Re: overworked Fan

Tech-Archive recommends: Repair Windows Errors & Optimize Windows Performance

thanks Richard - you cracked it - not being certain whether it was the CPU
fan or another, I opened the casing (desktop pc) only to find a heap of dust
and fluff some of which was really stuck hard to the fins. (compacted dust
seems to have glue like properties!) This needed careful use of a vacuum
cleaner with a modified very fine nozzle and brush to remove it. My 18 month
old computer, which i thought was spotlessly clean, is now purring very
quietly in the corner having had all dust removed and sanity has now returned
to our family!

"Richard Urban" wrote:

Desktop computer? Is this something that just started, or has your computer
always been this way?

If it just started you must determine just which fan in the computer (there
are usually several) is changing speed.

If it is the CPU fan it is likely that the cooling fins on the heatsink are
clogged with dust. This is especially so if there are smokers in the home.
The dust will block the airflow allowing the CPU to get hotter than normal.
The fan may then speed up in trying to maintain a lower temp.

Eventually the fins will block to a point where the cooling is non existent
and the CPU will fail.

If you determine that it is the CPU fan causing the commotion, and you don't
feel comfortable in removing the heatsink so you can clean it, take the
computer to a repair center.

If you have a laptop you may want to send it to the manufacturer so he can
clean/repair it.

--


Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

Quote from George Ankner:
If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!


"robin.m" <robin.m@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:A804EC27-0FBC-4ECD-AD5F-696E863180DB@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
the fan on my pc accerates to top speed (noisy) every few minutes and then
slows down again to a tolerable noise. the fan is at high speed more than
it
is at slow speed. the dust and air vents have been cleaned out regularily
and
the PC does not seem hot. it always does this when a programme is being
downloaded or a scan is in operation
any suggestions?



.

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