Does a Dell Inspiron Laptop....

[WizeOne]

....have an internal fan? Mrs WO's laptop just popped up a message that the computer had shut down due to 'unexpected' temperature.

I turned the unit upside down and sure enough, the vent screen was all but totally plugged with a dust mat. I picked it out and used compressed air to finish cleaning it but I cannot see inside the screen to see if there is a fan in there.

The computer did reboot and has not repeated that message. I'm sure that the blockage did not happen overnight.

 

[bsktball55]

Re: Does a Dell Inspiron Laptop....

I can here a fan blowing in mine. At least I believe it is a fan.

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Does a Dell Inspiron Laptop....

Yes it has a fan. It is also multi speed (it will speed up as temp rises).

It will also crap out just like a desktop puter.

The problem with a laptop is that the fan is baffled by the table, it needs a bigger air gap.

 

[WizeOne]

Re: Does a Dell Inspiron Laptop....

....The problem with a laptop is that the fan is baffled by the table, it needs a bigger air gap.

The laptop sits on a glass sheet so I feel the minimal clearance is probably sufficient.

Any idea how to diagnose the operation of the fan?

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Does a Dell Inspiron Laptop....

I could be wrong,

My wife's 1501 has a fan that changes speed as it warms up.

I cannot hear or see a fan on my 6400.

what model inspiron do you have?

 

[bkwapisz]

Re: Does a Dell Inspiron Laptop....

I have an E1705 and the fan goes on and off at will. Must have a thermometer in it or something. I have also found that 'Laptop' is not a very good descriptor as they will overheat if placed on your lap. If it keeps happening try putting some thicker stick-on feet under it. I had one before that would just overheat and shut off and the thicker feet did the trick. $0.99 at Home Depot.

 

[Summer Fun]

Re: Does a Dell Inspiron Laptop....

I have this to cool my dell lappy. $10.00 from ebay .
http://cgi.ebay.com/3-FAN-Laptop-No...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item3a56f47a28

 

[WizeOne]

Re: Does a Dell Inspiron Laptop....

I could be wrong,

My wife's 1501 has a fan that changes speed as it warms up.

I cannot hear or see a fan on my 6400.

what model inspiron do you have?

It is a 600M. You'd think the fan would be directly behind the screen on the bottom of the unit but you cannot see thru it, even with a lite. I'm sure that screen/vent provides some cooling even if the fan is not running.

I'm sure that I have heard a noise that could be a fan (in the past) but it would make sense that the dust mat on that screen would have made a fan turn on when it might otherwize have not.

 

[WizeOne]

Re: Does a Dell Inspiron Laptop....

I thought about a 'cooler' as a Christmas present, but as the laptop only ever sits on the glass sheet and we had never seen the 'unexpected' temperature notice, I did not proceed with it.

The computer has always been pretty warm where your left palm rests.

 

[ThumbPkr]

Re: Does a Dell Inspiron Laptop....

That 600M is not difficult to open up and clean the fan and heatsink properly.
Your video card also has a fan and heatsink on it that needs to be cleaned too.Blowing compressed air into the slot from the outside is not really cleaning it,you are only redistributing the dust to be sucked back into the heatsink again.You can download the service manual from Dell to guide you.
Take the extra few minutes and remove the heatsinks and reapply heatsink compound for extra protection.It is about a 30 minute job to do right.Ron G

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Does a Dell Inspiron Laptop....

The fan is fully magnetic and I have found air keep my wife's running okay. There are multiple vents and a small flame from a let match will evidence the function.

 

[SuzukiChopper]

Re: Does a Dell Inspiron Laptop....

That 600M is not difficult to open up and clean the fan and heatsink properly.
Your video card also has a fan and heatsink on it that needs to be cleaned too.Blowing compressed air into the slot from the outside is not really cleaning it,you are only redistributing the dust to be sucked back into the heatsink again.You can download the service manual from Dell to guide you.
Take the extra few minutes and remove the heatsinks and reapply heatsink compound for extra protection.It is about a 30 minute job to do right.Ron G

+1

Easy to do and well worth the time.

 

[WizeOne]

Re: Does a Dell Inspiron Laptop....

I'll look into the disassembly and cleaning. It is interesting to note that she has gotten this message twice now. Both times were on boot up having left her ipody type thing plugged into to the shutdown computer, overnite, for charging.

The laptop boots to a black screen with DOSy type white text for the message??

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: Does a Dell Inspiron Laptop....

Clogged air vent is interesting. My Inspiron 1100 sat on the kitchen table running 24/7 for over 6 years with no vent clogging.

 

[Bucks45]

Re: Does a Dell Inspiron Laptop....

I've got an Inspiron 1720. It has a fan, but it's horrible. Buy a cooling pad. You can find one cheap and they just plug into one of your USB ports.

 

[WizeOne]

Re: Does a Dell Inspiron Laptop....

Clogged air vent is interesting. My Inspiron 1100 sat on the kitchen table running 24/7 for over 6 years with no vent clogging.

Interesting. Mrs WO's vent was so clogged it looked like the lint filter in the clothes drier. Her's is maybe 6 years old as well and we never checked it before this episode.

 

[dolluper]

Re: Does a Dell Inspiron Laptop....

Dust or no dust DELLS run super hot ....your lucky the older ones wouldve just cooked to death with no warning ...do yourself a favour and download thw manual clean it ...then get a chill pad ...experience talking here but I'm talking there old tech

 

[WizeOne]

Re: Does a Dell Inspiron Laptop....

...do yourself a favour and download thw manual clean it ...then get a chill pad ...experience talking here but I'm talking there old tech

dolluper, I do understand about them running hot. I do not understand your statement re: "download thw manual clean it"?? I have looked for info on the net how to get access to clean the fan and inner cavities, but have not found it.

I also do not even know if this fan is working. The unit has not repeated the message, but we have not plugged in the ipody type thing for battery charging either.

 

[WizeOne]

Re: Does a Dell Inspiron Laptop....

...do yourself a favour and download thw manual clean it ...then get a chill pad ...experience talking here but I'm talking there old tech

dolluper, I do understand about them running hot. I do not understand your statement re: "download thw manual clean it"?? I have looked for info on the net how to get access to clean the fan and inner cavities, but have not found it.

I also do not even know if this fan is working. The unit has not repeated the message, but we have not plugged in the ipody type thing for battery charging either.

 

[ThumbPkr]

Re: Does a Dell Inspiron Laptop....

I could send you the link but it would not help you as you have to create an account,that is be able to log on to the Dell website to access the files that you need.The files are HTML so you don't even need Acrobat to use them and there are pictures to guide you.All that you will need is a phillips screwdrive with the proper sized bit.
There are other tutorials on the net with step by step instructions too,if you cannot get what you need I will look around for you and post the link.Ron G