inspiron 1100: heatsink fan doesnt work

xSauronx

Lifer
Jul 14, 2000
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Ok my dads had his clunky inspiron 1100 for a while now, last week it started to shutdown and give temp warning when powered back on, so i checked and the cpu fan wasnt working.

of course, i found a replacement and installed it....and have the same problem. is there a way i can test to see if the connection on the mobo itself is dead? (i have a voltmeter, or rather, my father does, im not likely to know how to use it outside of testing for continuity)

i may just have *2* dead fans, but i dont want to buy a 3rd if i cant confirm it, and this thing isnt worth paying for a repair unless its gonna cost 50 or 60 bucks tops.

thanks :)
 

cprince

Senior member
May 8, 2007
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do you hear the fan running? It's pretty loud on these machines. Check to see if the heatsink is clogged up.
 

xSauronx

Lifer
Jul 14, 2000
19,582
4
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Originally posted by: cprince
do you hear the fan running? It's pretty loud on these machines. Check to see if the heatsink is clogged up.

buddy, i took the keyboard off and watched it not move. i cleaned it (it really wasnt that bad) and still nada, and did the same with the replacement unit i got off ebay (like i said, it *could* be bad as well, but im not buying a 3rd to check)
 

cprince

Senior member
May 8, 2007
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It could be a bad fan controller. When the computer is warmed up, try moving the fan blades with something small to see if you get any resistant. If you do, then the fan got power, but does not move(something is wrong with the fan). If you don't get any resistant(no power to fan), then the fan control circuitry could be bad.
 

xSauronx

Lifer
Jul 14, 2000
19,582
4
81
Originally posted by: cprince
It could be a bad fan controller. When the computer is warmed up, try moving the fan blades with something small to see if you get any resistant. If you do, then the fan got power, but does not move(something is wrong with the fan). If you don't get any resistant(no power to fan), then the fan control circuitry could be bad.

ive tried that as well, and thats what i fear is probably wrong with it.
shame, its not much of a laptop, but its good enough for email and web browsing...i imagine a mobo replacement would be in order to correct this, and this old thing isnt worth the trouble.

oh well ;-/
 

cprince

Senior member
May 8, 2007
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If you are good with circuitry and soldering, you can find out how much voltage the fan needs and connect it(with appropriate dropping resistor) directly to the 12V source on the motherboard.
 

xSauronx

Lifer
Jul 14, 2000
19,582
4
81
Originally posted by: cprince
If you are good with circuitry and soldering, you can find out how much voltage the fan needs and connect it(with appropriate dropping resistor) directly to the 12V source on the motherboard.

im not. theres a tech ive gone to before for laptop stuff, but he takes forever and would charge more than this is worth.

im wondering now the best way to get rid of it? wipe the personal info and put it on ebay as broken?
 

cprince

Senior member
May 8, 2007
963
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yeah. Putting it on eBay is a good idea. It might worth more if you sell the individual components(LCD panel, hard drive, motherboard, AC adapter, etc...)