Hardware

Spinrite:

http://www.grc.com/intro.htm
Run this and see if it finds any problems.
I think that you might need a new hdd, so get a new one and test it out. Test this also. Take out your batt and then plug your computer to the mains, does it run ok now? if still you have the same problem then the best bet will be a new hdd.

Please post back if you have any more problems or questions.

Laptops run fast microprocessors that can generate a lot of heat. The heat is mainly vented out of the bottom of the laptop but ventilation effectiveness is reduced when the laptop is placed on a solid surface. A hot laptop can suffer from reliability problems and a system that overheats can fail.

Adjusting your power options will help your laptop from heating up when not in use even if for short periods of time. You can set your hard drive and display to turn off after a set time period. Another option is to set the laptop to go into standby or hibernate mode.

One way to help in this situation is to use a Notebook Cooling Chill Mat, something like this.

http://www.ao3.com.au/product.asp?manufpartno=AWE11US

Indications of laptop overheating problem:

The keyboard and the bottom of your laptop are very hot when the laptop is working.
The CPU fans are working all the time at maximum rotation speed and operate much louder than before.
The laptop suddenly shuts down by itself without warning. When it just started, the laptop was shutting down after 1-2 hours and how it shuts down after 5-10 minutes of operation.
The laptop works fine when it runs idle, but shuts down as soon as you start using any memory demanding applications (DVD player, image editing software, video editing software, etc.).

Solution:

If the CPU heatsink is not clogged with dust and lint completely, you can use canned air and just **** it inside the laptop through the openings on the bottom and on the sides. It?s nice as a precaution measure, but it might not work if your laptop already has a problem and the heatsink is completely clogged.

Thanks Pecs and TB. Ok, here is what I did.

First of all, I tried canned air. No difference.

Next, I have a 'under laptop' USB fan so I plugged that in though the system is not too hot. No difference.

Then, I then tried it with and without the battery but no noticeable difference.

Last, I tried SpinRite 6.0 as Pecs suggested and it shut down on level 4 after about 5 minutes. It shuts down on level 2 too. Each reboot since has lasted for a shorter and shorter time.

If I try to boot it with the disk scanner programme it shuts down almost immediately now. It has rebooted since into XP but it didn't last long and ZoneAlarm rejected connection from my router...?

It is currently switched off and disconnected from both battery and mains. I will leave it like this for about half an hour or so and try again.

Could I have picked up a really nasty virus? If so, what can I do?

Thanks

It rebooted back into XP and is currently running but ZoneAlarm needed to be reconfigured?

Still confused as to what is going on here