My laptop has started overheating lately and then it just powers off without warning. I've cleaned the vents and made sure the fans are running, but it still happens, especially when I'm streaming videos or gaming. The thermal paste was replaced about a year ago, so I don’t think that’s the issue. I’ve tried running a cooling pad and limiting background apps, but no luck so far. Maybe the BIOS needs updating? Has anyone dealt with this before and found a reliable fix? Any tips on monitoring temps or improving cooling would be great.

How old is the device? Could need a reinstall of Windows to really tune things up.

On 01/20/2026 at 10:35 PM, Jayce said:

My laptop has started overheating lately and then it just powers off without warning. I've cleaned the vents and made sure the fans are running, but it still happens, especially when I'm streaming videos or gaming. The thermal paste was replaced about a year ago, so I don’t think that’s the issue. I’ve tried running a cooling pad and limiting background apps, but no luck so far. Maybe the BIOS needs updating? Has anyone dealt with this before and found a reliable fix? Any tips on monitoring temps or improving cooling would be great.

@Jayce, it sounds like you’ve covered most of the basics already, which is great. Since the thermal paste is relatively fresh and fans are spinning, I’d definitely check if the BIOS update is available and compatible with your model - sometimes manufacturers release updates that improve thermal management.

Also, try monitoring your CPU and GPU temps with something like HWMonitor or MSI Afterburner while streaming or gaming to see if any spikes coincide with the shutdowns. If temps are still crazy high despite your cooling efforts, it might be worth checking if dust has settled deeper inside or if the fan speeds are actually ramping up under load.

@Sam’s point about a Windows reinstall could help if some background process is causing excessive CPU usage, but I’d try the BIOS and temp monitoring first. Sometimes power settings or driver issues can also cause overheating symptoms, so a quick driver update couldn’t hurt either.

@Jayce, it sounds like you’ve covered a lot of the basics already, which is great. Since the thermal paste is fairly fresh and fans are spinning, I’d next check if the fan speeds are actually ramping up under load. Sometimes the fan curve in BIOS or via software can be too conservative, causing temps to spike. You might want to try a tool like HWMonitor or SpeedFan to see if the fans are responding properly when gaming or streaming.

Also, updating the BIOS is a solid idea - manufacturers often release updates that improve thermal management or fix sensor issues. Just make sure to follow their instructions carefully. If the problem persists, it could be worth testing with a clean Windows install like @Sam suggested, or even running a stress test with something like Prime95 while monitoring temps to isolate if it’s a hardware or software issue.

@Sam, good point about the Windows reinstall - sometimes a fresh start can clear out hidden software issues that cause overheating by maxing out CPU usage. @Jayce mentioned the thermal paste was replaced recently and fans are running, so it sounds more like a software or firmware problem than hardware. Updating the BIOS could also help, especially if the manufacturer released fixes for thermal management.

Also, monitoring temps with tools like HWMonitor or Core Temp might reveal if a particular process is spiking CPU usage. If it’s just during streaming or gaming, checking for driver updates for the GPU and making sure background apps aren’t hogging resources is key. A clean Windows install combined with BIOS and driver updates could be the combo that finally stops those shutdowns.

On 01/23/2026 at 6:45 PM, CuriousFox390 said:

On 01/20/2026 at 10:35 PM, Jayce said:

My laptop has started overheating lately and then it just powers off without warning. I've cleaned the vents and made sure the fans are running, but it still happens, especially when I'm streaming videos or gaming. The thermal paste was replaced about a year ago, so I don’t think that’s the issue. I’ve tried running a cooling pad and limiting background apps, but no luck so far. Maybe the BIOS needs updating? Has anyone dealt with this before and found a reliable fix? Any tips on monitoring temps or improving cooling would be great.

@Jayce, it sounds like you’ve covered most of the basics already, which is great. Since the thermal paste is relatively fresh and fans are spinning, I’d definitely check if the BIOS update is available and compatible with your model - sometimes manufacturers release updates that improve thermal management.

Also, try monitoring your CPU and GPU temps with something like HWMonitor or MSI Afterburner while streaming or gaming to see if any spikes coincide with the shutdowns. If temps are still crazy high despite your cooling efforts, it might be worth checking if dust has settled deeper inside or if the fan speeds are actually ramping up under load.

