laptop fan turning loud :(

[march_boy]

hi all,

i have a toshiba satellite laptop and i've had it for about 2 years now. And recently the fans started to get REALLY LOUD.

before it would run really silent, then one day, i was playing maplestory (a game) and all of a sudden, the fan just started getting louder and louder.

what could the problem be?

could it be a heat problem?

could it be from the fact i leave it plugged in about 18 hours a day 7 days a week?

please help. :)

[PrntRhd]

I suspect a cooling fan that needs replaced, the bearings can go bad and make lots of noise, then fails entirely. Check with the manufacturer, sometimes this kind of failure is covered by recalls.
The other suspect (less likely) is a HDD that is physically sick and about to die, in this example the whole laptop will vibrate when the noise occurs.

[Rick]

It could also be dust build up on the fan blades

[SufferWell1396]

Yeah, if its never been cleaned out in two years it could defiantly be the fan blades... i had an old PII and never cleaned it for like litterly 6 or 7 years.... i got to the fan and i was basically handicap because of all of the layers of dust...

[march_boy]

i think its most prolly likely the hard D is about to die from what sounds i can hear...

but yet, it could be the fan is just clogged up..im not really sure.

how exactly do i clean a notebooks fan?

actually.. now that i think about it, im not even sure how to clean a pcs fan...somethin about using a can of compressed air? :confused:

[jlreich]

What make/model is it?

It may be as simple as blowing out the the dust with a can of compressed air through the vents. Or it may be necessary to replace the fan.

It could also be the heatsink is gunked up with dust as well causing the fan to run faster and more often. Particularly if you have pets.

Some fans are easy to get at with a compartment on the bottom that actually unscrews and drops the fan out. But most require to at least removing the KB and some you will need to remove the display, KB and palmrest. You will most like need to order a replacment fan from the manufacturer since they are usually model specific.

[march_boy]

What make/model is it?

It may be as simple as blowing out the the dust with a can of compressed air through the vents. Or it may be necessary to replace the fan.

It could also be the heatsink is gunked up with dust as well causing the fan to run faster and more often. Particularly if you have pets.

Some fans are easy to get at with a compartment on the bottom that actually unscrews and drops the fan out. But most require to at least removing the KB and some you will need to remove the display, KB and palmrest. You will most like need to order a replacment fan from the manufacturer since they are usually model specific.

:eek: o dear...that seems a bit too complicated for a noob like me..maybe this time i will just take it down to the local tech guy i know :( thing is he charges heaps for a job that takes like 20 min max :(

[jlreich]

Laptops are definitely more complicated than desktops. You can't just take the cover off and get to everything.

I know service is expensive, but if the system is getting too hot it will be worth it to get it taken care before it gets to the point it starts shutting itself off. Or the fan stops working altogether.

[march_boy]

i know eh?

but its times like this i wish i knew more about the hardware side of IT :(

[jlreich]

I am not familiar with the innards of Toshiba laptops, but many Dell and Gateway. Some are more complicated than others but they are all more or less the same.

There are usually pretty good guides for servicing laptops on the manufacturers website. If you feel up to the challenge and are good at following directions you can do it. But if it stresses you to even think about it just take it into the technician.

[Rick]

Most Toshiba laptops follow two basic designs
Older models use a 1 inch button fan on the rear
and the newer models are all under the keyboard fans

Replacing the older models was a pain
The newer models are easy and Toshiba has detailed exploded views on line

It's just a matter of removing the keyboard and then one or two screws to remove a cover plate.
Then everything is there
Heatsink,fan and pipes between them

Not a real hard job.
But it does require you to pay attention to what you remove and how you do it . in order and replace everything in the same order when putting it back together

[jlreich]

Not a real hard job.
But it does require you to pay attention to what you remove and how you do it . in order and replace everything in the same order when putting it back together
That's pretty much the way it is for any laptop. Once you have been inside one you pretty much know how to do them all. Or at least you can figure it out pretty easy. Just keep track of what screws go where and you will be OK. :)