Problem With Fan

kismet · ‎03-10-2010

My fan is running too long and is noisey. My BIOS is updated, ran my malware, ran updates and did a diagnostic and the only error that showed up is my battery needs to be changed. Not sure where to go from here. Any one suggest what could be causing the problem. I did clean the vent so not sure what to do next. I'm using my computer plugged in.

CAcableGirl2 · ‎06-03-2010

@kismet Have you tried turning it off completely? Maybe the fan got stuck and just need to shut off and then it will reset itself?

Sorry, I'm not much help, but I would give that a try. Maybe pull the battery out and then re-install?

......You look like I need a drink.....

Foxxee · ‎10-03-2014

If it's loud longer than 20 seconds, it might be overheating...using too much power. You might hear the fan when the computer is turned on for 5-20 seconds, but then it should be quiet.

Often it is dust, but you said you dusted. Is anything blocking the vents...sitting too close?

You might need to adjust your power settings...energy consumption; although, I'm hesitant to say that's your problem.

Turn it off to let it cool down if you have been using it for awhile.

Then:

Go to Control Panel

Select Power Options

Click Plan Settings

Click Balanced.

If you're not sure how to do it, you can find out by searching how to set power options. There's probably a Youtube video showing how.

If it's already set at balanced, you could set it lower; however, the computer should be able to handle balanced.

If the fan had been working OK, you haven't done anything different, but now the fan is loud, there might be a problem with the fan. How old is your computer?

There is a way to turn off the fan...see how on the internet, but I wouldn't recommend doing that.

Other than those suggestions, maybe, someone else here can offer tips.

kismet · ‎03-10-2010

I have shut it down several times. It started 2 days ago and I did everything I knew to do to find out why. I can't pull out my battery since it's inside the computer. I'm debating on whether to let my grandson do it since he takes apart his computer and cleans it all the time. I didn't like the battery inside the computer when I got it but it was the computer I wanted. My first laptop had the battery on the outside which was easy to replace. Really not concerned about the battery since I always use the computer in the same place plugged in.

kismet · ‎03-10-2010

I checked and my computer is set on Balanced. I did see that when searching but thought it was fine. I think my computer is 4 or 5 years old but can't remember when I got it.

SilleeMee · ‎05-22-2016

I would give the fan a shot of compressed air.

gardenman · ‎03-09-2010

On modern computers, the fan speed is controlled by the motherboard which reads temp sensors built into the board/CPU. There are apps you can get that let you monitor your CPU temp. I use one called Core Temp and right now my CPU is puttering along between 17-18 degrees Celsius (63-65 degrees F). It peaked at 31 degrees Celsius since it's been on today. (Bear in mind my room is about 72 degrees F so the CPU cooler is doing a very good job. It's keeping the CPU cooler than the room.)

When your fan runs louder or longer than normal the first thing to do is to check the CPU workload. Pop open Task Manager and see what your CPU is doing under the Performance tab. (Mine's puttering along a 3%-4% usage as I type this.) If it's running at 100% (or close to it) something's using a whole lot of your CPU and that leads to overheating and the fan spinning up. A click on the Processes tab will then show you what's using the CPU and give you the option to stop that process.

If the CPU is behaving itself then you've probably got an airflow issue and the computer needs a good cleaning. Vacuuming the vents all the way around the computer might help or it could need a deeper cleaning. It's also possible your fan's bearing could be bad and the increased noise is from bad bearings, but that's less likely.

The first thing to check is CPU usage with Task Manager. Weird stuff happens with computers from time to time. I had a browser plug-in that ate 99% of my CPU. Suffice to say that plug-in is no longer on my computer.

Fly!!! Eagles!!! Fly!!!

CAcableGirl2 · ‎06-03-2010

@gardenman Wow, I'm impressed! If I ever have computer issues, you are the one to ask.

Lots of good information in your post.

......You look like I need a drink.....

kismet · ‎03-10-2010

gardenman, I did check the CPU and it was high last night. I just turned on my computer and it's about 50 but last night I did see jumps to 100. Malwarebytes seems to be about 25 on it. I'm going to take that out and see if it goes down. When you say to use some of air did you mean just through the vents or open the bottom of the computer.