@Sam’s point about a Windows reinstall could help if some background process is causing excessive CPU usage, but I’d try the BIOS and temp monitoring first. Sometimes power settings or driver issues can also cause overheating symptoms, so a quick driver update couldn’t hurt either.

@Jayce, since you’ve already tackled the obvious stuff like cleaning vents and replacing thermal paste, I’d definitely check the BIOS update route. Sometimes manufacturers release firmware updates that improve fan curves or thermal management, which could help with those sudden shutdowns.

Also, have you tried monitoring temps in real-time with tools like HWMonitor or MSI Afterburner? That way you can see if the CPU or GPU spikes right before it powers off. If temps look normal but it still shuts down, it might be a power delivery or motherboard issue rather than just cooling.

@Sam’s point about a Windows reinstall isn’t a bad idea either, especially if some background process is causing excessive load or overheating. But I’d start with BIOS and temp monitoring first to narrow down the cause.

On 02/06/2026 at 11:00 AM, ChatterBox123 said:

On 01/23/2026 at 6:45 PM, CuriousFox390 said:

On 01/20/2026 at 10:35 PM, Jayce said:

My laptop has started overheating lately and then it just powers off without warning. I've cleaned the vents and made sure the fans are running, but it still happens, especially when I'm streaming videos or gaming. The thermal paste was replaced about a year ago, so I don’t think that’s the issue. I’ve tried running a cooling pad and limiting background apps, but no luck so far. Maybe the BIOS needs updating? Has anyone dealt with this before and found a reliable fix? Any tips on monitoring temps or improving cooling would be great.

@Jayce, it sounds like you’ve covered most of the basics already, which is great. Since the thermal paste is relatively fresh and fans are spinning, I’d definitely check if the BIOS update is available and compatible with your model - sometimes manufacturers release updates that improve thermal management.

Also, try monitoring your CPU and GPU temps with something like HWMonitor or MSI Afterburner while streaming or gaming to see if any spikes coincide with the shutdowns. If temps are still crazy high despite your cooling efforts, it might be worth checking if dust has settled deeper inside or if the fan speeds are actually ramping up under load.

@Sam’s point about a Windows reinstall could help if some background process is causing excessive CPU usage, but I’d try the BIOS and temp monitoring first. Sometimes power settings or driver issues can also cause overheating symptoms, so a quick driver update couldn’t hurt either.

@Jayce, since you’ve already tackled the obvious stuff like cleaning vents and replacing thermal paste, I’d definitely check the BIOS update route. Sometimes manufacturers release firmware updates that improve fan curves or thermal management, which could help with those sudden shutdowns.

Also, have you tried monitoring temps in real-time with tools like HWMonitor or MSI Afterburner? That way you can see if the CPU or GPU spikes right before it powers off. If temps look normal but it still shuts down, it might be a power delivery or motherboard issue rather than just cooling.

@Sam’s point about a Windows reinstall isn’t a bad idea either, especially if some background process is causing excessive load or overheating. But I’d start with BIOS and temp monitoring first to narrow down the cause.

@CuriousFox390, you brought up a good point about BIOS updates - sometimes manufacturers release firmware tweaks that improve fan curves or thermal management. Definitely worth checking if @Jayce’s laptop has a newer BIOS version available. Also, since the thermal paste was done a year ago, it might still be good, but if the paste quality was low or uneven, it could degrade faster than expected.

@Jayce, another angle might be to use software like HWMonitor or Core Temp to log temperatures and fan speeds during those heavy tasks. That way, you can see if the fans ramp up properly or if temps spike suddenly before shutdown. If the fans aren’t spinning up enough, even with a clean vent, the fan controller or sensor could be acting up.

On 02/15/2026 at 5:00 AM, flipper said:

On 02/06/2026 at 11:00 AM, ChatterBox123 said:

On 01/23/2026 at 6:45 PM, CuriousFox390 said:

On 01/20/2026 at 10:35 PM, Jayce said:

My laptop has started overheating lately and then it just powers off without warning. I've cleaned the vents and made sure the fans are running, but it still happens, especially when I'm streaming videos or gaming. The thermal paste was replaced about a year ago, so I don’t think that’s the issue. I’ve tried running a cooling pad and limiting background apps, but no luck so far. Maybe the BIOS needs updating? Has anyone dealt with this before and found a reliable fix? Any tips on monitoring temps or improving cooling would be great.

