Emergency

[cleolinda]

Okay, someone tell me what this means, or rather, what to do about it:

I boot up the computer, it says "CPU fan failure."

I boot it up again, and it says "Previous fan failure. System battery is low."

Is there some (relatively) easy replacement for both of these, or do I need to start selling kidneys pricing new computers?


ETA: It's a desktop. Yes, given that this is a possible overheating issue, I am treating this like an emergency.

Comments

[angelicus.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a motherboard issue. Do you have a system diagnostic program you can run?

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

I don't know--does Windows have one?

[angelicus.livejournal.com]

If you have a big brand computer (HP/Dell/Gateway/etc), they usually include some type of diagnostic program you can find in your program list. Something like PC Doctor.

Your best bet is to take it somewhere like Best Buy and have the Geek Squad look at it. If it just needs a fan, you're in good shape. But the error saying your system battery is low makes me think it could be a motherboard problem. Either way, you'll need to take it in anyway.

[iamshadow.livejournal.com]

System batteries are cheaper than cheap to replace, if it's just the battery that holds the date/time settings.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Yeah... I'm thinking I'm gonna have to take it in just so someone can show me how to even open it and find where the items in question are. And then at least I'll be on the premises to buy whatever I have to. How much will they charge me just for the looking-at?

[mwshook.livejournal.com]

Maybe. Is this a laptop or desktop?

A failed fan is cheap (less than 20 bucks). It can be fairly easy to replace, but I wouldn't recommend doing it yourself, unless you're fairly handy with electronics.

System battery? That would be easy on a desktop

The more concerning possibility, is that something is wrong with the part of your computer that checks the components for errors. Is it more likely that both the fan and the battery failed at the same time? Or is it more likely that the diagnostic system is crapped out and making up errors that don't exist? That would be harder to fix.

Oh, and don't run your computer with a bad fan. You risk overheating the thing and causing more serious damage.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Desktop.

I know, that's why I'm trying not to run the computer with potentially a bad fan--I'm trying to find out what to do and then shut this thing down fast as possible.

[iamshadow.livejournal.com]

What kind of computer are we talking, here? Desktop or laptop? Replacing a desktop CPU fan is pretty cheap and easy. Laptop ones have to be pretty specific to the make and model.

Also, without a fan, your CPU will heat up a lot. It isn't something I'd leave for ages without getting sorted.

[shalimar1981.livejournal.com]

An ex had a problem like this. If indeed the CPU fan failed or is broken, you need to get a new one. Shouldn't be too expensive. You need a working fan so the CPU doesn't overheat or in extreme cases, melt. I'd also not use it till you got it fixed.

If you can look inside your computer (if it's a desktop) and jot down what type of fan you have in there. If it's a laptop just bring it with you I'd say.

Good luck! :)

[narfzz.livejournal.com]

For "CPU fan failure" the parts aren't expensive. You just have to know which fan you need to fix. Which is basically open up the computer while it's running and see which fan is not running (be careful).

Also the "System battery is low" sounds like it could be that tiny battery on the motherboard needs to be replaced. It looks like a watch battery and can easily be replaced. You can take it out and put it back in to see if that error still continues because it does that on occasions when the computer is bumped and it comes loose.

After doing all this, then you might need another mobo which can be slightly expensive. I really doubt it though, I'm pretty sure those problems can be easily fixed. Also what kind of computer do you have? A desktop or laptop? I've said the above assuming you're talking about a desktop. Laptop on the other hand, I'm not really sure about.

[narfzz.livejournal.com]

Edit:

Also if you've been running the computer and it's been freezing every 10 minutes or so then that's a sign it's overheating because the fan is not working. I definitely recommend turning off the computer and getting it fixed before you use it again. If you lived in Georgia, I would definitely offer to come over to fix it for you. I hope you can find someone to do it for you for a reasonable price. Good luck!

[cellardoor28.livejournal.com]

It might be worth having a look at the fan. Sometimes they can get really dusty and grotty - a quick wipe might help.

