.



My money is on the likelyhood of "bugs".

Answer 4

It sounds to me like you have a virus on your system



I used to use Norton anti virus and found my system would just freeze in the middle of something after months of trying different things i found it was Norton that was causing the freezing when i uninstalled it my problems went away.

I now yous avg anti virus which is a free down load you can run a virus check which will find any trojans or viruses.

Answer 5

Yes, it sounds like malware of some kind. Download, install, and run the following:



1- You should have only ONE antivirus running. Norton and Mcaffee are both good, but are both resource hogs in processes (memory and CPU). I highly recommend the free avast home from http://www.avast.com



2- Its ok to have multiple antisypware programs running. Today, the best free one is from http://www.superantispyware.com



3- Monitor your startups and services for free from http://www.winpatrol.com



4- Keep your windows up to date by installing all critical updates. Open IE > Tools menu > Windows Update



5- Know what programs are trying to get on the internet or trying to accept connections from the internet by using the free wirewall at http://www.zonelabs.com



Do all these in the way they were intended, and your computer will be as safe as it can be.

Answer 6

OOo! watch out for overheating on a persian rug! Laptops are notorious for it! They tend to have puny fans, and need plenty of space underneath (no crowding by mushy rug! need at least a non-giving plane surface!). My HP overheated, I needed to rebuilded, a true groaner!!!

Answer 7

it probably has a worm like ti said even sometimes if you scan it the blocker dosent see it right away. i would call some type of laptop person to come and check it out

Answer 8

these other answers are good possibilities, but i think your best bet is to not use your laptop for a few days and then see what happens from there.

Answer 9

turn it off