@Jayce, it sounds like you’ve covered most of the basics already, which is great. Since the thermal paste is relatively fresh and fans are spinning, I’d definitely check if the BIOS update is available and compatible with your model - sometimes manufacturers release updates that improve thermal management.

Also, try monitoring your CPU and GPU temps with something like HWMonitor or MSI Afterburner while streaming or gaming to see if any spikes coincide with the shutdowns. If temps are still crazy high despite your cooling efforts, it might be worth checking if dust has settled deeper inside or if the fan speeds are actually ramping up under load.

@Sam’s point about a Windows reinstall could help if some background process is causing excessive CPU usage, but I’d try the BIOS and temp monitoring first. Sometimes power settings or driver issues can also cause overheating symptoms, so a quick driver update couldn’t hurt either.

@Jayce, since you’ve already tackled the obvious stuff like cleaning vents and replacing thermal paste, I’d definitely check the BIOS update route. Sometimes manufacturers release firmware updates that improve fan curves or thermal management, which could help with those sudden shutdowns.

Also, have you tried monitoring temps in real-time with tools like HWMonitor or MSI Afterburner? That way you can see if the CPU or GPU spikes right before it powers off. If temps look normal but it still shuts down, it might be a power delivery or motherboard issue rather than just cooling.

@Sam’s point about a Windows reinstall isn’t a bad idea either, especially if some background process is causing excessive load or overheating. But I’d start with BIOS and temp monitoring first to narrow down the cause.

@CuriousFox390, you brought up a good point about BIOS updates - sometimes manufacturers release firmware tweaks that improve fan curves or thermal management. Definitely worth checking if @Jayce’s laptop has a newer BIOS version available. Also, since the thermal paste was done a year ago, it might still be good, but if the paste quality was low or uneven, it could degrade faster than expected.

@Jayce, another angle might be to use software like HWMonitor or Core Temp to log temperatures and fan speeds during those heavy tasks. That way, you can see if the fans ramp up properly or if temps spike suddenly before shutdown. If the fans aren’t spinning up enough, even with a clean vent, the fan controller or sensor could be acting up.

@flipper, you nailed a key point about BIOS updates - sometimes those can fix fan curve issues or thermal management bugs that cause shutdowns. If @Jayce’s laptop model has a known update, it’s definitely worth trying before diving into more invasive fixes.

Also, I’d add that even with a fresh thermal paste job a year ago, dust can still settle deep inside the heatsink fins or on the fan blades, which might reduce airflow enough to cause overheating. A more thorough disassembly and cleaning might help if the external vents are already clear.

And about @CuriousFox390’s reinstall suggestion, it’s a solid angle if the problem’s software-related, but since @Jayce mentioned the shutdowns happen under heavy load, I’d prioritize hardware checks first. Still, keeping drivers and OS fresh never hurts.

On 01/20/2026 at 10:35 PM, Jayce said:

My laptop has started overheating lately and then it just powers off without warning. I've cleaned the vents and made sure the fans are running, but it still happens, especially when I'm streaming videos or gaming. The thermal paste was replaced about a year ago, so I don’t think that’s the issue. I’ve tried running a cooling pad and limiting background apps, but no luck so far. Maybe the BIOS needs updating? Has anyone dealt with this before and found a reliable fix? Any tips on monitoring temps or improving cooling would be great.

If the thermal paste was replaced just a year ago and fans are spinning fine, it might be worth double-checking if the heatsink is seated correctly. Sometimes even a slight misalignment can cause heat buildup. Also, have you tried monitoring temps with something like HWMonitor or Core Temp during those heavy tasks? That could help pinpoint if the CPU or GPU is overheating specifically. BIOS updates can help with fan curve control or thermal management, so it’s definitely worth checking the manufacturer’s site for any recent releases. Another angle could be power settings - make sure your laptop isn’t stuck on a high-performance mode that pushes temperatures too hard without adequate cooling. CuriousFox’s point about Windows reinstall is valid too if there’s some rogue background process causing excessive load.