Temperature higher than expected

Question

My Inspirion 9100 turned off unexpectedly several times. One or two times it was during the night other times during the day. When I started it again I got a message that the 'computer temperature was higher than expected and it was turned off. If this happens again call your Dell ...' What I have done so far. I looked under the notebook and saw three grills. I took off the covers by unscrewing the screws. On two of them I saw lint on the grating. So I removed the lint. However the same thing has happened again since I did that. So I tried to determine if the two fans are working. It was a little difficult because it is not possible to see them through the grill. However I believe that there was air going through them as evidenced by a cool feeling on my hand as I held it near the grill. Have you had this problem before? Any ideas of what to look for?

B_Coppins · Answer

Buy a cooling pad, cost about $40 Aluminim pad with atleast 2 fans inside and circulates air better, if this doesnt work, I would say you have a more serious situation.

B_Coppins · Answer

It is infact F12

NAB622 · Answer

Boot into your Dell diagnostics partition of your hard drive. I'm not sure what button to press at startup, but I think it's F12 or F11. From there, run fan diagnostics. That will tell you if there's a problem with your fans. If not, then you may have dirty heat sinks, too.

NAB622 · Answer

Cool, I remembered something! :smileyvery-happy:

NAB622 · Answer

Well, I'm not even an adult yet, and I can't remember anything. So that means something. :]

B_Coppins · Answer

Hehe, it's hard sometimes isn't it? lolz

B_Coppins · Answer

lol, i hear ya, i'm 23 and can hardly remember what the date is.

scott sr · Answer

After you click on F12 is there instruction to take you to the fan dianostics ? Thankyou

NAB622 · Answer

Solution:

Press F12 until it gives the startup options. Then, choose the 'diagnostics' option. It will go through a few minute short test of the major components of your computer to make sure everything is ok for testing, then it will boot.

At the diagnostics screen, choose 'custom test'. Then find the 'fan; option (I believe it's toward the middle) and click it. It should open one thing for each fan you have. Then just double-click the big button representing the fan you want to test!

And if there is a problem, don't forget to write the RPMs, just in case. You don't have to, but it's a nice idea.

Message Edited by NAB622 on 09-06-200601:35 PM

scott sr · Answer

Thanks

NAB622 · Answer

yes sir, there is. If you go into the utility, search through the categories. There should be one called 'fans' on there somewhere. Just tell it to test it. I don't remember if you right-click or what.......maybe I should check my own just to remember how! I'll do that, be right back.

scott sr · Answer

Thankyou Nab662 I had gone there and have been there till now I went ahead and let it check everything . It was a long time getting done but it was thourogh . Again Thank You Scott

Akyl · Answer

I found the solution to my own problem.  There was too much dust and dirt in the cooling system.................................................................I removed the two fan covers on the under side of the computer near the back of the computer.  I noticed that near the back there were a series of fins or thin pieces of metal side by side forming a heat exchanger or radiator.  These were covered with dust and dirt.  Both fans had these radiators.  I cleaned them with a brush and blew into the cavity to remove the dust.  When I started the computer again is ran quite cool....................................................One little problem I had in reassembling the fan covers was aligning the cover of the fan cover that also covers the audio jacks on the side of the computer.  There are three flanges on this fan cover that must fit correctly with the body of the computer.  One is on the side near the audio jacks and two on the cover on top (I had the computer upside down during this time so the top was the underneath side.)  It was a little tricky getting these flanges in the right position and properly seated.  When I did not have them properly seated the audio plugs would not go into the jacks fully and thus would not make contact with the metal.....................................................................All is well now.

scott sr · Answer

OK thanks for getting back to me after so long I will do that and see if I don't have a dust problem also . Thank You ><> Scott

Locked Topics – Laptops General

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