Overheating?

[ktan09]

Last night my computer shut down randomly on me and I couldn't turn it back on, it would keep beeping if I tried. I left it for 30 minutes and tried again and it worked. When I turned it on, a message came up reading "Your CPU was shut down temporarily due to a thermal error (Overheating)"

My question is, should I worry? Do I need to siwtch my power source? Any suggestions? I have had my computer for a year, I turn it off when it's not in use but for short periods like going to dinner, I leave it on.

Thanks

[wonton1017]

Are you overclocking?
Check the CPU fan, see if its spinning, if its not then you should clean it to get it unstuck. If its dead, get a new heatsink or a fan.

[lincoln]

Pop the case open and take a look at the heat sync and fan. If they're covered in dust, take a vacuum and clean all of it off and start it up again.

If that's not the problem, take a look at the fan and see if it's spinning when your computer's on. If it isn't it needs to be replaced.