... isn't working at all.

Any chance this could be a software or setting issue as opposed to a problem with the fan itself?

Sometime the notebooks will have variable temprature settings for the fans in the CMOS, which, in some cases, can be adjusted by software running in the OS.

Do you have access to compressed air or a can of dust-off? Notebook computer fans are usually pretty low power and easy to jam, so turn the computer off and blow the fan out, see if there's a lint ball jamming the fan up.

What happens when you try to turn it on? Anything come on the screen?

TG: Compressed air caused no change.

Robertknyc: Nothing comes up when I turn the machine on.

TG: What software settings should I check? And... the $1 million question is: How do I do it?

Your laptop may be destined for a voyage to China..

cayman

I'm not a real expert, but don't think it has anything to do with the fan since it never comes on and has a chance to get too hot. Sounds like a hardware problem.

Kind of hard to say where to check specifically in the OS for control software as installation and control location varies greatly between software and manufacturer. If they even exist on the computer, as not all systems have control over all settings or fans. Generally speaking though, you might find a "system control" or "fan control" or "system hardware settings" in any of the following locations: an independent applet in the control panel, a sub-tab in the administrator tool group, a stand-alone program in the start menu, or part of a manufacturers software tools/package/diagnostics. Those are just the common locations, 3rd party software could be anywhere.

As for accessing the fan settings via CMOS, if they even exist on your computer, as there is no guarantee that it has adjustable settings, you would have to access the system settings on boot up. Some systems it's the DEL key, others CTRL-F11, F11, or some other combination of keys you depress on boot up. You can usually see a message on the screen as you first boot the system that might say something like "F11 for System Settings" or "CMOS" "BIOS" etc... Once you are in there, you would just have to look through the available screens as there is no standardization of location or screen names between manufacturers or CMOSes.

Oh, the machine doesn't even boot? You didn't indicate that in the OP.

Depending on the failure and how the system is configured to deal with it, systems will sometimes boot without a working fan and then as they exceed their maximum temperature alarm settings after some use, go into a forced shutdown or even just instantly cut power.

If the machine isn't booting at all and you get no power lights, the problem could be elsewhere. Check the battery and power connectors, see if the sleep/suspend microswtich that the screen presses down on when closed is somehow stuck in the down position (look for a little tab or prong or depressed clicker somewhere in the vicinty of the hinges).

I had a Latitude with a completely dead battery that would only boot with the battery removed and AC plug in. After start I could plug the battery back in and charge it. All normal after that.

Other Dells that wouldn't power up had a bad motherboard.

A little thermal protection can never hurt..........me, I "velcro'd" a "Miracle Thaw" plate to the bottom of my house laptop.

I like Malt Liquor.

8. Author: Thunder.Gerbil

It boots fine. Just nothing out of the ordinary shows up...

10. Author: andytv

That sounds like a real good way to keep it cool.

Kind of on the same subject, we have a granite countertop. I can completely thaw a chicken breast in about 20 minutes- if I just flip it once and move it around a couple times...

^I usually have my PC on the arm of my couch........which isn't really the best for cooling.

The miracle thaw is just a solid aluminum plate.........but you can buy them cheaper than you can buy aluminum stock.

I stuck a couple little plastic bracket things I found in my junk drawer on it; and some velcro, and I can feel the whole plate heating at the extents......which means the heat is no longer being directed into the couch fabric.

I thought of sticking some tiny fans in there; but I don't think it's necessary.

I'm more a Football fan...

wheel,