Course, sod's law it will be more than that, but everything's worth a try :p

[unspoken-hellie.livejournal.com]

Also, I know this sounds random, but if you have a hoover with attachments, try hoovering the inside of your computer (carefully!). Most overheting problems are actually caused by dust clogging the fan. Just take the side of the desktop off, get a ye-olde hoover attachment and hoover in wee spurts, being careful not to let any of the fans spin too quickly when doing it.

[talkischeap.livejournal.com]

You can also try cleaning out the insides with some canned air, but the vaccuum sounds a lot more fun!

[zeromuchjenn.livejournal.com]

Yikes! I had this same message, and within one day (actually, one reboot), my beloved Hewly desktop was dead. Good luck!

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Yeah... that's what I'm afraid of. The expense of a new computer is one thing, but I am NOT losing all the shit on it again.

[particle-person.livejournal.com]

Even if it dies, you can move the hard drive to your new machine. The HD is probably okay from your description of the problem.

[kilted.livejournal.com]

Something like that was happening to my grandparent's old computer. We just replaced the fan and everything was fine after that. It's relatively easy to replace.

[zhymmy.livejournal.com]

Pretty much everybody's right - the fan on your CPU heatsink has gone out (or is going out). I'm gonna take a guess that this is a Dell or HP computer, because that's the only place I've ever seen that message come up before. It's a nice warning. :)

But, depending on which model it is, it can be either easy or difficult to swap in a new fan. What I would do, honestly, if you have never worked inside a computer before, is take it to a computer repair store. There used to be one just off 31 in Vestavia, across from the City Center/Rave. I can't remember the name of them but if they're still open, they're excellent.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it's a Dell.

Hm--I don't live *in* Vestavia, but I end up there a lot (the Rave is my theater of choice, and my sister works in the vicinity). I might try that.

[zhymmy.livejournal.com]

Hehe. I remembered you saying something about Homewood, so I thought of computer stores in the vicinity. There used to be one in SoHo but I don't know if it's there anymore or not. It's been like, 8 years since I lived in Homewood. :)

Everybody's given great suggestions and steps to check it out, especially blowing out the case with canned air - Dell Optiplexes are NOTORIOUS for gathering dust. It's like they have dust magnets hidden in the case for the sole purpose of making the inside of the case dustier than ancient Mayan ruins...or was that alien runes?

regardless.

If blowing the case out, et al, doesn't clear up the problem, definitely get it looked at by a professional. Dell motherboards are very componentized and a standard fan/heatsink may not work on your particular model. They have unique mounting arrangements for the HSF, and odd sized fans. Most HSF's come with a 40, 60, or 80mm fans...but I worked on one once that had a 50mm fan. Which you just can't buy in a store to replace it yourself.

But, the most important thing is you're right - it is somewhat of an emergency. If the CPU overheats too often it will not only shut down randomly to preserve itself, but cause a LOT of windows errors...most commonly problems accessing the memory and disk drives.

In other news, how is the Vestavia Rave doing? That was my theater of choice for a long time, but now I live in Chelsea and Lee Branch is just closer.

[bumblebee-1983.livejournal.com]

If it's a relatively new computer, it may be a faulty fan. Look into the warranty issue and see if that covers the repair.

Get it fixed before it does any more damage. Good luck!

[guinevere33.livejournal.com]

I agree with mwshook: this is either a case of two cheap components failing that are easily fixed, or OH SHIT it's the motherboard. So here's how to check out the easy stuff.

CHECKING THE CPU FAN:
The analog method for checking whether the CPU fan is really working is to take off the side of the case, then turn the computer back on and WATCH. It's pretty obvious whether it spins up or not.

Most computers also have a function that monitors the CPU's temperature, tucked away in the BIOS (the software that handles booting up the computer, before the operating system comes into play). You should be able to access the BIOS by hitting a particular key (usually Delete) during boot-up, then keyboard navigate through the screens to find the one that deals with CPU settings. To figure out what key it is, either check your manual or watch for instructions during boot-up. There will usually be a line that scrolls by saying "To access system setup, press [X]".

