Gateway 450SX4 No Cooling Fan
My daughter brought her Gateway 450SX4 laptop home from college complaining of "internet problems." I was checking it out and discovered that the dial-up connection was lost after approximately 5 to 10 minutes. My daughter claims her problems started after installing SP2.
I eventually noticed that the cooling fan was never coming on (it took me a while to notice this as I never work on a laptop).
So my questions are, how can I determine if this is a hardware problem or a software problem? Is there some way to "hard start" the fan?
Would overheating cause the modem to shut down? My initial thoughts (before I noticed the fan) was that there was a modem problem.
Is this something I can (or another college student) fix or replace. I assume it is. If so, where can I find installation instruction, disassembly instructions, etc. for this model?
What else should I do?
What will happen if my dauther continues to use the computer with no cooling fan? (I think I know the answer to this one, and suspect it is analogous to driving a car.)
The computer was purshased directly from Gateway a little over a year ago as a refurbished model. It is out of the warranty period.
Thanks.
I eventually noticed that the cooling fan was never coming on (it took me a while to notice this as I never work on a laptop).
So my questions are, how can I determine if this is a hardware problem or a software problem? Is there some way to "hard start" the fan?
Would overheating cause the modem to shut down? My initial thoughts (before I noticed the fan) was that there was a modem problem.
Is this something I can (or another college student) fix or replace. I assume it is. If so, where can I find installation instruction, disassembly instructions, etc. for this model?
What else should I do?
What will happen if my dauther continues to use the computer with no cooling fan? (I think I know the answer to this one, and suspect it is analogous to driving a car.)
The computer was purshased directly from Gateway a little over a year ago as a refurbished model. It is out of the warranty period.
Thanks.
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Comments
I'm a total ass. I didn't see the word "Laptop" in the post (Selective attention, hai hai). All my comments are null and void.
It's probably not a software problem, and on that computer there is probably no way to force the fan on, no.
Quite possibly, yes.
Should be.
If you're lucky, on gateway's site. If you're not, you get to do it the old fashioned way (by the seat of your pants).
I'll get to that in a second
Laptop CPU go bye-bye, that's what. It'll be going to the great computer in the sky...
As for what to do...
Step 1: Download (on another computer) this program, put it on a CD or something, get it onto the laptop and install it. http://www.geocities.co.jp/SiliconValley-Oakland/8259/release/0310/mm0310.zip
Post the CPU temperatures if it can read them; start the program immediately after installing it (which you need to do asap after windows boots) and keep an eye on the temps for a while. If it hits 70*C+, shut the laptop down as fast as possible (hold power button down until it shuts off or pull the battery and A/C adapter). Either way, post the results here. Also, specs on the laptop (CPU, RAM, etc.) would be useful.
However, her mother relayed my diagnosis, and she reportedly responded that the fan has not worked for MONTHS!!!!! DOH!
I'm not sure what she intends to do, but she mentioned she might have some computer friends at school attempt to fix it. This does not sound promising.
I'm checking out ebay for some parts. BTW, I think I remove the keyboard to gain access to the fan and heat sink. (Saw a photo of a 450SX4 on ebay for parts with the keyboard removed, and I believe the fan and heat sink were sitting right on top.)
I am experiencing the same problem. Can you tell me how you resolved yours? In particular, can you help explain the best means of opening the laptop in order to replace the fan? Thanks.
With the Gateway 450SX4, you must remove the keyboard to gain access to the fan. The Gateway website has complete instructions for removing the keyboard on the 450SX4.
Good luck.
at [removed by Leonardo] If you need just drivers, they are there for free download as well.
Believe this comes under the "leap before you look syndrome". I have done it more times that I would like to remember!
Was actually responding to a post here when I happened to look at the last posting date and went "oooops!" :o