Driver responsible for CPU fan control?

[Markus Eßmayr]

Hello,

since a few weeks I have the following problem with my Notebook.
(Toshiba Satego X200)

If I start it the first time (with cold CPU), the fans initially don't run.
But even after Windows Vista started, and the CPU is "warm enough", the fans
don't start.
But it I reboot the Notebook, as soon as the POST runs, also the fans start.
Then, also if Windows is up, the fans keep on running.

Is there some kind of driver in Windows, that may have influence on CPU fan
control?
It's very annoying to boot twice each day!

Thanks!
Max

 

[Malke]

Hello,

since a few weeks I have the following problem with my Notebook.
(Toshiba Satego X200)

If I start it the first time (with cold CPU), the fans initially don't
run. But even after Windows Vista started, and the CPU is "warm enough",
the fans don't start.
But it I reboot the Notebook, as soon as the POST runs, also the fans
start. Then, also if Windows is up, the fans keep on running.

Is there some kind of driver in Windows, that may have influence on CPU
fan control?
It's very annoying to boot twice each day!

No, this isn't caused by a driver. When the computer is first turned on (and
the fans don't initially run) there is no operating system loaded and hence
no drivers running.

You have a hardware issue. It is common for hardware to exhibit the symptoms
you report - it doesn't work when cold and then it warms up, the metal
expands, and connections are made so now it works - and vice versa.

Since you have a notebook computer, contact Toshiba tech support for
repair/replacement.

Malke

 

[Markus Eßmayr]

No, this isn't caused by a driver. When the computer is first turned on
(and
the fans don't initially run) there is no operating system loaded and
hence
no drivers running.

You have a hardware issue. It is common for hardware to exhibit the
symptoms
you report - it doesn't work when cold and then it warms up, the metal
expands, and connections are made so now it works - and vice versa.

Since you have a notebook computer, contact Toshiba tech support for
repair/replacement.

Malke

Malke,

thanks for your answer.
I'd like to add, that the fans worked normally for about 1 year now.
Just in the last weeks there must be a change somewhere.

Here is an info, that might be important.
When I upgrade to the newest BIOS, the fans start when powering on the
system, but stop as soon as Windows starts.
So I absolutely believe that something loaded by Windows modifies the fan
speed.

After downgrading the BIOS the fans behave like I initially posted.

Does this change anything?

Thanks,
Max

 

[Malke]

thanks for your answer.
I'd like to add, that the fans worked normally for about 1 year now.
Just in the last weeks there must be a change somewhere.

Here is an info, that might be important.
When I upgrade to the newest BIOS, the fans start when powering on the
system, but stop as soon as Windows starts.
So I absolutely believe that something loaded by Windows modifies the fan
speed.

After downgrading the BIOS the fans behave like I initially posted.

Does this change anything?

Probably not. Although there is a possibility that Toshiba's power
management software is the culprit once Windows starts, it is more likely
to be a motherboard issue. The BIOS upgrade apparently fixed part of the
problem (and again, no operating system is booted when you first turn on
the computer) but not all of it. Contact Toshiba tech support. It would be
great if it turned out not to be an actual hardware failure and another
BIOS upgrade or a patch for their power management software would solve the
issue, but really the Toshiba techs (and not bottom-tier ones) are the only
ones who can address this.

Malke

 

[Richard Urban]

I suggest you send the laptop in for repair.

For one year you had no problem. Then because of aging lubrication (maybe
got thicker or dried out) the fan doesn't run until the computer has gotten
warm enough to begin to liquefy the shaft lubricant.

This is a common scenario with desktop computers but, unlike a desktop
computer, YOU can't just replace the fan.

--

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP
Windows Desktop Experience

Malke,

thanks for your answer.
I'd like to add, that the fans worked normally for about 1 year now.
Just in the last weeks there must be a change somewhere.

Here is an info, that might be important.
When I upgrade to the newest BIOS, the fans start when powering on the
system, but stop as soon as Windows starts.
So I absolutely believe that something loaded by Windows modifies the fan
speed.

After downgrading the BIOS the fans behave like I initially posted.

Does this change anything?

Thanks,
Max


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signature database 3954 (20090323) __________

The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.

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[The C. [MS MVP]]

You CPU fan is most likely bad. Is this computer still under warranty
(extended)?
--
Computer/Software Expert

Charles Richmond


"And In The End... The Love You Take, Is Equal To The Love You Make"

 

[Richard Urban]

Just because this cowboy places a link to the MVP web page beneath his name
does ***NOT*** mean he is, in fact, an MVP.

All indications are that he is <<<<NOT>>>>

Until he posts a link to his official MVP profile do not believe his <<<SELF
ENDORSEMENT>>>

--

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP
Windows Desktop Experience

You CPU fan is most likely bad. Is this computer still under warranty
(extended)?
--
Computer/Software Expert

Charles Richmond


"And In The End... The Love You Take, Is Equal To The Love You Make"




__________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus
signature database 3956 (20090323) __________

The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.

http://www.eset.com

__________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 3956 (20090323) __________

The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.

http://www.eset.com

 

[Markus Eßmayr]

Thanks to all for your comments, but I'm still sure, that this is not a
hardware failure.

I spent some time to do some tests again.
Here are the results.

1. When turning on the laptop in a cold state, the CPU fan starts for 1 or 2
seconds and then stops again.
2. Then the system (Windows Vista) boots (still no CPU fan, even the CPU
gets much warmer).
3. Until I reboot the machine, the CPU fan does not run!
3. As soon as I reboot the machine (while the BIOS-POST runs), the CPU fan
starts. It does not matter, if I reboot the machine immediately when the
logon screen is displayed, or after some work (which makes the CPU quite hot
of course).
4. Then the system boots again keeping the fan speed.

So my problem is definitively located somewhere in Vista.
There must be a driver or something else, that prevents the fan to start
while Vista runs.
If I turn on the laptop and enter the BIOS setup, the fan starts
automatically after some time, like it should also be in Windows.

So, my question again.
Which driver or component could be responsible for manipulating the CPU fan
behaviour?

Thanks!
Max

 

[Richard Urban]

Again, contact the manufacturer while still under warranty. Laptop computers
come with manufacturer supplied power/fan monitoring software/hardware. The
manufacturer best knows how to troubleshoot these supplied services and
devices.

When you know for certain that there are no manufacturer supplied utilities
or hardware that may be causing the problem you can then start inquiring of
Vista.

Until then you are just chasing your tail.

--

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP
Windows Desktop Experience