I have been trying unsuccessfully to create an image of an Ubuntu 10.04 laptop system. As soon as the copying itself starts, the entire system crashes to a black screen. I suspect that the problem is overheating, and that's why I put an ice pack under the machine. That seems to have helped a bit, but it's still not getting through the copying process.

Is there any other possible explanation for dying to a black screen like this? I'm just not relishing the task of removing the hard drive, mounting it elsewhere, and then doing a backup that way.