Laptop heating up too fast and too often...

First thing, if you haven't done it is to make sure there is space all around the laptop. Use one of the laptop stand with a fan built-in. I use the laptop cooler, it has three small fans with usb for pc or mac. Also since firefox is running slow(this may not apply,sometimes firefox leaks memory which will slow it down) make sure you have no adware hogging your system. I use at least two adware software programs, not at the same time though. And of course check for viruses.

Firefox running slower, assuming everything else is 100% GOOD can be explained by two reasons...

1. HEAT SLOWS DOWN CPUS!
2. If a newer CPU, made within about the past 2 decades, gets too hot, it will slow down the clock so it can stay cooler. Of course, that ALSO means it runs SLOWER!

Check the fan! Is it putting out air? Does it sound ok? If so, check the vents! Are they CLEAR!?!?!? Some people can NOT design CPU cooling systems. Some laptops will overheat if you sit them on your lap, due to vent placement. Make sure you do NOT cover those vents!

If all looks fine, it could be...

1. A damaged heatsink
2. A bad disk drive. NOTE, there is really NO reliable way to test this. A slightly out of spec drive can simply cause more heat. EVENTUALLY, the access will slow down, THEN you will get erratic errors(soft errors) that will become HARD errors. Disktesting software won't test speed, and may not see soft errors.
3. Bad circuitry(generating too much heat, or not dissapating it properly,etc...)
4. A virus(some do play tricks with circuitry to do this)

Steve

This happened to my laptop(Acer-Aspire). The only difference is mine was shutting down once it got to hot.

So, I went out and bought a cooling paid for $25. Now it stay's on when I want it to and everything is like new.

Maybe suggest that?

My HP laptop was doing that, its probably your fan or another component that has stopped working properly. Your laptop is already three years old and these kinds of problems are common.

they have laptop fan trays you can buy at places like wal-mart. It sits under the laptop and most have 2 fans. They plug into your USB outlet.

This should help with your overheating issues.

I think that I will take my laptop to a pro who knows why this is happening.

I appreciate everyone's replies here. Thanks for the help.

My laptop has been playing up lately too. Still under warnenty so i think i'll be bringing it back soo!