SmartPC 250N - Fan problems

Run the Dell Diagnostics (boot to the Dell Drivers and Utilities cd) and choose the fan tests. See if they fail. If they turn on and off and back on quickly (3-5 second cycling) it could be the cpu cooling assy. is loose. Use the fangui link below in my sig and see if it works on your 250N. If not, just delete it. It is a great program for monitoring and controlling the cpu temp and fans.

Pinelopi,

The newer faster processors run a lot hotter than P1 or P2's ever did.
Fan operation is done at the Bios level and there is no way to change it.
You can try updating to the latest BIOS.
You can download the BIOS upgrade from out web site.

Go to:
http://support.dell.com/us/en/filelib/

Next, enter your service tag or choose your system model.
This will bring up a list of all files available for your computer.
Locate, download, and install the most recent BIOS version from our web site.

To install the BIOS revision you will first double click on the file that you have downloaded.
You will be prompted to insert a floppy disk, and the setup program will automatically create a bootable flash BIOS diskette.
Once the bootable flash BIOS disk is created, restart the computer with this disk in the floppy disk drive.
Your system will automatically do the BIOS update, simply follow the onscreen instructions.
After your computer restarts the update has been completed, and you can remove the floppy disk.

Also, I heard various reports that there are some 3rd party utilities that will monitor the CPU and fan.
Keep in mind it is not support by Dell.
The first is applicable if you are running Windows95/98; it is a shareware program called RAIN - and it can be found at:
http://www.softseek.com/authors/LEADING_WINTECHindex.html

FanGUI is also very popular.

The other is a hardware solution called a Coolpad.
You can find information on this product at:
http://roadtools.com/index.html
The Coolpad is a swivel base for the system that allows better airflow around the chassis, particularly underneath.
Either of these products (or even both used together) should help keep your system cooler.

There isn't a simple answer for the temperature at which the fan turns on.
The system uses a thermal algorithm that monitors temperatures at different locations and the system can do a variety of techniques to reduce temperature.
The fan will only come on when the system surpasses the temperature rating listed in the BIOS which was determined by our engineers as the optimal setting.
In some situations, this means the fan may not come on at all. Systems normally get very hot (about 135 degrees).

To test whether the fan is functional, follow this procedure:

Put in your Dell Diagnostics Disk (this disk came with the system) and start your computer.
You should boot up to a diagnostics menu.
Select 'run specific test'.
Under available test groups select 'System Set'.
At the bottom of the screen select 'One'.
This will launch a series of interactive tests.
One of these tests will turn the fan on and ask you if you can hear the fan running.
If you hear the fan running, we know it is functional and there is no need to send the system in for repair.

Notebook computers do get very hot.
This is with all notebooks and is a direct result of the system components being compacted into a tiny space.
However, if you feel the notebook is running too hot, try removing any PC Cards while not in use.
They can generate extra heat and shorten the amount of time you can use the system with battery power.
One of your cards could be running too hot as well and might need to be replaced [too much means you can't hold them when ejected].
If so, contact our US Mobile Computing Hotline is 800-822-8965 for Corporate/Government Accounts or at 800-247-9252 for Direct accounts.
You will be connected to a Technical Specialist who will help you resolve the issue over the phone or arrange the appropriate service.
You can also email Dell by Clicking Here for assistance.
If contacting Technical Support via email, please include your system service tag and a description of the problem and troubleshooting done to try to resolve it.

If you are outside of the United States, you will need to contact Dell in your global area.



Thank you for choosing Dell.

Thanks for all the help. It looks like there is not too much I can do about this.

One last question though: the fan is _very_ noisy. Is that normal for 250N? Is it a "feature"? It is extremely annoying. I've never seen a laptop as noisy as this one.

If it is just loud, probably normal - a notebook fan has to move a LOT of air to cool the cpu.  If it is whining or grinding, get a can of compressed air and blow it out really good.

