How to Troubleshoot a Laptop Burning Smell

A burning smell from a laptop is a sign of damage to the hardware.

A burning smell coming from a laptop indicates a failure in the laptop's cooling system. A laptop must be cooled in order to keep the electricity running through the laptop's hardware from melting the system. Signs of a cooling system failure include the laptop fan never shutting off, the fan running loudly, the computer restarting at random intervals, or the computer not starting at all. If a smoke smell comes from the laptop when it's running, irreparable damage may have been done to the internal components. Or, a faulty battery may be the cause of the smoking smell.

Things You'll Need

• Small laptop screwdrivers
• Small hand vacuum

Instructions

1. Troubleshoot the laptop by shutting down the computer and removing the AC adapter and the battery. Some laptop batteries cannot be removed unless the casing plate is unscrewed from the base.

2. Attach the AC adapter to the computer and turn the computer back on. If there is no smoking smell and laptop does not get hot, then the battery is faulty and must be replaced.

3. Continue to troubleshoot the laptop by moving it to a hard surface such a lap desk or a table. On some laptops, the vents will not function properly when the laptop is on a cloth surface. The overheating caused by the soft surface blocking the vents may cause a burning smell. Manufacturers of computers recommend keeping the laptop on a hard surface for proper airflow to cool the laptop.

4. Clean the laptop by lifting up the keyboard from the case. Check your laptop's user manual for guidelines on cleaning. Use a small hand vacuum to clean any dust.

5. Check that fan is running by listening for the sound of a fan while the computer is on. Even quiet laptops emit a low whirring noise. If the smell continues and there is no whirring noise from the fan, shut the laptop down immediately and have the fan replaced.

Tips & Warnings

• If you feel uncomfortable with opening your laptop, take the machine to a qualified technician.

• If at any time flames accompany the burning smell, call the fire department. Use only a class C fire extinguisher on a laptop.

References

• Daily Int: Fan Always Runs Or Laptop Overheats And Shuts Itself Off
• Laptop Overheating
• Information Week: Langa Letter: Curing Laptop Overheating
• Foner Books: Laptop Fan and Overheating - Cleaning Fans and Troubleshooting Hot CPU Failure