Computer fan issues

[HellCat]

Hopefully someone can give me a clue as to what is going on here. Around mid September, I bought a new laptop to take with me to university (mainly so I could have net access, my original computer isn't up to date enough for things such as Ethernet). Like any computer, it has a fan to keep the components from overheating. Initially, you'd hear the fan start up and then it was pretty quiet whilst it span for a few minutes. Since Monday however something has been wrong. The fan is more noisy and makes 'clunky' noises, like it's stressed out. It's not a complete racket but you can hear it chugging away. The machine's performance otherwise is fine but since I've barely had the thing 2 months I'm obviously worried/annoyed that this is popping up so early. I've taken good care of this- I handle it gently when moving it, I almost always turn it off when I'm going out (the longest it's been on consistently is 2 days and that would be because of the weekend) and I keep it clean (barring an odd crumb or two under the keyboard). So does anyone have any idea what's up? Is it just overworked or is there likely another reason?
Many thanks to anyone who can help.

[mikestorm]

The fan speed is directly proportional to how hot your CPU is. The hotter it gets, the faster (and louder) the fan spins. There are some utility programs out there that you can download that will tell you both how many RPMs the fan is currently spinning and how hot your CPU is running. If the CPU is within normal operating temperatures, then it's probably just the fan itself (should still be addressed) however if the CPU is running hot, then it is causing the fan to overwork itself and make all those noises.

Here is my short list of things possibly wrong:






The heatsink might not be mounted correctly (open laptop and check to make sure it's seated correctly - this problem is much more likely in a desktop than a laptop as in a laptop there really isn't much room to get it wrong)
Your stock thermal solution isn't cutting it (open laptop, remove heat sink, remove chip, COMPLETELY remove stock thermal solution from chip {probaby a patch}, buy some Arctic Silver and apply to CPU. Replace chip, replace heatsink, close laptop)
The fan is busted (replace fan)
The laptop itself is just running hotter than it was designed to (unlikely if it's a brand name laptop - they do extensive testing to ensure this very thing doesn't happen, but if it's a home brew or a no name, quite possible)
All of the above will most likely result in you frying your CPU unless you do something.

[mikestorm]

Sorry for the double post. About the utility program I mentioned, it occurred to me that nowadays many BIOS interfaces have this utility built in.

Boot up your computer, enter BIOS, and poke around (BE VERY CAREFUL). If you can't find anything (or even if you do) be sure to "exit without saving". This is a universal option on most, if not all, BIOS interfaces.

[HellCat]

Is there perhaps any more novice advice you could give me? Whilst I appreciate what you're suggesting, it's a bit out of my league.

[Mog]

Notebooks should really only be repaired by the ones who built them, so the best advice you will get is "Use the Warranty."

Otherwise, you might mess things up and be unable to repair it because Notebook parts are much harder to come by than normal parts.

[mikestorm]

Agreed. In fact, now that I see that your laptop is only two months old, I would recommend you don't try anything yourself. Call up the manufacturer and explain your problem. Chances are the manufactures warranty is longer than 60 days. They will either point you in the direction of an authorized repair facility, or ask that you FedEX your laptop to them. Either way, that's the way to go.

[HellCat]

That will probably have to wait until I'm home for Christmas next month. When we bought it, there was a scheme along with it I think covered it for so much extra a month and all you had to do was take it in one of the stores (there's not one in the town I'm going to university at). If it's really bad, they'll replace it with a brand new one of the same model. I have a friend who does computer repairs for extra cash so if it does need to be tinkered with I'll probably ask him.
I'm currently running the thing on battery power, thought that might help it if it is a heat issue. It is somewhat quieter now, though that could just be the settings for battery use. I don't mind some noise (I actually find healthy internal noises reassuring when using a computer), but somehow my original computer has a fan so bad now it sounds like a plane preparing to take off. REALLY don't want to see the same happen to this.
Thank you both for your help.