John,

I have the same problem as Pinelopi, i.e. fan very noisy and coming up every 2 min - extremely irritating, especially when you want to watch a DVD.

While your answer gives lots of tracks to explore, it does not actually solve the problem.

The argument about laptops getting very hot does not stand, as everybody knows people around with (almost) perfectly silent laptops, from many different manufacturers, including Dell.

Without pushing it too far, I must say I find Dell's attitude a bit laid-back on the subject, all the more than the problem seems to be known for some time. But SmartPC 250N is not manufactured anymore, so who cares ?

Dell's policy of remote selling - I mean absence from street retailers - plays against them here, as for my next laptop I can assure you that I will insist on watching it and listening to it while operating, in order to avoid this kind of nasty surprise.

Anyway, if some solution to that problem is found I will be more happy to implement it.

Tophe

The fan noise from the SmartPC I found is normal, along with overheating and autoshutdown. I had my SmartPC replaced with the Inspiron 8500 and I am very pleased with it. There is a SmartPC forum on here so you should try going onto that for some more answers. Quite a few people still post on there but as it is not manufactured anymore no Dell moderators post on there. I found that the fans on my SmartPC were always on and never turned off, when they did it was only for a about a minute then they came back on. I even tried the compressed air and that never worked and even the fan was replaced, but still no joy. I am really interested to find out where you got a new SmartPC from? But anyway good luck and if you can try and get rid of the SmartPC as it is nothing but trouble (from my experience). Bye

Inspiron 8500
Mobile Intel Pentium 4 - M 2.4 Ghz
512MB 266Mhz DDR SDRAM
15.4" WSXGA+ (1680 x 1050) UltraSharp Wide - Aspect Screen
ATI Mobility Radeon 9000 32MB Graphics Card
FUJITSU MHT2040AT 40GB HDD
SAMSUNG 8xDVD/24xCD-RW Combo Drive
One type I/II PC Card Slot
SMC IrCC - Fast Infrared Port
Modular Floppy Disk Drive
2 USB 2.0 Ports
Firewire
3 Years Collect and Return
Windows XP Home Edition

 

 

Dan,

The fan noise is probably normal, but as it comes on and off all the time it gets on my nerves and makes it feel like it's very loud.
I actually bought that SmartPC about one year ago but I was too lazy to check for a solution on a forum. Now I can see I'm not alone in having that fan problem. I checked different threads on the same subject and I saw that you got yours exchanged to an Inspiron 8500 - congratulations! I might start the process of sending it back for investigation/repair but I fear it might bring me even more trouble, as I will be without PC most of the time. How long do they take to send it back? (I'm in Ireland at the moment) Of interest, I do not experience those shutdowns that you and other users had.
I might just sell it and buy something else but that would be giving up to Dell and that annoys me.

Cheers

Dan are you happy with the Inspiron you have now? It doesn't do the same noise, does it?

Hi Tophe

Well mine went away a total of 3 times before I was offered an exhange. When they took it away it was back to me within 5 days. You may wait longer/less I dont know. I bought mine in Oct2002 and I didnt see the shutdown problems etc untit my warranty was about to run out, so I extended it for another year, and luckily got my exchange on Nov 3 2003. But if I hadnt of extended the warranty I would be stuck with it now, so If yours is about to expire do extend it now.

Bye

Inspiron 8500
Mobile Intel Pentium 4 - M 2.4 Ghz
512MB 266Mhz DDR SDRAM
15.4" WSXGA+ (1680 x 1050) UltraSharp Wide - Aspect Screen
ATI Mobility Radeon 9000 32MB Graphics Card
FUJITSU MHT2040AT 40GB HDD
SAMSUNG 8xDVD/24xCD-RW Combo Drive
One type I/II PC Card Slot
SMC IrCC - Fast Infrared Port
Modular Floppy Disk Drive
2 USB 2.0 Ports
Firewire
3 Years Collect and Return
Windows XP Home Edition