THAT DAMN BATTERY
The battery the "Previous fan failure. System battery is low" error refers to is called the CMOS battery (http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000239.htm). This is what allows your computer to remember things like how many hard drives you have and what the day is when it's turned off. If it's really low on charge, it's trivial (and cheap) to replace. There's probably a page about it in your PC manual, but basically just look around on the motherboard for a round, flat battery slightly smaller than a quarter. Pop it out, take it to Best Buy, and say "I need another one of these".

Removing it will, of course, make your computer forget all those things about hard drives and what day it is, so it's a good idea to write down your BIOS settings before you do this. Then you can just re-enter them once the new battery is in place.

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

You know, my computer's also been giving me error messages about not being able to find the E drive--sporadically; some days it has no problem with it, which suggests to me now that the problem isn't the E drive at all, but... possibly the CMOS battery flunking out on me.

[sun-star-n-moon.livejournal.com]

Like somebody said above, it could be that there is just too much dust inside.....or it could be something different.

But its easy to test if its just dust. Just take a can of air and blast all the evil lurking dust bunnies out of the computer.

I know too much dust does cause problems. My computer gets all wonky on me if I dont dust it out like twice a year.

But if the can of air doesnt work....youll probably have to have someone look at it.

To sum up.

[grendelkhan.livejournal.com]

Everyone else here has pretty much covered it, but I'll sum up.

* There's a fan covering your CPU. Without it, your CPU will overheat. To prevent this, your machine won't even start up unless the fan is working.
* The first thing you can do is clean the fan. Open the case.
** Sometimes (e.g., a Dell Optiplex), it will have some kind of plastic ducting covering the CPU fan. You have to remove this to clean the fan.
** The heatsink/fan will look like (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Silent_PC-CPU_fan.JPG) a little fan on top of a big block of metal (the heatsink).
** Turn on the machine with the case open; see if the fan spins. If it spins, something weird is going on. Check to make sure the cable from the heatsink/fan to the motherboard (which is how the computer knows the fan is spinning) is plugged in.
** Clean the fan with a can of air. Yes, a vacuum might be more fun, but a can of air will get more tiny dust bunnies out.
** Try to start up the machine with the case open, just to see if the fan spins. The bearings in fans die with alarming regularity, alas.
** If all this fails, you need a new heatsink/fan. Get a replacement for your model, Shanghai a friend who's installed CPU fans before, or try it yourself, though I warn you it's quite frustrating.

As for the system battery, it's not critical; it just means your machine will eventually start showing the wrong date and time after being off for a while. Newer operating systems sync with time servers (Windows calls it "Internet Time", so this isn't that critical.

[yarha.livejournal.com]

A) Find Geek friend. B) Have him change the CPU fan for you. (NB: this might involve seduction or possibly a large pizza with everything, which are pretty much the same thing.)

If CPUs get too hot, bad things can happen. Remember that computers run on little blue smoke If you let the smoke out they don't work.

[telepresence.livejournal.com]

How old is the computer?

[cleolinda.livejournal.com]

About three or four years?

[telepresence.livejournal.com]

Okay, at that age a dying CMOS battery and a dying CPU fan are both plausible (as opposed to merely being symptoms of some deeper mobo dysfunction). As other have noted, both are pretty simple, inexpensive fixes. I might think about putting in a newer, stronger power supply as well (weak or dying power supplies are the best stealth way to kill a computer).

As an aside: A fried CPU will obviously mean a nonfunctional computer until it's replaced, but it's unlikely to harm hard drive data. A dead CMOS battery may make a machine forget it has your hard drive temporarily, but again, your data should be okay (in my experience people fret more about data loss than anything else).

