Loud fan, how can I clean my computer?

i8kfangui is a great program, do a google search. here is the manual.

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins6000/en/sm/index.htm

See my more recent post 'Fan Problem-heads up'. My recent experience and easy fix....dated July 24. Hope it helps

i strongly disagree, do not use that program, if there is dust inside the laptop, and you are using that program to lower the fan speed, and dust is blocking the airflow, the machine can overheat.

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DELL DIMENSION 2350 @ 2.60GHZ INTEL CELERON,512MB OF RAM, 30GB HARDRIVE
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DELL DIMENSION 2400CE "DIMENSION 2400 CUSTOM EDITION" @ 2.80GHZ INTEL PENTIUM 4 NORTHWOOD CORE 533MHZ FSB, 1GB OF RAM (512 PCR2700),(512 PCR 3200), 80GB MAXTOR DIAMONDMAX PLUS 9 HARDDRIVE, NVIDIA GEFORCE FX 5200 PCI @ 256MB, 845GV CHIPSET; MODIFIED COOLING SYSTEM @ 2 80MM FANS, 1 PCI SLOT COOLING FAN(FOR FX 5200). www.geocities.com/ravipcplanet/

In which section can I find your post?

I agree with ravik521. It's dangerous to reduce the fan activity just to reduce the noise.
Cleaning the airways of the fan is the only feasible way to cure the problem of high fan activity.
On the Inspiron 6000, it's a little more complicated to clean the fan, because it is not contained in a removable module. Here is what I did, with spectacular results:
1. remove power and battery
2. remove the cover (with the Power button) from the hinges of the screen (see your manual on how to)
3. unscrew the keyboard (2 screws at the top) and unplug the connector from the mother board. The fan becomes partially visible it the to left.
4. blow into the openings at the back of the case behind the fan (compressed air or with your mouth)
5. with a vaccum cleaner, clean out the dust around the fan.
6. repeat steps 4. and 5. several times.
7. reinstall keyboard (don't forget to plug it in) and hinge cover.

Same section. I also blew out the top section of my Ltop. what I discovered is a part tag stuck in the Fan and flapping on the blades making a really bad noise that sounded like the motor had blown a bearing or something. Anyway, to get at it, turn off the unit, look above your keyboard at the strip on which the On button is located. On mine is a slot on the right side. Use a small flat screw driver to pry it up and pull up and remove this cover strip. Remove the screws you now see which hold the Keyboard and lift it up and out of the way, revealing more screws holding an aluminum cover. Remove this and the Fan is now visible as well as most everything else, including DUST. Blow it all out including Fan vents (a fine soft brush may help loosen stuck dust) and check there is nothing in the fan, then put it all back together. Actually you may be able to test before reassembling, but be carefull not to short circuit anything... don't touch and make sure nothing metal touches anything it should not. Hope it quites down. Mine sure did.

Thanks for the replies.

Late last night I disassembled my computer and huffed and puffed everywhere. There was quite a bit of dust in there, and there is considerably less noise now :-D

I still think my girls 8600 and my parents 9400 make less noise, but it could be that I haven't cleaned it well enough.

It was not the problem with something stuck in the fan, but thanks for the tip :-)

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@Ayabara wrote:
Thanks for the replies.

Late last night I disassembled my computer and huffed and puffed everywhere. There was quite a bit of dust in there, and there is considerably less noise now :-D

I still think my girls 8600 and my parents 9400 make less noise, but it could be that I haven't cleaned it well enough.

It was not the problem with something stuck in the fan, but thanks for the tip :-)

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Unfortunately at a certain point, once dust gets into the motor bearings of the fan themselves, the fan's life is going to be limited without a MAJOR overhaul of the fan (you're better off trying to get a replacement fan assembly if you can, but others have implied that the 6000's fan is nonremovable...)

Things to try (note, I would only do these if you are positive you have a source lined up for a replacement fan if they do not work)
Use a can of compressed air to blow out the crud in the motor bearings - just blowing on the fans will often not get the crud stuck in this area.
Use a vacuum with specific attachments meant for getting into small spaces (many stores sell PC cleaning kits that consist of such attachments for any vacuum) to vacuum out as much dust from the motor bearings as possible, preferably while you're blasting the bearings from the other side with compressed air.

As a final last resort (I suggest that if you reach this point you NEVER trust your fan and be careful to always monitor that it is spinning properly), use a lubricant (sewing machine oil worked for me) and inject it into the bearings somehow. Not much is needed. I can't reccommend any easily available methods - I'm diabetic and as a result have a large supply of disposable very fine gauge syringes. :)