The reason I asked about running it without the battery is in case allowing it to fully discharge somehow caused an internal short therefore causing excess heating.
The battery died because I left it on the charger, before finding out that was a no-no.
I guess I should try your idea, to eliminate it as a possibility, or to verify that's the cause.
I'm writing this on a Dell that's about a year old, and I think I paid about $650 for it. It works great. I can't justify buying another laptop. If the old one dies, we'll share this one.
Besides, I had a heckuva time finding one with XP on it. I read something about getting a business system with XP on it. Anybody know if it's possible?
I'm writing this on a Dell that's about a year old, and I think I paid about $650 for it. It works great. I can't justify buying another laptop. If the old one dies, we'll share this one.
Besides, I had a heckuva time finding one with XP on it. I read something about getting a business system with XP on it. Anybody know if it's possible?
Yup. Dell sells 'em. You can get XP Home, Pro, etc. I'd go with Pro.
An operating system hasn't made me physically angry in a long, long time. Vista managed it within a week of normal usage. (Note: what I call "normal" may not, in fact, be normal).
It's worth checking. One idea (perhaps it seems a bit out there, but what the hell): If a RAM chip has gone or become unseated, perhaps the thing is having to hit swap sooner than before. Have you tested the RAM?
Torben
[Edit: Shane also explained better than my earlier post about checking the BIOS.]
I think the fan may just need a smidgen of oil. Pop the nameplate/sticker and rubber stopper off the rotor (if it is built that way) and lubricate with 3-in-1 or, even better, mineral oil.