I think that there may be something... wrong with my cooling fan.

It seems like the first time I had this problem.

Problem is that my VAIO's cooling fan was continuously running. It sounds just like the time when you run a full virus scan. But this time it was not.

I tried restarting the computer and leaving it idle for 10 mins. but no change. No programs were running at the moment, just background services. Last checked the TaskManager and there was only 28 processes. No program taking any CPU.

No programs running.

Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks.

Hello,
When was the last time that you cleaned out the inside of the case?
Dust, and hair, can build up on the heat sink and block the flow of air. This can cause the fan to run faster to try to cool the processor.
You can use a can of air to blow out the dust build up (note: air commpressors are too powerful).
Hold the fan with a toothpick, cotton swab, straw, Etc so that it does not spin, if the fan spins too fast it may no longer work.
You may also use a vacume to vacume out the dust.
Do not breath in the gas from the canned air! There is no oxigen and it is harmful!.
If you need detailed instruction please let me know.

HFCG, thank you for the advice.

All is well. Just gave it a brief hour on standby and it solved it. I usually clean out the dust.

Thanks again.

I never knew the air from the pressurized can was harmful.
I think I breathed in some.

Glad to see you got it going. Was this a VAIO notebook, or desktop?

I am afraid I have to disagree about the use of compressors, and feel compelled to address some serious safety issues, as well as ESD control, especially when using a vacuum.

First, the air compressor. I use one all the time to clean computers, TVs, and audio electronics. And since every compressor I have seen allows you to throttle down the output side, I set mine to 80psi, which works fine. Do note that cake makers and artists use air compressors when they use their air brushes for detailed air brush painting - so too much pressure is not really a problem.

There are some serious concerns with a compressor, however. Some spray a fine oil mist - great for automatically oiling nail guns and other pneumatic tools, not so great for electronics. So use an oiless compressor - all the major brands make them.

See my post here for more details and note the comments about using an in-line filter to prevent any moisture inside the tanks, or other contaminates from spraying onto the electronics.

So, assuming you have an oiless compressor and an in-line air filter, all you need then is some non-conductive object to hold the fans still. I buy bags of popsicle sticks at my local Hobby Lobby store. As HFCG mentioned, use the stick to hold the fan stationary while blasting with compressed air (from compressor or canned air). The reason why is because the compressed air can easily cause the fan to spin much faster than designed limits and that can damage the bearing, which then will result in premature failure. So while it is cool to watch them spin up, don't do it!

Using some sort of forced air is best at removing heat trapping dust, so if compressed air is not possible, vacuuming is the next best thing. However, it is VERY DANGEROUS to use a vacuum cleaner to clean the inside of a computer. The reason why is because the air and dust particles zipping past the nozzle of the vacuum can (will!) generate a large potential of static electricity in the nozzle. These electro-static charges easily build up in the human body. The "potential" (voltage) of the static electricity in humans can easily exceed 30,000 volts!! The threshold for human awareness is only around 3,500 volts, depending on many factors, including dryness of the skin, sensitivity, etc.

Electro-static discharge (ESD) sensitive devices used in sophisticated electronics, such as computer processors (including CPUs and GPUs) and memory integrated circuits (ICs), can easily be destroyed by static with potentials as little as 30 volts! This means that a static shock can totally destroy a sensitive device without you even being aware a discharge occurred!

Because of this static, it is absolutely essential precautions be taken to prevent static buildup and damage from ESD, as well as physical damage from banging the nozzle into fragile devices, or scratching the motherboard. With the computer powered down and unplugged, and with a soft brush in one hand and the vacuum nozzle in the other, extend a finger on your nozzle holding hand out past the tip of the nozzle and plant that finger on bare metal of the case. Then simply use the brush to sweep the dust into the vacuum. With your finger touching metal, and your hand wrapped around the nozzle, no static can build up, no ESD damage can occur. Every time you reposition the nozzle, touch metal with an extended finger before moving in close. As with the compressed air, resist the temptation to see how fast you can make the fans spin.

The key is to remove the "difference in potential" between the two conductors - you, and the device.

Notice I did not say you have to "ground" the static. I said you must "remove the difference in potential between the two conductors". What this means is that it is not necessary to have the computer case connected to the facility ground to effectively eliminate static. Just as you can eliminate static in your body by touching the doorknob of an ungrounded, wooden door (or the dog's nose ), simply touching the case will work just fine. When you touch the case, you equalize and eliminate that difference, thus eliminating the chance of a static discharge to a sensitive component (think of a "floating" ground - such as used in avionics - airplane electronics). Continually touching the bare metal case (through a wrist strap, or dangling pinky finger) will prevent static caused by wiggling around in your clothes, moving on the carpet, sliding on the chair cover, etc. from ever building up. If you can't stay in constant contact with the case, frequently touching the case will discharge any build up before reaching damaging potential, and is generally considered a sufficient precaution.

So always before reaching inside the case, make sure you equalize any difference of potential between you and the computer by discharging yourself to the bare metal case of the computer.

Now, notice I keep saying to unplug the computer. Some folks may have heard it is okay to leave the computer plugged in. THIS IS WRONG!!!! Ask any formally trained technician. There are several reasons - all related to safety.

