How do I fix/replace a laptop fan?

[Warpticon]

Wow, I think this is my first time posting here since...maybe 1999? I was pretty shocked when i went to register and found my account still active.

Anyway, to the point. I have a Gateway P-7905u FX laptop. It has a GeForce 9800M GTS video card. I've been mostly happy with it. Recently it started intermittently shutting off without warning. Other times it seems that my CPU goes to 100% when doing relatively light things. I determined that the cause of the problems, at least the first problem, was that the fan to my video card was not spinning at all. I ran a benchmark to make the card work, and after two runs the temperature reached 95 before I shut it down.

So I've got the problem (or at least the main problem) diagnosed. The next question is...what do I do now? This is my second laptop. It's out of warranty, and Gateway has no decent documentation that I can find on any replacement parts or maintenance. I'm looking for any clues you might have, because I'm completely stuck here. I don't want to take the whole thing apart with no direction and screw up trying to put it back together.

 

[montypythizzle]

Well the laptops I have worked on it is basically a bunch of screws and is like taking apart a regular computer, except....more screws. It shouldn't be too hard. IDK if there is any programs that you can download that can manually set the fan settings like desktops, but its worth a look around to see if its not just a sensor issue.

If you can take apart a desktop you can take apart a laptop. Just make sure you keep a hold of your screws.

 

[Warpticon]

That's not the biggest part of my concern, really. I just don't really have any idea of what even to look for once I get it open. If it's not a clearly disconnected wire that I can see plainly, then I'm just kind of taking it apart for nothing...and it's the only computer I have, so it's not like I can look things up while I'm doing it.

 

[RebateMonger]

If you can take apart a desktop you can take apart a laptop.

Well, it depends on the laptop and how good the instructions are. I've taken a lot of desktops apart in the past 25 years and I admit to being temporarily stumped by one or two laptops, even WITH pictorial instructions.

That said, you can usually find instructions somewhere on the Internet for taking apart most laptops. Usually.

Maybe something here will help -
How to Upgrade, Repair, Disassemble a GateWay Laptop or Notebook:
http://repair4laptop.org/disassembly_gateway.html

 

[Warpticon]

yeah, that page doesn't have anything close to my laptop. I don't think it has anything really recent at all, actually.

 

[RebateMonger]

yeah, that page doesn't have anything close to my laptop. I don't think it has anything really recent at all, actually.

Unfortunately, I've never seen Gateway provide service manuals for their machines. Not on their public web site, anyway.

 

[WoodButcher]

http://www.google.com/search?q=vide...esult_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CB8QqwQwAA

http://www.google.com/search?q=vide...-us&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&startIndex=&startPage=1

You won't know until you crack it open. If you find the fan is bad google the part # or serial, whatever numbers you find, Ebay often has parts like this.

If this is your only PC what will you do when it dies? If you take it to a shop and they keep it for a month? Odds are good unless you send it to gateway some geek like me will crack it open and do just what I suggest, Why not you?