My cooling fan is always running

[Guest]

Lately I've noticed that my cooling fan is running constantly. The computer's
performance is also noticibly slower. I have noticed the following:

Longer boot-up time (8-10 minutes)
Longer download times (broadband running at usual 11.0 mbps)
Longer comback from hibernation

I have performed the following maintenance tasks ala Tony Northrup's column

Clear out forgotten programs
Free-up wasted space (disk cleanup)
De-frag
Removed some obvious auto-start programs
Ran updated Norton Anti-virus
Ran "Ad-aware SE"

I am now wondering if the processor is starting to go. I am using a Toshiba
A-25 laptop with XP-Home edition.

Any help would be appreciated. Thank you in advance and happy holidays

 

[Gerry Cornell]

Having the fan constantly running is not something that would worry
me. Just open the box occasionally and remove dust using a compressed
Air Duster.

Please check Event Viewer for Warning / Error Reports in the System
and Application logs for the last boot and post copies.

You can access Event Viewer by selecting Start, Administrative Tools,
and Event Viewer. When researching the meaning of the error,
information regarding Event ID, Source and Description are important.

HOW TO: View and Manage Event Logs in Event Viewer in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;308427&sd=tech

A tip for posting copies of Error Reports! Run Event Viewer and double
click on the error you want to copy. In the window, which appears is a
button resembling two pages. Click the button and close Event Viewer.
Now start your message (email) and do a paste into the body of the
message. This will paste the information from the Event Viewer Error
Report into the message. Make sure this is the first paste after
exiting from EventViewer.

Are there any yellow question marks in Device Manager? Right click on
the My Computer icon on your Desktop and select Properties. Hardware,
Device Manager. If yes what is the Device Error code?

You should use Disk CleanUp regularly to Empty your Recycle Bin and
Remove Temporary Internet Files. Also select Start, All Programs,
Accessories, System Tools, Disk CleanUp, More Options, System Restore
and remove all but the latest System Restore point. Whenever you
remove redundant files you should always run Disk Defragmenter by
selecting Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Disk
Defragmenter.

--

Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Robert Gault]

Lately I've noticed that my cooling fan is running constantly. The computer's
performance is also noticibly slower. I have noticed the following:

Longer boot-up time (8-10 minutes)
Longer download times (broadband running at usual 11.0 mbps)
Longer comback from hibernation

<snip>

If the fan is running differently, the above suggests overheating. Open
the laptop and clean out any dust. Check the fan blades for dust.

If possible with a laptop, leave open any doors or case covers and see
if that makes any difference in fan action or computer speed. If there
is a difference, then overheating is confirmed.

 

[Guest]

Thanks for all your help. I opened the back. Pulled the fan. There was a wad
of dust between the fan housing and the cooling fins. I blew everything out.
That solved the problem.

Thanks everyone
Bob14

 

[Gerry Cornell]

DiPietro

Glad it's sorted. Have a look at Comressed Air Duster cans the next
time you are in a large computer store selling a large range of
accessories, They are especially useful for safely removing dust in a
computer casing and cleaning keyboards.

--

Regards.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England

Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~