Is My Laptop Fan Dying?

Sean O'Hara · 11-04-09, 12:10 PM

I've had my laptop (HP Pavillion dv6000) for almost two years now. Until a month ago, the fan was nice and quiet, just a barely audible hum. Then one day it suddenly got loud and stayed that way for about ten minutes before shifting back to its normal quiet self. Since then it's been alternating between loud and quiet; I've noticed it usually gets loud if I move it suddenly, though sometimes it does it even when sitting on a flat surface.

This is the first laptop I've owned, so I don't know if this is normal wear or a sign that something's wrong. I should probably open the case and clean the fan, but if that doesn't work, is it time to look into replacing the fan or getting a new machine?

TruGator · 11-10-09, 10:07 PM

I don't have an answer to your question, but I was having problems with my laptop fan last night. It came out of nowhere and was very loud so I started backing up my files thinking my computer was going to die. I shut it down and was going to clean the fan off, but I didn't have the tools on me to open up the computer. I also didn't have any compressed air so I did the next best thing: I blew air from my mouth into the fan exhaust (where the heat escapes) as hard as I could. It seemed to work because a bunch of dust was all over my face and the shirt I was wearing. I booted my computer back up and it has been quiet since then. I hope you have a simple fix as well.

11-04-09, 12:10 PM	#1
Sean O'Hara DVD Talk Platinum Edition Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Gitmo Nation Central Administrative Zone Posts: 3,834	Is My Laptop Fan Dying? I've had my laptop (HP Pavillion dv6000) for almost two years now. Until a month ago, the fan was nice and quiet, just a barely audible hum. Then one day it suddenly got loud and stayed that way for about ten minutes before shifting back to its normal quiet self. Since then it's been alternating between loud and quiet; I've noticed it usually gets loud if I move it suddenly, though sometimes it does it even when sitting on a flat surface. This is the first laptop I've owned, so I don't know if this is normal wear or a sign that something's wrong. I should probably open the case and clean the fan, but if that doesn't work, is it time to look into replacing the fan or getting a new machine? __________________ My Blog Librivox Short Story Collection 34 with my reading of Jack London's "War" Les Miserables Volume 1 with my reading of "Four and Four"

11-10-09, 10:07 PM	#2
TruGator DVD Talk Special Edition Join Date: May 2001 Location: Florida Posts: 1,838	Re: Is My Laptop Fan Dying? I don't have an answer to your question, but I was having problems with my laptop fan last night. It came out of nowhere and was very loud so I started backing up my files thinking my computer was going to die. I shut it down and was going to clean the fan off, but I didn't have the tools on me to open up the computer. I also didn't have any compressed air so I did the next best thing: I blew air from my mouth into the fan exhaust (where the heat escapes) as hard as I could. It seemed to work because a bunch of dust was all over my face and the shirt I was wearing. I booted my computer back up and it has been quiet since then. I hope you have a simple fix as well.