Fan Problems?

[Sonan]

I’m sorry to keep posting and concluding them. But this is the main and last problem that I need to deal with. My laptop is constantly making a loud grindy/buzzy sound that also makes my laptop vibrate.. I finally managed to take it apart and clean all the dust inside the fan and all around it with some tissues. There was a lot of dust inside, but despite cleaning it all out, nothing has changed to make the issue any better. It’s a fairly small fan and it is all cleaned out now. Could it be the heatsink, or the piece that holds the fan in place?

[Bruce]

If the laptop is vibrating enough that it’s felt so easily than the source should be something that spins, like a CD, the hard drive or a fan.
And then, only if they are unbalanced.
With the back cover off, did you power up the laptop to isolate the source of the vibration?

[Sonan]

If the laptop is vibrating enough that it’s felt so easily than the source should be something that spins, like a CD, the hard drive or a fan.
And then, only if they are unbalanced.
With the back cover off, did you power up the laptop to isolate the source of the vibration?

That was the only idea I had in mind. The only problem is that I don’t know how I can turn it on when I have taken the power button off- and unplugged everything connected to the motherboard..

[Bruce]

Don’t disconnect anything.
Just take off the back cover and turn it on, from there you can see and hear all that you should need to.
Have a soft bristled rush hand to strop any fans and see if the noise goes away.
Or put your ear to the hard drive and CD unit and see if you can tell which one is the noise maker.

[Sonan]

Don’t disconnect anything.
Just take off the back cover and turn it on, from there you can see and hear all that you should need to.
Have a soft bristled rush hand to strop any fans and see if the noise goes away.
Or put your ear to the hard drive and CD unit and see if you can tell which one is the noise maker.

I’ll give that a try. So I to stop the running fan by sticking in a soft bristled brush?
I’m quite certain it is coming from the fan. I hear the sound much louder towards the left of the laptop where the fan is, as well as feelinh the vibrations stronger in that area, while nothing seems to be coming from the right of the device, where the hard drive is.

[Bruce]

yep, slowly insert the brush into the blades and the fan will stop.
if the vibrations stop as well, and restart when the fan restarts, then there is the culprit.

[Sonan]

yep, slowly insert the brush into the blades and the fan will stop.
if the vibrations stop as well, and restart when the fan restarts, then there is the culprit.

If that is the case, what should I do?
I don’t know if I can reach or see the fan as the motherboard is on top of it, covering it completely..

[Bruce]

this is where laptop work gets interesting…
the keyboard flicks out and you can access that fan from the top.
now, most laptops have 3 clips that you pry away from the plastic side molding, along the top of the keyboard.
Google your make/model and see if there is a YouTube video for it.
be careful once the keyboard is lose as the cable that connects it to the motherboard is held on by a clip that I have found can be very easily broken.
so either leave it connected or get help if you are unsure.

[Sonan]

this is where laptop work gets interesting…
the keyboard flicks out and you can access that fan from the top.
now, most laptops have 3 clips that you pry away from the plastic side molding, along the top of the keyboard.
Google your make/model and see if there is a YouTube video for it.
be careful once the keyboard is lose as the cable that connects it to the motherboard is held on by a clip that I have found can be very easily broken.
so either leave it connected or get help if you are unsure.

I know how to take it apart. Like I mentioned, I already cleaned out the fan, but the issue still persists, which is why I need help.

My problem with testing the fan while the computer is running is that I can’t reach or see it, as it is below the motherboard. I can take off the base enclosure, which is connected to the keyboard and touchpad, no problem. But after I take that off, what comes in the way of my sight of the fan, would be the motherboard.

Would it be a good idea to unplug everything except for the fan cable and power cable from the motherboard, lift the motherboard so that I can see the fan, and then run the laptop?

[Bruce]

might be time for a picture cause I’m confused.
if you have taken off the underside base cover AND lifted off the keyboard from the top side, you have full access to all parts.
so unless it’s a model I’ve never seen before, I’m at a loss as to your configuration.

[Sonan]

Wait.. underside base cover?? My mistake, I thought I had said something wrong there. I don’t think my laptop has such a thing. Only access inside from the top of the laptop.

Just to be sure, do you know which model I am using? I mentioned it in a post last friday.

[Bruce]

I’ve gone back to post #1 and don’t see any mention of a make/model.

[Sonan]

I mean a different forum. This one here - https://pchelpforum.net/t/removing-o...closure.40576/

[Bruce]

As stated in post #3 of that thread you have to undo those screws.
The back cover should then come off.
Have you tried that?
You should also check out some YouTube videos of that model to double check the procedure.

[Sonan]

I never seen anything mention taking off the back cover in the manual or youtube video that I seen. Are you sure this version has a removable back cover? Is that what those screws are for?

I will try taking it off tomorrow. Is there a specific way to pull the back cover off? If it turns out that I can’t remove it, what other option will there be to get to the fan to test it out?

I really want to resolve this as soon as possible. I really want to use my laptop again to get more things done and put my worries to rest.
Sorry for any confusion or lack of detail given. I appreciate all the help.