Help! Laptop Fan Goes on & on &on. What is the Remedy?

hi.

my 6-year-old toshiba laptop fan sometimes keeps on running forever... and never stops until I shut down and reboot. what do u think the problem is? how can i fix it? my windows and antivirus are always uptodate. thanks.

Has it always run non-stop, or is it because the fan has become noisier so that you notice it?

I see a couple of possibilities...
1. something is causing the computer to generate excessive heat which might mean something is failing, or maybe too much dust?? I'd make sure my data is backed up.
2. the fan is failing and needs to be replaced.

Not easy to diagnose over the interweb.

After six years, your laptop could be filled with lint/dirt and heating up because a lack of ventilation.

+1 for the dust theory. Very likely. Take it apart, use compressed air in a can to blow the dust away from around the CPU/fan area.

Do this outside.

Yes, it sounds like it is running too hot. Blow it out, and keep it an inch off of a surface.

Good shouts above.
Whether it's a laptop or tower - the fan usually keeps kicked in, cos the bits are too hot.
It's just doing its job.
A quick service and clean, usually sorts it.
Good luck.

I'm with the majority of replies - dust build up inside the unit.

To clear the dust, do not use a vacum cleaner to suck out the dust. This will have the potential to create static electricity on the laptop.

Either have it professionally serviced or, use a can of compressed air to blow out the components.