[SOLVED] Any idea to tune up a fc4?

kilgoretrout · 08-19-2010, 12:48 PM

Quote:

The laptop has the heating problem and was shut down a few times before.

This is almost for sure a hardware problem given the above. Try blowing out the vents like I suggested. If you still have an overheating problem, you may have to disassemble the laptop to get at the cpu heatsink and fan for a thorough cleaning. Check your manual for tips on disassembly. You wouldn't believe what I've found growing there on some old laptops.

newcat · 08-19-2010, 01:16 PM

The heating issue has been quite a few years and was shut down a few times over the last 2 or 3 years. Do you know how to get the compressed air to a can?

kilgoretrout · 08-19-2010, 03:40 PM

You can buy cans of compressed air at an electronics supply or computer store. They are just spray cans that spray clean air. If your laptop always had a tendency to overheat, it is probably just the design of the laptop, particularly how the graphics card is vented and cooled coupled with the Pentium M processor. Some laptop/graphics card combinations have a reputation for overheating. Pentium M processors run hot for starters so you have to keep the vents clean and make sure you don't obstruct them when running. Even after doing these things, you can really hear the fans running on a Pentium M laptop.

newcat · 08-19-2010, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kilgoretrout

You can buy cans of compressed air at an electronics supply or computer store. They are just spray cans that spray clean air. If your laptop always had a tendency to overheat, it is probably just the design of the laptop, particularly how the graphics card is vented and cooled coupled with the Pentium M processor. Some laptop/graphics card combinations have a reputation for overheating. Pentium M processors run hot for starters so you have to keep the vents clean and make sure you don't obstruct them when running. Even after doing these things, you can really hear the fans running on a Pentium M laptop.

Thanks. You are right. There was a recall a few years ago but I didn't bother to do anything. I will give a try.

Kenny_Strawn · 08-19-2010, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newcat

Thanks for all the replies. The reason I want to use the old piece of laptop is because I want to keep one at work and one at home when I work at home, so that I don't have to carry the new one to work too often. I just need a computer to work on VMs, and of course internet browsing, emailing and printing.. I know some of my coworkers are still using the same old laptop at work.
nigeraq - thanks. I will try it. I think this might be the major reason.
kiloretrout, thanks. The laptop has the heating problem and was shut down a few times before.

My suggestion: Maybe try Puppy Linux: it's suited very well to running on old hardware (and on top of that is based on Ubuntu so you can install the Ubuntu apps you know and love).

unSpawn · 08-19-2010, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kenny_Strawn

You can upgrade without erasing your hard drive, you know that, don't you? Just add the Fedora 13 software repository and run the following command:

Code:

su -c yum upgrade

I am pretty sure Fedora docs, for good reasons, do not support an upgrade path from FC4 to directly F13. A horrible mess will more likely be the end result.

newcat · 08-30-2010, 01:36 PM

Just a quick update - I shutdowned the computer after work every day and the speed is much fast. Still cannot compare to my other laptop with duo core 2 and fc 13 though. The reason is like what kilgoretrout mentioned - hardware overheating. I will try blowing out the vents in the future if necessary. Thanks everyone for all the ideas.