My Lap Top Keeps Over Heating. Help?

Do not block the vents on bottom, back and the sides.  This happens a lot when these are held on the lap.

Blow out the vents to clear dust.  Use compressed air if available.

Put your ear by the vents, listed for the fan.  Is it running?  If not it may need to be replaced.

For details on how to change out the fan see these videos:

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=acer+aspire+5542+disassembly&aq=f

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=acer+aspire+5542+fan+replacement&aq=f

New fan:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Acer-Aspire-5536-5542-5542G-Cpu-Fan-Heatsink-/120759512761?_trksid=p4340.m263&_trkparms=algo%3DSIC%26its%3DI%26itu%3DUCI%252BIA%252BUA%252BFICS%252BUFI%26otn%3D5%26pmod%3D170642467327%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D2481531277280005674

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Acer-Aspire-5542-5740G-CPU-fan-SUNON-MG55100V1-Q080-S99-/170642467327

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Licenses & Certifications: Microsoft, Cisco, VMware, Novell, FCC RF & Amateur Radio licensed.

You'll likely need to disassemble your laptop after finding the prope service manual for it, it can be found in google search, then get some precision screwdrivers ( non magnetic ) and a can of compressed air, also should get seatsink paste / liquid open then laptop and take your time it'll require time and patience, clean out the dust from the fins that are connected from the heatsink towards the casing ( this is where alot of dust gathers ) the dust will restrict the flow of air that provides cooling and causes over heating. Also the regular aging of the computer can cause overheating, due to wear.

Scan for virus,etc that can make the computer work harder than it has to also contributing hotter operating temperatures.

Running multiple applications / programs and or just having all the stuff in the hard-drive can make the operating temperatures to be higher due to more loads,working harder,using more resources.

It maybe suggestable to do a clean install of windows and memory upgrades for more predictable results.

Also clean out the other heat vent holes / slots in the bottom and sides of casing,after all that dust been cleaned out remove the screws / brackets holding the heat sink, clean the dust out and clean the old heat sink paste on the heat sink and on cpu with alcohol prep pads and reapply heatsink paste . liquid then put heatsink back on top of cpu,after that check and reassemble the laptop toghether hopefully this has helped you.

I'm not liable for not working / malfunctioning computer if anything shall happen whatever the reason maybe.

Have a nice day and happy computing

By Jimmy007