Laptop overheating(Dell Latitude D620)

[iamthemicrowave]

Hi everyone. I purchased this laptop about 2/2.5 years ago with Windows XP.

My laptop with 8.10(32 bit) has been locking up alot lately, and I believe it is due to overheating. After running for about an hour, the left side of the computer gets very hot, everything freezes up and I have to shut it down. I opened it up recently and cleaned out the fan and air exhaust ports, which did nothing. The main fan is working fine. I know it is not a battery problem either, because that area of the computer does not get hot. The battery burned out a year ago and Dell sent me a new one for free.

I think it may be a problem with the processor or GPU fan, but I am not sure if my computer has one(or both).

Any advice or help? I plan to contact Dell tech support, but I fear I voided the warranty by installing ubuntu(which has been on it since August). This is my main working machine that I need for school, so I would appreciate any help. I have not used the computer much recently for fear of burning something out.

[mpsii]

The D620s had the overheating issue a lot. I would contact Dell. Do not mention Ubuntu or Linux.

Do you have a place to re-install XP on your hard drive?

If you have to send it in to Dell (under Warranty?) I would re-image it first with the restore CDs (backing up files and configurations for Ubuntu first -- try remastersys).

[upchucky]

if you must return it to dell under warranty, take out the hard drive they do not need a drive for this type of warranty repair. i had the screen changed on my laptop under warranty, i removed the drive then sent it to them. they only need their own live cds to check out pcs.

[upchucky]

further update, this same laptop is no longer under warranty, i had to change a fan in it. dell has service manuals on their site that show you how to disassemble and reassemble their laptops. took a toothbrush to the heat sinks around the exaust ports and tubing fins around the fans while i had it open.

[Sarai the Geek]

Just out of curiosity, does anyone know if we actually are voiding our warranties by putting ubuntu on our computers? Pretty sure mine's no longer under warranty but that might be good information for someone considering switching to linux...

[upchucky]

i would personally win this argument with dell if they claimed it true. since I do not need a hard drive in the pc for a warranty repair then I win. unless it is a harddrive failure, then they need the drive, however dell is selling pcs with linux, they know linux is safe for a pc. I win again. Unless Dell explicitly says you have to have windows on the pc, which they are reluctant to argue because of anti-competition laws and microsoft losing this argument already, I would ask them to prove linux damaged the pc, I win again. but that is just me. If you are willing to fight them on this issue, you would win, but they like to fight, and so do I when it comes to silly things like my rights.

[sirebral]

YES! If you remove the pre installed OS and add your own you are VOIDING THE WARRANTY.

Edited to include

i would personally win this argument with dell if they claimed it true.

Unfortunately, you wish. One reason I don't call tech support anymore is because if th user makes certain modifications the distributor does not need to help them. I do my own tech support.

[Sarai the Geek]

Hmm... I wonder if it actually says that in the wording of the warranty contract. That's questionable ethics, right there. But what's new?

[iamthemicrowave]

I realize that my fan is not going into fast overdrive speed like it used to. I fear I may have messed something up when I cleaned it. Is there a program to modify the fan speed?

I have lm-sensors installed already.

[iamthemicrowave]

Well, the Dell repairman came today, after I called them yesterday. He replaced the motherboard, heatsink, and fan(for free!!)...and it works now. My laptop was still under warranty. I told him I had linux and he didn't really care, so I don't think it violated the warranty.

Great customer service from Dell!!

I can't find the "mark thread as solved" button, was it removed? This thread can be closed or whatever if you want.

[didadi777]

Hi..
I hope this laptop gets fixed for me. ! I'm having a very similar issue. The laptop just heatsup plugged in or unplugged..

[orangepenguin97]

i would contact dell if your computer is still under warranty.

[mpsii]

The Latitude 610/620 and 410/420 had this issue. Only resolution is motherboard replacement. I would contact Dell if I were you.

[hsn09]

Installing another OS is not void the warranty. See I buy a laptop with windows xp 2 months ago and then upgrade my os to windows 7. I asked dell live support about warranty and they this thing will not void the warranty until you disassemble you machine yourself