Computer shutting down during indexing....

Dell 1501 Inspiron
Windows 7
Amd Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core Processor Tk-53
1.70 GHz
32 Bit O/S
ATI Radeon XPress Series
2 GB Ram
Hardrive - 7200 RPM

A bit of history about my current problem. My laptop is 4 or 5 years old. For about 6 months now when I'm running any kind of longer video, something inside overheats and shuts the computer down. This happens with L4 running & NOT running. My 2 years with L4 have been problem free with this laptop.

Now to the current problem. Since the latest L4 update, everytime I try to allow Logos to index, its gets somewhere around 50%, the computer shuts down( Last night was the 6th time). I've never had the slightest problem with updates or indexing before.

I don't know whether it's an internal problem in my laptop, and it's time to get a new one. (I definitely need a new one, just for financial reasons, I'd like to postpone till Feb. if I could) or if it's something with L4. During the indexing process, when my laptop shuts down, it does feel hot on bottom. But it's a Dell, and generating heat is something it did quite well brand new. So I don't know if it's related. (Also, I have an external fan running at all times on this laptop.)

BTW, with indexing suspended, L4 works fine, except of course searches are incomplete with out the indexing being complete.

As I said before, I've had no glitches with L4. So I have very little knowledge of what & how to report a problem. I watched a Steve Clark video, & searched some old topics, so I'll try to include in this the log files. Hopefully someone looking at this will be able to tell if it's happening specifically in L4 or if what L4 normally needs to index, my laptop can no longer stand the strain & I need to replace it.

8546.Logos4.zip

Have to leave for work soon, and won't be back to until late evening. Just let me know what info I've left out & I'll put it in tonight. I appreciate your time and help.

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Mark Barnes

I don't know whether it's an internal problem in my laptop, and it's time to get a new one. (I definitely need a new one, just for financial reasons, I'd like to postpone till Feb. if I could) or if it's something with L4. During the indexing process, when my laptop shuts down, it does feel hot on bottom. But it's a Dell, and generating heat is something it did quite well brand new. So I don't know if it's related. (Also, I have an external fan running at all times on this laptop.)

There is obviously something wrong with the cooling on your laptop. Logos indexing does work the computer hard, which then generates a fair amount of heat, which because of the cooling problem causes your computer to crash. Here are some suggestions to get you to February:

Index until it gets to about 40% then pause the indexing (right click on the indexing icon) until the computer cools down again.
Make sure there's good airflow all around your laptop, including undernearth. At the very least lift it off the table, ideally balance it vertically (like a book).
If you have one, direct a desktop fan onto the hottest part of your laptop during indexing.
Install software onto your laptop that will warn you of overheating. There's loads of options, like this: http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php

Kevin Becker

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/311836#Comment_311836

In addition to Mark's good suggestions, get a can of compressed air and blow out the air vents of the laptop. Dust can clog the airways and make the cooling system less effective.

NB.Mick

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/311841#Comment_311841

I addition to that, my experience with a former laptop was that after some years the cooling system seemed to detoriate to the point that it turned itself off after some minutes of just browsing the web - I bought a laptop stand with two or three built-in ventilators (search Amazon for "laptop cooler" to find a number of models), powered from the USB, and this solved the problem.

Douglas Stolberg

I had the same problem with a laptop similar to yours. I had to take it apart and found a layer of dust had formed on the cooling fins or fan screen that was like a piece of felt which was blocking the air flow. Once removed I've never had the problem. Dell has service manuals for download for most laptops on their Support site if you are a dauntless soul and wish to fix it yourself.

Don Jenkins

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/311869#Comment_311869

Got off work early.......

Thank you all. I had looked at the fins before and didn't seem to be that much dust build up. But after blowing them out real good, I indexed up to 40% like Mark said to, and paused, but it really wasn't very hot at all. Waited, got out one of the summer fans, turned the laptop on its side and the index ran the last 60% without a hitch. When done that area underneath was barely warm.

I always set the laptop on a base with an external fan. So I don't think it was being smothered, it must have just been the dust build up.

I'm going to plug in a long running tutorial video and see if it still shuts down in that area. Maybe like Douglas said, a concentrated dust build up inside where I cannot see has been the cause of the video failures all along. As much as I like the thrill of buying a new laptop, I'd much prefer to save up the cash, and then buy it.

Thank you again for the quick responses and excellent help.