Laptop Fan Not Working

[don_1]

My HP Pavillion dv1000 laptop's fan is not working, so the the laptop is getting hot. How do i open up the laptop and make the fan work again?

[kryogenik]

HERE's the service guide (PDF file) that will show you how to open it.
Looks like lifting the keyboard out will give you the access you need.
Might not be the fan that's gone - don't usually get fans dying.
Could be a sensor problem on the motherboard?

Also read HERE

[don_1]

Originally Posted by kryogenik

HERE's the service guide (PDF file) that will show you how to open it.
Looks like lifting the keyboard out will give you the access you need.
Might not be the fan that's gone - don't usually get fans dying.
Could be a sensor problem on the motherboard?

Also read HERE

Should the my laptop fan always be on, or should the fan only work when the laptop is getting hot?

[kryogenik]

Should only kick in when the processor gets hot really.
But in my experience with a lappy, the fan's going to be coming on quite regularly.
If you're not hearing it and the laptop is getting hot, then you possibly do have a problem.
Did you read forum messages in the link I gave? They suggest the fan might be a problem on that model.

[don_1]

Originally Posted by kryogenik

Should only kick in when the processor gets hot really.
But in my experience with a lappy, the fan's going to be coming on quite regularly.
If you're not hearing it and the laptop is getting hot, then you possibly do have a problem.
Did you read forum messages in the link I gave? They suggest the fan might be a problem on that model.

The fan is working every now and again. At the moment the laptop is not very hot so the fan is not on.

So your 100% sure that the fan wont work when the laptop is not that hot?

[kryogenik]

Laptop fans don't come one when not needed. From your first post I understood you had no fan working at all.
If the fan kicks in and cools the processor down then shuts off again, you've no worries.
You'll soon know if the fan isn't working so much that the processor is getting too hot. You won't be able to touch the base of the machine and you'll probably experience a shutdown or erratic behaviour.
If it's quite an old unit and getting hot, it might be worth re-seating the chip with some fresh compound.

[don_1]

Originally Posted by kryogenik

Laptop fans don't come one when not needed. From your first post I understood you had no fan working at all.
If the fan kicks in and cools the processor down then shuts off again, you've no worries.
You'll soon know if the fan isn't working so much that the processor is getting too hot. You won't be able to touch the base of the machine and you'll probably experience a shutdown or erratic behaviour.
If it's quite an old unit and getting hot, it might be worth re-seating the chip with some fresh compound.

Right now the laptop is not that hot and the fans just come on for 5 seconds every 3-5 mins.

I thought a laptop fan should be on all the time like a pc fan...

[kryogenik]

Sounds like it's reaching a set temp and the fan kicks in, cools it and shuts off again.
Doesn't sound like you've any problems there to be honest.

[don_1]

Originally Posted by kryogenik

Sounds like it's reaching a set temp and the fan kicks in, cools it and shuts off again.
Doesn't sound like you've any problems there to be honest.

Can you change the fan settings to make it come on more earlier (different temperature)?

[kryogenik]

Could be a setting in your BIOS but not sure. You might be able to get some software to do it too - someone with a better knowledge of that will be able to say. A quick Google comes up with a few apps that might help but I don't have any experience in them to recommend any - sorry.

[don_1]

Can you put a laptop on the carpet, or will that block the air flow and fan?

[kryogenik]

Yes, that will almost definitely block air vents and/or the fan vents. Not a good idea at all..
The laptop should be ideally on a table/desk where air can freely flow or you're going to have problems.

[Angry@VMedia]

Originally Posted by don_1

Can you put a laptop on the carpet, or will that block the air flow and fan?

It is advised that you do not put your laptop onto any soft or flamable surfaces!

Use a desk, or failing that, a board of wood or the yellow pages or a cardboard box or something like that.

Or if you are really worried, many PC places (including Argos) do a special device that is the size of a laptop with extra fans to cool the underneath, some even provide extra USB sockets for you to use, being as this device is USB powered!

[danielf]

Originally Posted by don_1

Can you put a laptop on the carpet, or will that block the air flow and fan?

Nope, why do you think it's called a laptop?

[don_1]

Originally Posted by danielf

Nope, why do you think it's called a laptop?

So should it always be on your 'lap'?