Laptop problem

My laptop is a few years old, about as old as vista, which it runs. I use it for gaming and everything. One problem is has now, which it didn't have when it was new, is that it now gets too hot and turns itself off. Usually when I am playing a game. It's very frustrating and annoying as there is no warning.
I've tried hoovering out the fan which is blocked by the casing. The heat has already cooked 1 hard drive which I had to replace. It is sitting elevated on a laptop cooling stand, which does help a bit, but it just means it takes longer for the laptop to over heat and turn off. I have a newer computer which runs XP and is "pimped" for gaming, but my parents say it is too noisy for them and takes up too much space so I cannot use it when they are around, which is a lot.
I don't know what to do, a new laptop is going to be costly and could have the same problem, plus it is very likely that I would have to re-install everything that is on my laptop, which I have backed up, but it does not put everything back e.g. itunes playlists, some games saved data, settings for things.
I'm fed up to the back teeth with this problem as it has been happening for over a year and it is nearing summer where the temperature will be hotter for England.
I don't know what to do.
Oh and when I say hot, I mean too hot to touch.

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4 replies since 9th April 2012 • Last reply 9th April 2012

Reply #1:

It may just need a few parts updated, or just a better cooling systems. Laptops under the $1200 mark tend to get really hot and don't have adequate ventilation.

My PC runs kinda loud because it's full of fans. I like the noise because it sounds like a jet taking off when it starts up. Most of the fans on it are quiet except for the blue glowing fans.

A new laptop might be your only option but I would recommend taking it somewhere to see if there are any other cooling options.

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Reply #2:

Laptops have about a 2 year lifespan so if it's over 2 years old and you've already put in a new hard drive it might be better to start saving for a new laptop or a good pair of headphones to use when your gaming on the PC.

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Reply #3:

Vista was awful. I'm a long time PC user and windows 7 has been working really well for me. Laptops (even ones that say they are) aren't really built for gaming. My boyfriend has a laptop for school and a desktop for gaming. Desktops have gotten so cheap where you can really invest in the nicer graphic cards, extra RAM and better(quieter) cooling systems for little cost.

Oh and you might want to consider getting a portable external hard drive. They're not too expensive and you'll be able to have backups and access to your files from any computer.

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Reply #4:

Pinkweeds: i have headphones, its the physical computer/laptop fan whirring noise my parents don't like.
Emmyann07: i have a 1TB external HD. Its what i used to back up my files from the first hard drive, but it didn't restore everything because it couldn't, due to things being in use or it just didn't do it like the itunes playlists and some saved game data, the ones that save to the computer not a "cloud". I also had to get some new licenses for some programs because it was classed as a "new computer" when i replaced the hard drive.

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