My HP Compac Laptop keeps on overheating and then suddenly cutting out without shutting down properly. It doesn't do this all the time and only when I've just started it up. Some times it will start up and run without any problems. But often it will start up and almost immediately the cooling fan will come on and be going like the clappers and then after about a minute of this it will just go dead.

Paul Inman., November 2011

Make sure that the air vents are clear of any dust and any other obstruction. It looks like there is something loose in the air vents that may, or may not, interfere with the air circulation. The movement and vibrations of transport can cause an object to move in and out of the air flow.

At least, that's how I interpret the intermitent nature of your problem. When the air flow in blocked, the temperature controll causes the fan to run at full speed, causing a high noise level.

You should still check your fan, as it's been put under a lot of needless stress.

Electro, November 2011

hi. u can check your processor fan. it might not be working well enough to cool the processor after u start u laptop. the noise u hear indicates the is something definitely wrong with the fan.

RAY, November 2011