Laptop (CPU) Fan gets really loud ...

Hi Guys

I don’t know where this should be posted, anyway …

Bought this laptop about 9 months ago, and it’s been perfect until recently.

Every now and then, when I power up, the CPU fan goes crazy (I think it’s the CPU fan … ?). It gets really loud and stuff during the bios checks and stays loud.

When I eventually get into Windows, the applications in startup take ages to load, and some don’t load at all, because one gets stuck or something. It’s really weird.

Everything goes back to normal on the first or second reboot.

All help / suggestions appreciated. Thanks.

The laptop is a Dell D820 running Win XP.
CPU: T2500 – (2gh Core Duo).
RAM: 2gb
VGA: Nvidia Quadro NVS 120M.

It's possible that it could be overheating. Where do you keep the laptop situated ?

Please excuse my complete ignorance, but why would it overheat only sometimes, and then as soon as I reboot it's back to normal ?

It doesn't do this every time I power up. Only about half the time.




If I understand you correctly ... When I am working, Slap ontop of a wooden desk, otherwise in its case. We're going into winter here, so the environment isn't hot at all, maybe 15-20 degrees C inside.

I'm fairly mobile, and the laptop goes pretty much wherever I go. Sometimes it stays in the car for a while.

Sorry, I thought this was a permanent issue.

Does it happen straight from when you power up or when you are in Windows ?

it could be a fan problem, maybe its not cooling the proc sufficiently enough during high load times like start up...

The problem usually starts around the bios checks, or just after.

You know that funny black screen with the MS logo just before the login screen? Well, sometimes just before or during that.

Sorry about the delay in replying, I have to try work around these blasted power cuts!!

i think there is dust in the heat sink air outlet port.

if you can open up the CPU cover on the underside of the laptop, and blow compressed air and use a brush to remove the accumulated gunk, i think your problem will be solved.

else your 12 year old neighbourhood geek can do it for you. - its a very simle procedure - if you have the right tools.

ritu.

ps. during bootup, a whole lot os cpu cycles is used, so the processor is nearly operating at 100% for 3-4 minutes.

It's quite clear that the cooling system is full of dust, and the fan is also likely ready for the trash can. If you give it a spin, and it does not continue to spin by inertia then it must be replaced. (If you can't miss the machine until you can buy a fan, it can be improved by putting a little WD40 on the bearing)

Thanks for the tips, Guys !



On my machine there isn't a cover for the CPU like the one for RAM. I might be wrong here, but I think I would need to take off the entire under panel/cover to get to the CPU & Fan. I'm a little hesitant to do that to a laptop. However, I will if I must.

The problem seems to have died down a bit lately. Maybe the calm before the storm .

its easy, just unscrew the bottom and you will find the cpu with the heatsink over it, try also replacing the thermal paste on the cpu, to do that take the heatsink off, use some alcohol to wipe off the old thermal paste from the cpu and heatsink and put a dab of the new paste on, also clean the whole case out of dust. if your fan isnt making a strange loud noise other than just spinning fast you dont need to replace it. just a good cleaning and replacement of the paste should do the trick!

zim, dont worry, if you are careful, and work on the machine with a little care, you cant harm it - the only thing is no muscling around - dont use any sort of force. thats it!

i agree that cleaning and applying new thermal goop would be better, but i wouldnt recommend that now. sinks of laptop chips are anchored in very tricky methods. i myself damaged a few. a little air, a little brushing and i think you will be set. just remember to do this often (once every two months)

and do check the fan like szgabor said. after opening up, you may find the whole sink grille to be clean as a whistle and the fan conked out! you never know!
if you cant get your paws on WD40, a drop of light lubricating oil will suffice

ritu.