Overheating

• If your Compaq laptop gets hot after being on for extended periods of time, it is due to some kind of obstruction with the fan. If large amounts of dust clog the fan and prevent it from spinning properly (which is natural over time), this will cause the bottom of the laptop to become dangerously hot. It will also make the fan uncomfortably loud. Take a can of compressed air and gently blow out the vents on the back and bottom of the laptop once every month or so. This will help to keep it dust free and extend the life of the fan and the laptop itself.
  
  

Spyware/Malware

• If your laptop has become increasingly slow when trying to use the Internet, it is likely your computer has become infested with spyware and malware. These are malicious programs that download to your computer and execute in the background. The least amount of trouble they cause is to slow down your computer's processes. In extreme cases, they could be compromising personal information like bank accounts and Social Security numbers. Purchase an anti-spyware program and do a complete system scan. Keep this program always running to ensure that no dangerous programs get downloaded without your knowledge.
  
  

Locking Up

• If your laptop locks up, stops responding and freezes, the easiest way to fix this is to hold the power button in until the computer shuts off. Then, restart it. There is no way to save any work you were doing, but at least your computer will be functional again. If your computer locks up continuously, it may be due to a virus. Run a virus scan to determine the cause of the problem. If these scans come up free of errors, it may be that your computer is just getting older and you are attempting to do too many processes at once.