First, anything that plugs into the wall can kill!!! So, don't become a "Darwin Award" candidate by assuming your power supply is working and wired properly. Even the best can and do fail, and sadly, many are no-name generics made in child slave labor camps in China or elsewhere. So ALWAYS unplug before reaching inside.

The second reason is that the ATX Form Factor standard calls for +5VDC @ 2 amperes across several motherboard circuits whenever the computer is in Standby Mode. Standby Mode is enabled whenever the power supply is plugged into an AC power source (the wall - or UPS), and if equipped, the master power switch is turned on. If the PSU does not have a master power switch, and many PSUs do not, Standby Mode is enabled whenever the power cord is connected. Standby Mode allows for such features as "soft power control" which allows the case's front panel power switch to power up the computer, and other features, such as Wake on LAN, Wake on Modem, Wake on Keyboard, and Wake on Mouse. For the Wake on LAN and Wake on Modem features to work, the +5VDC (normally designated as "+5Vsb") is present across the PCI bus (which includes the expansion slots) whenever the power supply is plugged in, and if equipped, the master power switch is set to on.

So, ALWAYS, unplug - especially before installing or removing any hardware, such as memory modules and cards.

As for the cans of air being harmful, it is. Besides containing difluoroethanes, like butane from a can, the gas can be discharged in the form of super-cooled liquid that can cause frost-bite, or worse if inhaled. Read the labels and hold the can upright.

This post has been edited by Digerati: Jun 7 2008, 09:34 PM

Hey!
Thank you for the tutorial Digerati, I sometimes assume that the user will be aware of the risk of static electricity. I always keep one of my wrist on the edge of the case for this reason.
I try to stress that canned gas is not air. air has moister in it. The canned gas is harmful if inhaled in large amounts.

The machine has a P4 -3.00GHz processor so it is not likely to be a laptop, could be high end laptop but it would have more than 512MB of RAM

This post has been edited by HFCG: Jun 8 2008, 09:41 AM

And often that is a valid assumption. However, some folks may come across our posts via the forum search feature, or Internet search (Google, Ask, Yahoo, etc.), or may just be following along so we must write our responses no only for the current poster, but also for others that may be following along, as well as future readers too. Since we cannot assume other's following in real time, or our future readers have the same experience or knowledge as the current OP, in this case, drragostea, we must assume they don't - especially when it comes to safety.I am in the habit of staying in contact with the bare metal case too, but if not that disciplined, and/or when you need full function of both hands an anti-static wrist-strap is the way to go. Several years ago, motherboard makers used to throw a disposable bracelet in the motherboard boxes. I guess that went the way of the bag of pretzels on airplanes.
Well, moisture is not the issue - the issue is that canned air is not "air" - in fact, of the cans I have, none say "air" but instead say something similar to 3M's and are called "Compressed Gas Duster". The contents are actually very poisonous and can cause serious injury or even death. I also not that all have printed warnings on the cans too.

Sadly, some idiots are abusing these cans by inhaling the contents intentionally and so some makers are including a "bitter" agent as a deterrent. There is also a push for laws for folks to verify they are 18 or above to purchase, just as with spray paint cans.

Oh? Remember, Google is your friend. I offer 2 different Sony P4 3.0GHz 512Mb laptops:

Sony Vaio PCG-K33 Laptop P4 M 3.0GHz 512MB
and
Sony VAIO PCG-K17 Laptop (3.0GHz Pentium 4, 512MB RAM, 80 GB Hard Drive, CD-RW/DVD-ROM)

lol

Don't worry - if there is one thing I have learned in 35+ years of doing this stuff, it's that there is always more to learn!!

Digerati= Quinquagenarian. Always more to learn . I'm using the Sony VAIO PCV-RS620G. It's a desktop.

Thank you Digerati for the meticulous and tremendously... long explanation. I learned a lot... including how to clean the interior of the desktop plus the dangers of "compressed" air. I had to say... the can was becoming awfully cool by the second when I was cleaning. It was like putting your hand next to a "super-cool" pipe. Which then will result your had being stuck. Frustration.

I obviously have no clue of voltage and all that. I'll get to learn it in the future.

I like the idea of a dog's nose. Yet, it's takes work and effort to raise a dog or a cat.

It is not ok to discharge static electicity on a dogs nose, your wifes nose is ok, not the dogs

There will always be more to learn!
I am a mid-level technician, no where near your level (MVP) and usually learn something every time I help some one.

The IT industry consists of 100s of specialties - there's is no way any one person can know it all. That is what is great about a forum like WTT, people from many areas of expertise can gather together and share what they know - often so you won't make the same mistakes they did! Learning is good.

Oof.

This post has been edited by drragostea: Jun 8 2008, 01:33 PM

It seemed to be happening again. Now this time it's like the cooling fan has gone OD.

From my conclusion it doesn't seem to be the dust problem.

It's just the heat and temperature in my room's atmosphere.

In the Flushing borough it's around 85-90 degrees F. I'm assuming it's the heat that's causing the constant activation of the fan.

This post has been edited by drragostea: Jun 8 2008, 01:35 PM