Hey guys,
I'm a complete newb about computers. I have a three-year old Toshiba Satellite, Pentium 4 that I bought secondhand from a friend who has no idea about computers and likewise neither do I. I have heard that the Toshiba laptops have huge overheating problems as a design flaw; mine will overheat and shut down all the time with iTunes and Mozilla running, for example, or even just with multiple browser windows open. Forget about defragging and AdAware, etc., it will shut down within 2 minutes. I have it ghetto propped with the spine of a huge book so that the fan is about 3 inches off the ground.

I read Amir's thread on his laptop overheating, and it seems possible that my problem is compounded by clogging of the fan. Can I take it to a chain store such as Circuit City or Best Buy for repair? Or is a can of compressed air through the fan enough?

I stumbled upon Vantec Cooler .
There are other models such as a Targus Chill Pad .

If anyone else has other suggestions or recommendations, they are welcome! Also, tips for computer newbs are welcome too!
Thanks and

 

with all laptops, stock coolers will do the job, especially a P4, they don't run nearly as hot as a mobile athlon.

yes, compressed air will clean it out, BUT, you want to take out the keyboard (as well as any other plate) and have access to the heatsink when you do it. so you can actually get the crap out, not just blow it out of the heatsink fins and into the fan, or the rest of the computer.

 

Don't the chill pads help with the sperm count too? Heat = Bad for making babies