[particle-person.livejournal.com]

Everyone else told you the right things to do. Listen to them. Don't worry too much about electrocution when opening up the machine while running, because the power supply reduces things to a level that's rarely dangerous. The actual thing to worry about when opening a computer is static, so don't wear static-y clothing, or stand on thick carpets, etc. Try to ground yourself on something before making any modifications. Light switches and pipes and anything else that usually gives you a shock in winter when you touch it is good for grounding. The computer is more scared of you than you are of it. Behave accordingly.

[telepresence.livejournal.com]

Just to clarify, opening a running computer is not so great, I'd shut it down before futzing with the case. But once it's open you can start it up and check the fan performance. Then, if you need to actually replace or unhook anything, shut down power again (I'd also unplug the machine, some motherboards will hold a standby charge for various obscure functions).

And while you really can't get electrocuted from the innards of a PC, the interior of the power supply box itself is wicked dangerous, so don't stick any screwdrivers or suchlike inside that box's vents, even with the power off.

[particle-person.livejournal.com]

Yeah, first shut down, then open case, then run to test fan, then switch off and carry on. Making sure all the fans can spin freely (by twirling them with my finger while off) would be the first thing I'd do. The second would be to vacuum up the dust inside.

And while you really can't get electrocuted from the innards of a PC, the interior of the power supply box itself is wicked dangerous, so don't stick any screwdrivers or suchlike inside that box's vents, even with the power off.

Knowing Cleo, this is not an issue. I'm more afraid that she'll be too timid to do anything herself and pay a lot of money for something that could be done at home with a dust buster, than that she'll do something dumb.

[telepresence.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I only add that whenever the talk is of bad fans, because I know someone who was trying to fix a bad power supply fan, which went poorly. :(

[telepresence.livejournal.com]

But as you say, a CPU fan is pretty harmless and I'd have no reservations about say, my mom futzing with one if she had to.

[violetfrosting.livejournal.com]

Sometimes the fan fails just because it's dirty. It might be worth opening the casing and just going around it with a dust buster or the soft brush attachment of the vaccuum cleaner before you buy any parts. Also check the fan and battery connections (pop the little silver button battery and then put it back in, just in case some grot has got under it and is messing with the connection)

Don't panic. If it boots and doesn't generate another error, you're ok to keep working, but don't run your PC with no fan.

[vampireelf.livejournal.com]

My Dell desktop did this. The only thing I have to add is that I took a regular smallish box fan, opened the side of the tower and sat them both in the middle of my floor so the fan had lots of airflow to blow over the computer. The computer operated happily until I could get to the computer store.

Another note: Dell computers sometimes have idiosyncratic connectors from their fan, which are what allow the computer to monitor the fan status in the first place. Most replacement fans off the shelf won't have the same kind of connector. You have three choices here: get the electronics wiz you've coopted to splice in the old connector to the new fan (I didn't know you could do this, so I threw away the old fan. Mistake!); buy a Dell specific fan off the internets; or put up with a 'Fan failure!' message on start-up for the rest of the computer's natural life since the fan's there, but the computer no longer has the connection to sense it (This is what I got stuck with).

[sawcat.livejournal.com]

Dell is a big fan of proprietary computer parts, so I'd suggest looking at http://support.dell.com and search the user support forums for your fan error message and model number to double check. If the heatsink aka cpu fan is proprietary, at that age, try ebay for replacement fans/heatsink. Depending what that model uses, you may be able to just swap out the actual fan even.

If its not proprietary any fan that fits the motherboard will work. They can be had for about $30, if its the actual heatsink.

Dell has excellent information on their support site about removing and replacing most parts. Atleast with the XPS I had. Tells you what all to take out to reach most things.

[redcoast.livejournal.com]

What everyone else said.

If you open up the computer, take some pictures with your digital camera. That'll really help you if you have to take any parts out of it to replace it! The inside should be (relatively) dust-free, not clogged with lots of dust-bunnies. It's easiest to (carefully!) wipe the dust out of the inside with a cleaning cloth, and use the compressed air on the electronic bits.

[notashamed.livejournal.com]

look on the bright side.
when i first saw this, I thought the message said "CPU fan fire"

so at least that hasn't happened.