Tag Archives: dust

Is Your Laptop Running Loud and Hot?

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Laptop computers commonly heat up in normal operation. Electronic components, including large capacity batteries, become warm in use but your laptop should never become too hot to handle.

When a laptop turns hot to the touch or starts to sound like a jet engine, it’s likely something is wrong.

Modern laptops use nearly silent fans to cool components and keep the system safe to use. For the majority of users the sound the computer makes is the best tool you have to diagnose its running condition. Excessive heat causes the fans to work harder and faster to help cool the system down. This jet engine sound is one of the first clues you have to indicate all may not be well.

Why So Hot

Due to their compact size and portability, laptop computers are particularly prone to overheating. Their tiny size means electronic parts are closer together and there is less room for cooling vents.

Most laptops have small fans that suck in cool air, passing it over metal fins to exchange heat from the system. The resulting hot air exhaust is expelled through vents back into the room. This helps prevent heat building up inside the machine. The constant air cycle is designed to keep the laptop running cool no matter the workload placed on it.

The process though, can be disrupted by any number of factors during operation. As well as cool air, computer fans also suck in dust, stray hairs and even cigarette smoke. Smoke in particular contains thick tar which coats the fins, fan blades, and internal components.

This foreign debris inside the machine prevents components from working at their best. Tar, dust and hair slows down the internal fan and coats the heat generating components and cooling fins. This coating prevents air exchange and keeps components warm as if they were under a blanket.

Causes of Overheating

Sometimes the way a laptop is used can cause it to overheat. Resting a laptop on thick carpets, blankets, or soft furnishings can block vents, preventing the fans from sucking cold air in or blowing the hot air out.

Leaving the machine running on carpet or furnishings, particularly for extended periods of time causes overheating issues and introduces extra dust into the components too.

The best place for a laptop is on a hard surface such as a desk, table or lap tray. This allows air to access the vents and helps prevent dust and hairs getting inside the machine.

Overheating Result

As the computer starts running hotter, the fan will attempt to compensate by running faster and more often. This results in the “jet engine” noise many users report when their computer is struggling to keep up.

Once dust, hair or tar has found its way into the machine it is notoriously difficult to clean out. The only way to properly clean the system is to disassemble the unit and clean out its components.

Much like a car engine, computer components have a designed temperature range in which they can safely and reliably operate. Extended periods of running above the temperature they are designed for causes damage, sudden failures and drastically reduces the lifespan of the computer.

Unlikely Cause

Often random blue screen computer crashes can be traced back to components that have been overheating inside the computer. As heat builds up, vulnerable components start to fail or behave strangely and can cause a range of issues.

When the systems has cooled down and restarted the issue is seemingly resolved. Back in operation, the computer heats up once more and subsequently crashes again. These irregular crashes are highly inconvenient and can cause data loss.

However, these symptoms are minor compared to a completely dead laptop. For some users, the first sign that the machine is too hot is when the motherboard is burnt out or their data storage has been irreparably lost.

If your laptop is running hot to the touch or has started to make loud sounds, bring it to us for a thorough clean out. You can also call us at 08 8326 4364 or

su*****@dp*********.au











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What Is That Weird Noise Coming From The Computer?

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Weird Computer NoisesNew computers are generally quiet, but after a while computers can start making some  weird noises. These noises may be simple clicks or clunks but your computer may also sound like a jet aircraft about to take off. But when should you worry? Your computer has a number of moving and non moving parts that can make noises and these noises can tell you a lot about its current health.

Clicking Noises

Soft ticks can be normal as the mechanical hard drives work a bit like a record player with a needle and platter. Depending upon the brand of the drive you might simply be hearing it spin up and move the needle around. When it starts sounding like a loud click though you should backup your data ASAP and bring it the machine in as soon as you can. If you ignore it all your data may become lost and your computer may fail to boot.

If you take action before its too late our technicians can copy your data onto a new drive and save you heart ache. It is much easier and a lot cheaper to replace the hard drive at the first sign of failure.

