Random Shutdown

[browser]

I have a Toshiba Laptop;
P4 2.8Ghz
512 RAM
30GB hard drive
Windows XP Home

Recently, the laptop has started randomly shutting down, usually when running multiple tasks, or during a game.

I thought it could be overheating, so I installed some software (everest and speedfan?) and i found my hard drive rarely goes over 40C. However, I couldn't find any information about any other temperatures in my laptop.

Is overheating the only problem that can cause this or can there be other things, such as low disk space?

Thanks

[clocker]

It's probably the heat.
Your HDD is not a very accurate indicator of the CPU temp, and that's what'll git 'ya.

Laptops have marginal cooling solutions to begin with and it doesn't take much dust to really foul them up.
Can you even hear the fan working?
A dead fan will shut you down, too.

[browser]

I hear the fan (or something) working very hard a lot of the time

[clocker]

Then possibly it's time for a stripdown and blow-out.

DO NOT just blow air into the fan intake/exhaust, usually that will only make things worse.

[browser]

then what should I do?

[Barbarossa]

Then possibly it's time for a stripdown and blow-out.

Now you're talking!!

No seriously, if it's not the heat, could this be caused by faulty sectors on a drive maybe?

It's just we get this problem on one of our servers...