Get all the stuff you need from it to another hard disk as soon as you can, so you don't lose it.  Other than that, it does sound like there's a serious problem with your system.

I see nothing in that description that points to a failing hard drive. Hardware problem yes, but not necessarily the hard drive.

Check the temperature of the CPU (with CoreTemp, for instance): dust could have build up on your laptop during all this time, which is now blocking the vents and causing your CPU to overheat when pushed and crash.

Was gonna post the same thing...

Oh....look.... I have....

You might have a look at this: http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-hd-health-monitoring-and-diagnostic-programs.htm

although like Jorge, I think there could be another problem at fault...

Hope your birthday present doesn't have to be a new hard drive, Tim.

Hope you have an external (very recent) backup of your data, etc.

2 of 3: What OS are you running? The MFG of the drive (or laptop) should have some diagnostic programs that may help.  I know WD has them... My experience is that most HDD failures are pretty obvious ... as in no boot up. Backing up ALL personal data first is definitely a must and unless you have two discreet hard drives, I would recommend an external drive such as one of the many different and economical books available. What did the CHKDSK reveal? Sorry I couldn’t be more helpful. I usually take advantage of such maladies to convince myself what I really need is a bigger and better replacement, hahaha, the easy way out.

Here's hoping you get a can of compressed air for your birthday

Graphics chipset could also be overheating, if you can check that separately. I don't think they have their own fans in a laptop, so most likely that would come back to the same dirty fan/vents possibility.

If this is the same laptop Jim and I discussed, during my research of the earlier problem, I ran across many reports of poorly applied/below par thermal paste on the CPU/GPU. I suggested reapplying Arctic Silver or similar. Getting the laptop apart is the hard part, the rest is easy following the same instructions for disassembly. 

If this was not done. I would do so now. I doubt if dirt/dust is the culprit again so soon. If you still have any temp monitoring apps installed, take a look at your temps at idle and under load.

I gave the whole thing a blow out with compressed air last month.

agreed.

This is an ASUS N71jq notebook running Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit.

I had that same problem for a while on my desktop Tim, so I uninstalled Flash and re-installed the prior version and the problem went away. Then when the next version of Flash came out above the version I had the problem with I installed it and all was well.  Are you using the latest version of flash?

Laptops are notoriously difficult to take apart *and* clean properly (in fact, I would not recommend that you take it apart yourself, you might end up not being able to put it back together).

2of3, before assuming anything, download CoreTemp (it's free) and check your CPU core temperatures, then report back. As DaveRI pointed out, it could also be a problem with the graphics chipset overheating, in which case GPU-Z (also free) will help diagnose that too.

If it's not the temperatures, then we can start looking elsewhere.

Looks like I don't have any flash installed ATM? This is a fresh install of W7 right now after the reformat (I have only installed FF since then)

Went to youtube and it wanted me to install Adobe flash 11.1.102.62......

I've had it apart 3 times since I bought it. Twice to clean the fans with air and once to replace the top case assy.

I did have a problem with it running hot and had CoreTemp installed but the temp was just fine after the last time I cleaned it (last month)

I'll reinstall CoreTemp.

Ok.....it IS running at 205 F.......seems hot to me

how hot it too hot for a GPU?

I'm with Jorge. Temps first then memory.

I have an ASUS F8V I upgraded to W7x64. Probably the best laptop I've ever had and I've had a few....3 Sonys, 2 Dells, 1 HP & 1 Toshiba

The most common issue I've run across is fan failure (except that big ass 17" Sony....it went thru 3 mbs) I've replaced fans on 3 different laptops from 3 manufacturers. One is a Sony Vaio PCG FRV26 I bought 10 years ago and is still running today.

GPU over 100C and I'd worry.....most of the time mine hover between 60-80C depending on load

CPU over 100C is probably toast....mine idle around 36C-40C

edit: 205F! can your hear your fan running or feel it blowing air?

For a CPU that is very HOT.

Just my opinion, but $1.00 worth of Arctic Silver could save you all lot of money down the road. If it is still overheating after a cleanout, that is the most likley reason. Hardware failure/defects would be another. according to my research.

GPU temps vary, my old 8800GT cooks right along at 65c, 100c under load. If you are anywhere near that with a modern GPU though, you've got trouble.