M18x R2, both fans running constantly from start up

Question

Hi there,

Can anyone please help me, I have an Alienware M18xR2 laptop.

The problem is my fans have just started running constantly at full speed a few minutes after start up they do not stop at any time while using the laptop average temperature is 36 deg all other temps are low.

The fans have been cleaned and there is very good air flow I did a full support assist diagnostic and there were no faults found the fans got a tick as working ok.

May be related or not? at times the cursor using the touch pad jumps uncontrollably all over the place erratically on its own with pop ups such as the startup box and the right click option box ect appearing randomly any clues to that would be most welcomed also.

please help,

Michael

Mr Kitty · Accepted Answer

I have removed SupportAssist and it appears all the problems with Fans at full throttle, freezing screen, intermittent sound distortion, cursor jumping erratically and freezing still white line flickering at the bottom of the screen so far so good. Will keep and eye on it just in case some problems remain. Much thanks to all. Michael

mjdart54 · Accepted Answer

Uninstalling Dell Support cured the fans issue for me, much thanks!

Raf94 · Accepted Answer

Just wanted to come here and say thanks for all the info about support assist. I managed to score a basically brand new M18x R2 in red, it's literally in mint condition. Battery life is full etc. I had this same issue, the fans would run at 100% for no reason, support assist would run a diagnostic and they would stop, then it got to a point a few days later where support assist wouldn't let me run it because it said it was already in use, task manager said otherwise. I found this thread and removed that program, now it runs amazing. Thank you!

eMCZe · Accepted Answer

Next year - next fan problem :)

After two years (almost three) I have fan problem one more time. My Nebula Red runs fan on max speed after turn on. If I use hibernate and woke up fan runs normal. This time my M18x R2 fan problem was in "Dell Core Services". I uninstall it and problem was solved.

mattyb3 · Answer

Hi Michael,

I've owned a few M18x R2's over the years but I've never come across this issue. Was the diagnostic you did through the F12 Boot menu? If not, give this one a go. Unfortunately, the diagnostics don't always pick up a hardware error and it's possible yours is software/driver related.

You could try booting in Safe Mode and see if both issues are still there.

Other than that, I'd suggest to open her up and clean out the heatsinks and fans and repaste your CPU and GPU's just to completely rule it out, even though your temps seem ok. If you haven't done this in a few years it's a good idea anyway. Unfortunately, the M18x isn't as easy to maintain as the smaller laptops as disassembly is more complicated.

I'm not sure about the cursor issue either. This could be caused by the CPU acting up or even a RAM or a Windows error. You could try removing all but one memory stick and seeing if there are any changes.

If all else fails then I'd suggest removing your dedicated GPU's and see what happens when it runs just off the Intel graphics.

crimsom · Answer

Hi @Mr Kitty welcome to this free user to user Alienware laptop discussion forum. This is not Dell Support.

Support for Alienware M18x R2 includes Diagnostics and the option to run the 40 minutes Full Test to thoroughly analyse your PC and this can detect hardware problems. The erratic touchpad behaviour suggests power fluctuations, please run Windows Reliability Monitor to look at event reporting timeline. How to use Windows Reliability Monitor to identify software issues | Dell US

Mr Kitty · Answer

Thank you for your advice, I will have a friend check it out using your information provided. Cheers, Michael

Tsukasa73 · Answer

I too have an Alienware M18R2 and have the exact same issue that started around the same time as yours. Is yours on Windows 10 and did it update recently? Mine seems to have updated around the same time as my fan issue. I know this because I never had the little advertisements in the windows search bar prior to the update.

Same symptoms as yours in that all temps are low, all air passages are clean, yet the fans run at full speed after a minute or two after booting up. Hopefully someone else has seen this as well.

Mr Kitty · Answer

Thanks very much for you advice will have to get a friend to help me sort this out will try what you have recommended then... much appreciated

Mr Kitty · Answer

Hi there, yes it is windows 10 and it did update recently also when I watch videos at times it distorts into colours like the screen is damaged and the sound distorts into a scratchy humming sound and the cursor jumps all over the place but the cursor may not be related as it was doing it before..

Anyway did you find a solution? can you tell me what update it was so I can check it out for me it was the last one a few weeks ago and would dearly love to fix this...

Thanks much appreciated...

sdgprisma · Answer

I have windows 11 installed, these days it started to give a problem with the update, I tried with linux on another ssd and I have no problem with the FAN

sdgprisma · Answer

I uninstalled the latest updates, after uninstalling windows update of June 16, 2022, the problem was solved

Mr Kitty · Answer

Hi, was it a cumulative quality update KB5014699 windows 10 as this is the only that installed itself on the 16th June? Cheers Michael

sdgprisma · Answer

Hi, try uninstalling the updates until the date that I indicated, at the time I was not writing down the version, but I remember the date

sdgprisma · Answer

Verifying in my registry the last uninstalled update package was KB5013889 in windows 11 Pro.

Alienware

M18x R2, both fans running constantly from start up

Was this post helpful?