Aurora R10, top fan failed to respond

Question

I recently purchased an Alienware Aurora R10 Ryzen Edition, and I began setting up my new PC.

On the initial boot I was hit with an error message which says: Critical Error (TOP FAN) failed to respond correctly.

Why did this happen when the computer is fresh out of the box? And how can I fix it?

Thanks.

Will Soma · Answer

I'm not sure what to be looking for, but here are pictures of the inside.

Will Soma · Answer

That is not the top fan connection.

GTS81 · Answer

@speedstep : Isn't that for FRONT_FAN? @Will Soma is reporting TOP_FAN error.

GTS81 · Answer

@Will Soma :

Once I moved the brown wires I spun the fan lightly with my hand, and it spun just fine. Once I booted the computer the Alienware Pre-Boot Diagnostic ran the fan pump, which I believe I heard, but not the fan itself.

If you power on with the swing arm door open, do you see the top fan spinning? If it is plugged in properly to the TOP_FAN header of the mobo and it doesn't spin, then @speedstep has given the answer: the fan is damaged.

Will Soma · Answer

Once I moved the brown wires I spun the fan lightly with my hand, and it spun just fine. Once I booted the computer the Alienware Pre-Boot Diagnostic ran the fan pump, which I believe I heard, but not the fan itself.

GTS81 · Answer

But you may be right. The rig may have been used for 'stepping' purposes and probably a dead fan.

GTS81 · Answer

Did the fan spin when you powered on?

speedstep · Answer

You have to give me a few seconds to edit and crop and post.

I don't have time to explain. If I wait too long I cant edit the post. The manuals are online but finding them is NOT intuitive. The case is not tolerant of fat lugs standing on it so the top fan can get crushed.

https://topics-cdn.dell.com/pdf/alienware-aurora-r10-desktop_service-manual_en-us.pdf

https://www.dell.com/support/manuals/us/en/04/alienware-aurora-r10-desktop/alienware-aurora-ryzen-service-manual/working-inside-your-computer?guid=guid-dd3ae169-a824-4f1d-832e-585b176f6faf&lang=en-us

speedstep · Answer

I know thats not the top fan.

I was responding based on pictures posted before I could find the TOP FAN connection.

https://www.dell.com/support/manuals/us/en/04/alienware-aurora-r10-desktop/alienware-aurora-ryzen-service-manual/removing-and-installing-components?guid=guid-7fbb11d7-9820-47bb-afaa-48fa912314d9&lang=en-us

https://topics-cdn.dell.com/pdf/alienware-aurora-r10-desktop_service-manual_en-us.pdf

https://www.dell.com/support/manuals/us/en/19/alienware-aurora-r10-desktop/alienware-aurora-ryzen-service-manual/Removing-the-top-chassis-fan?guid=guid-aabf1b02-f40f-4683-ba7a-528bcc19fbee&lang=en-us

TOP FAN And Connector

GTS81 · Answer

@Will Soma :

I'm not sure what to be looking for, but here are pictures of the inside.

The problem is called "shipping". The brown wires are blocking the fan blades from spinning. Move all wires out of the way and make sure the top fan can spin when you power on the machine.

Will Soma · Answer

Top fan does not spin with the case open, @speedstep must be correct that the fan is broken. How can I get this fixed? At Dell's expense, of course.

Will Soma · Answer

I did notice those wires misplaced and moved them, tried to boot again and the same error occured.

speedstep · Answer

Its not clear but the Fan cables are the ones with the 4 pin headers.

Worse than the connector being disconnected the fan blades are crushed because the dork who shipped it stood on the box and crushed the fan blades by standing on the case. So its not responding cuz it will never turn again and needs to be replaced.

https://www.dell.com/support/manuals/us/en/04/alienware-aurora-r10-desktop/alienware-aurora-ryzen-service-manual/working-inside-your-computer?guid=guid-dd3ae169-a824-4f1d-832e-585b176f6faf&lang=en-us

https://www.dell.com/support/manuals/us/en/04/alienware-aurora-r10-desktop/alienware-aurora-ryzen-service-manual/top-chassis-fan?guid=guid-bd3dd0eb-ca4c-4cae-94e5-ca84b48d0e8c&lang=en-us

TOP FAN Is in next Picture

TOP FAN and Connector