Clunking Noises

Unsurprisingly, this one causes certain alarm as computers aren’t meant to go clunk! It may be as simple as a cable having moved into the path of a spinning fan. If that is the case, our technicians will quickly secure the cable back where it belongs or check to see what else could be causing the clunk!

Jet Engine Noises

The majority of computers and laptops have fans to keep them cool by moving the air around. The hotter your computer gets the faster the fans spin and thus the more noisier they get. Consistent jet engine noises indicate that your computer is struggling to cool itself as perhaps the fan vents are clogged with dust, your computer is in a poorly ventilated space, or the fan itself is worn out. Each fan has ball bearings inside that wear out over time causing extra noise while it does the best it can. Our technicians can clean out your computer, unclog vents, replace individual fans if needed and give your system a check to make sure nothing else has been affected.

Beep Beep

No I’m not referring to the road runner from the cartoons of old but the beep as you switch on your computer. These beeps actually has multiple meanings. The single beep you normally hear indicates that it has run a self-test and everything is fine. When your computer is unwell, you may hear more beeps than usual. This is because each beep combination relates to a diagnostic code that lets us know what has gone wrong. If your computer is beeping differently, let us know so we can decode it and repair the problem for you.

Some noises your computer makes will be normal while others are a sign of deeper issues. Even if your computer looks to be working ok, a sudden change in noise could mean failure is just around the corner. Taking early action will ensure problems do not escalate, costs are kept low, and your files remain accessible.

Are weird noises coming from your computer? Give us a call today at 08 8326 4364 or

su*****@dp*********.au











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How To Keep Your IT Equipment Clean

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We use our IT equipment every day, but did you know it is one of the most disgusting pieces of equipment you own? Your phone may look clean, but studies show that a mobile phone can be 18x dirtier than a public restroom – and it gets worse. That keyboard you sit in front of while eating lunch is probably the biggest bacterial threat in your office with about 20 000 times more germs than a toilet seat (and if you share your computers with others this number will be a lot more).

Dirty equipment doesn’t only affect users as when dust builds up inside gadgets it causes them to overheat, malfunction and slow down. Your device essentially chokes on dust as vents and filters get clogged by sucking in pet hair and other floating debris.

Here are some steps on how to clean your essential tech items without damaging them:

  1. Skip the household cleaners: Most cleaning products are too harsh for technology and can end up causing permanent damage. You want something that can kill germs and remove everyday dirt and grime without scratching or leaving behind a residue. Your best bet is Isopropyl Alcohol. You’ll find it in hardware stores or even and your local chemist.
  2. Power down completely: Before doing any cleaning turn off the equipment (don’t just put it to sleep) and unplug it from any power sources. Switch wireless keyboards, mice, etc off underneath or remove the batteries.
  3. Remove any cases or covers: Undress your device as much as you can, but leave screen protectors on (unless there’s grime underneath). If your screen protector needs replacing, have a new one ready to apply.
  4. Grab a microfiber cloth: Dampen the cloth with Isopropyl Alcohol and wipe screens and external surfaces gently. Older build-up may require a bit of extra effort.
  5. Go deep: You can use a cotton tip or toothbrush to clean between most crevices, but some areas will need a bit more ‘oomph’ to clear. We don’t recommend vacuum cleaners as these can generate static electricity which may kill the item you are trying to clean.  A can of compressed air is good to blow the dust out. You can get these from many stores and they come with a long nozzle so you can direct the air flow. You’ll be surprised what flies out, so it’s best to do this outside! Hold the fans with a pencil (or something similar) so that they don’t spin and potentially cause damage. Another option is to use a tech-specific vacuum, but unless you are using it a lot they can be expensive.

How often you clean your tech is up to you. But it’s a good idea to blow out the computers internals at least twice a year and wipe down the equipment a few times per month.

Is your computer making too much noise, getting too hot or would like us to clean them out? Give us a call at 08 8326 4364 or

su*****@dp*********.au











 and we will take care of the cleaning for you.