How do I know if my laptop is overheating.

Possibilities:
A: If the compressor turns off but the circulation fan continues:

1. Insufficient refrigerant charge;
2. Refrigerant overcharge, causing evaporator coil freeze-over;
3. Defective compressor clutch;
4. Clogged screen in orifice tube;
5. Front condenser coil is clogged with dead bugs, dirt, foliage, or other material.

B: If the entire system turns off, including the circulation fan:

1. Defective system breaker;
2. Defective system relay;
3. Defective climate control module (at dashboard);
4. Fan motor overheating due to clogged air intake or other obstruction;
5. Fan motor overheating due to debris in air handler box, such as leaves or other plant debris.

Clean the computer Fan, vents, heatsink. Improve air flow from the bottom air intakes through the Laptop and out the vents. Overheating will cause your Laptop components to fail. A can of Compressed Air sprayed into the fan, vents will help. Sometimes you must open the laptop to clean thoroughly with a small brush and the air.

Due to their small size and lack of ventilation, laptops tend to overheat more than desktop computers. A noisy cooling fan that runs continuously is one sign that your laptop is overheating. Laptop overheating can also cause a loss of performance, system crashes, and even permanent damage to components. The goal is to make sure your laptop has proper ventilation and is kept as cool as possible.

1.Always use your laptop on a tray, desktop, or other cool surface. If you use it on your lap, make sure clothes, upholstery or bedding are not blocking the case vents. Blocked vents are the number one cause of laptop overheating.

2.Use an aerosol air duster, or can of compressed air, to blow dust from the air intake vents. Air intake vents are a set of slots on the side or bottom of the case that allow cool air to flow into the laptop.

3.Clean the cooling fan exhaust system. The cooling or CPU fan is located on the side or back of the case. A clogged CPU fan vent keeps hot air trapped inside the case. Use an aerosol air duster to loosen the debris, then use a vacuum cleaner with crevice tool to vacuum out the dust and dirt.

4.Use a commercial laptop cooler. A laptop cooler pad is an external USB powered fan that serves as a base for your laptop. If your laptop generates a lot of heat, even with a clean cooling system, a laptop cooler will extend the life of your laptop.

5.Adjust your BIOS settings. Most laptops have features built into the system BIOS that allow fan speed, CPU temperature alarms, and other settings to be adjusted. Read your owner's manual to learn how to enter the BIOS and change the settings for your particular laptop model.

Your computer is overheating.
Turn it off.
Remove the battery.
Disconnect the AC adapter.
Buy a can of compressed-air.
Give your computer a "blow-job", to blow-out all the dust from inside the computer.
The dust is "insulating" your laptop, preventing it from cooling itself down.

you can be sure your computer is overheating if your cursour is lagging or if u see a shadow around it. if so try installing another pc fan with can be found at wal mart or any eletronics store.