Laptop shutting off when printing or running antispyware programs

[Erik]

Hi all, maybe someone can help me with a recently acquired problem. I have a Toshiba laptop with a 2.4 GHz processor (Pentium 4), 40 GB HDD and 512 MB RAM (just going by what the sticker says) that runs with Windows XP. Whenever I try to print something, the CPU will go to 100% usage for a bit and before the printing job is finished, my laptop will shut off. I have tried to run a few different antispyware programs like Spybot and Adaware and my laptop will shut off before those programs are finished (especially with Spybot).

I want to note that the CPU isn't always running at 100% as the case is sometimes. I have Norton Antivirus with automatic updates, a firewall and various antispyware programs (Spybot, Adaware, Yahoo Antispy, Microsoft's new program).

The thing is I just moved into a house and I think this is when the problems may have started. In my apartment, I never had a problem with printing anything or running the anti-spyware programs. Anyone have an idea of what's going on?

Erik

[Erik]

I think I may have found the problem. I looked underneath the laptop and saw a bunch of dust accumulated where I think air is taken in to cool off the inside of the laptop. I figure if the fan blows the heat out, there's got to be air taken in, right?

Anyway, I ran Spybot and that was able to run completely. Haven't tried out the printer but hopefully that will work too.

So, on top of all the other advice offered for problems when your PC turns off, check to see if dust is building up somewhere.

Erik