My laptop overheats and shuts down. I think I may need to clean it. I've never opened the case before. It is a Compaq Presario 700US. any danger in opening it? I've wokred alot with desktops but never a laptop before.

Is it still under warranty? If so I would consult with Compaq. I find there laptops very easy to work on but I've worked on tons of them. If it is overheating it could be a minor or major problem. I've never ran across a laptop that had major dust build up inside of it. They don't collect a lot of internal dust. Again, I would check the status of the warranty first. KTTD

Hey... Laptops are alot different then notebook computers... i would suggest if your still under warranty to contact tech support to have it serviced... as generally if your computer is shutting down due to heat it could cause other major components to stop working... it may be a simple fan and heatsink replacment... If it is OOW i would check the service manual on exactly how to open it but generally you lift the keyboard cover (piece just above the keyboard) from there remove the keyboard screws and your into the the case... i would use compressed air and have a vacuum to the vents to suck up the dust... you may want to see if tech support will help you though...

Laptops are no different than a desktop computer. They are just smaller. A lot of computer techs won't work on laptops because they are scared of them. Yes you have to be gentle at times and you have to remember what goes where and what screw came out of which hole but they are far from complicated. Most Compaq laptops have 5 to 6 screws on the bottom of the case that must first be removed first. The keyboard and touchpad cover will then release. I can take the screen off of most Compaq laptops in 5 to 10mins. They are very simple to take apart. KTTD

go to google.com type in speedfan. its a free software that actually controls the fan speed. we use it on our 2.4 gigahertz lappers all the time. and i use it on my pc's also