[solarflere]

I repair/biuld PC's on a daily basis, but when i handle Laptops I am very carefull about them. The fan might be disloged and that might create some friction to the fan. I doubt it has to do with your CPU, because most BIOS would alert you if CPU is either overheating, or the fan can't keep up. So in my oppinion, it is defenetly the Fan. Even the most experianced techies will not touch a laptop unless they specialize in them. Don't try to do it yourself, even if you take out some screws, there are hidden ones, and even if you find them all, there are safety clips that need to be released in order to take it apart. Every laptop has them in diferent place. I would not even bring it to a local PC repair becuase if they are not authorised dealers, it will invalidate your waranty. So, enjoy the waranty and send it it. Actualy, call the tech support and describe the problem first, meybe (Just maybe) that is how it suppose to sound.

[HellCat]

The big question on my part is, is this likely to get worse? I realise that's a stupid question, but eh...

[solarflere]

The big question on my part is, is this likely to get worse? I realise that's a stupid question, but eh...Yes, it might deteriorate the fan (if there is something wrong with it to begin with).

[HellCat]

Yes, it might deteriorate the fan (if there is something wrong with it to begin with).
Gah! I just don't get why it'd do this. The only accident of any sort I've had with it was when I fell asleep whilst browsing in bed one night back home and the thing had fallen the short distance to the floor (I'm pretty sure it even landed on stuff that would have cushioned the fall and the floor in my bedroom's not that hard anyway). It just seems odd that it's been running fine all this time and then suddenly BAM!

[solarflere]

Gah! I just don't get why it'd do this. The only accident of any sort I've had with it was when I fell asleep whilst browsing in bed one night back home and the thing had fallen the short distance to the floor (I'm pretty sure it even landed on stuff that would have cushioned the fall and the floor in my bedroom's not that hard anyway). It just seems odd that it's been running fine all this time and then suddenly BAM!The fall might have disloged it slightly and over time the problem grew. But a lot of times "suddenly BAM!" is how many PC problems happan.

[HellCat]

How difficult is it to fix a laptop fan? I just glossed over the documents for the stores own warranty plan and it says they'll try to fix it and if they can't I'm entitled to a replacement. Obviously I'd rather have this one fixed than a brand new machine.

[solarflere]

How difficult is it to fix a laptop fan? I just glossed over the documents for the stores own warranty plan and it says they'll try to fix it and if they can't I'm entitled to a replacement. Obviously I'd rather have this one fixed than a brand new machine. For them, not dificult, for you, rocket science. For me, somewjere in the middle. i don't mess with laptops (besides software and formating) if I can help it.

[The Guitar Slayer]

Definitely call up the support people and have them fix it rather than you or your friends. If I may ask, what kind of laptop is it? And what kind of warranty do you have on it? When I purchased mine two years ago, I had a four-year at-home service package put on it, meaning that wherever I was, the laptop would be serviced. I even had my fan and heat sink replaced at my campus job by a Dell technician (I had one of those 5100s with the faulty heat sink and thermal gel -- look it up on google).

I think you should get it fixed now at the store rather than wait until December. Finals are in December, and boy would it suck if died on you completely when you have a paper due. Just my $.02

[HellCat]

Definitely call up the support people and have them fix it rather than you or your friends. If I may ask, what kind of laptop is it? And what kind of warranty do you have on it? When I purchased mine two years ago, I had a four-year at-home service package put on it, meaning that wherever I was, the laptop would be serviced. I even had my fan and heat sink replaced at my campus job by a Dell technician (I had one of those 5100s with the faulty heat sink and thermal gel -- look it up on google).

I think you should get it fixed now at the store rather than wait until December. Finals are in December, and boy would it suck if died on you completely when you have a paper due. Just my $.02
Don't need to worry about finals- I'm British ;)
The actual warranty I'm planning to use is provided by the store, not the maufacturer. Hence why I need to wait (they have a repair center in the store I bought it from), along with the fact I have an essay to type up between now and the end of term. There are computers on campus if worse comes to worse but I don't think it'll reach that within a month (...he said, now cursing himself to that exact fate)