My Cooling Fan Has Stopped Working in My Dell Laptop [Solved]

It is quite disconcerting to see a “fan not working” error message on your screen. And we will provide solution for the term “My Cooling Fan Has Stopped Working in My Dell Laptop”.

However, diagnosing and fixing the problem may not be too difficult.

Error messages caused by malfunctioning cooling fans are common. Dust and other debris can clog the fan of your laptop after you use it for some time. When a laptop is dropped, it can also cause the fan to stop working.

There is a possibility that your BIOS has been corrupted, which is causing the fan to stop spinning.

Solution 1 to fix Dell Laptop fan if not Working

In order to fix it, you need to disconnect your charger, open the laptop, and remove the main battery. If your battery is an external model, you can remove it before opening the laptop.

Remove the BIOS battery carefully from the motherboard. The battery is usually a watch-type battery, but you also find BIOS batteries with leads attached.

Ensure that the power button is pressed and held for 15 seconds. Replace both the BIOS and main batteries on the laptop and close it.

Connect the charger to the laptop and turn it on.

You will have to reset the date and time, as well as allow the battery to fully recharge. If it is not damaged, the fan will return to normal operation.

When the laptop is open, clean both the fan and the air vents. Cleaning the laptop helps to keep it cool and reduces the workload on its fan.

If still problem is not solved then following Causes and their solution may help

Solution 2 to fix Dell Laptop fan if not starting or Working

Causes:

Here are some common causes of fans not working, abnormal, or loud fan noises, and overheating:

• A fan or air vent that is obstructed
• Accumulation of dust on vents or fans
• There is not enough ventilation
• Physical damage
• Out-of-date BIOS and device drivers

Solutions

Check and clean air vents

If air vents are blocked, the processor, memory (RAM), and other hardware may overheat, causing serious performance issues, which may then lead to hardware failure. Additionally, excessive heat can decrease performance as most processors automatically reduce speed to compensate for heat-related issues. The computer fan may be running constantly and making an abnormal or loud noise if the computer is not running as efficiently as possible or if the air vents are clogged.

Make sure that your computer has adequate ventilation to prevent dust from accumulating. Dust and lint accumulate on cooling fins, preventing air from flowing around them and making the fan work harder.

There may be several fans inside your Dell computer to keep the internal components cool:

• Desktop computers are equipped with more than one fan – one for the processor, one for the GPU, one for the power supply (PSU), and one or more for the chassis (case).
• It is also possible for laptop computers to have more than one fan, which varies from model to model.

Provide proper ventilation

It is important for computers to have adequate ventilation both outside and inside, so that air can circulate more easily. In addition to increasing the life of computer fans, adequate ventilation can also help them perform more efficiently. If you want to prevent the computer from overheating, you can also place it in a cooler room in your house or office.

Guidelines to ensure adequate ventilation

1. Desktop computer – Put the desktop upright on a flat, hard surface. Provide sufficient clearance in front of and behind the computer (if your computer has air vents on the bottom or side, ensure there is clearance on all sides).
2. Laptop computer – It is best to place the laptop on a flat, hard surface with the bottom and side air vents not obstructed.

Run a hardware diagnostic test

By running a hardware diagnostic test, you can identify hardware-related issues and determine what troubleshooting steps you need to take to resolve them. In order to determine if your Dell computer has a hardware problem, it is recommended that you run a hardware diagnostic test. The company offers both an integrated diagnostic tool as well as an online diagnostic tool. Check if the hardware devices are working properly using Dell SupportAssist or ePSA.

Running the Dell Pre-boot System Assessment or enhanced Preboot System Assessment (Dell PSA or ePSA)

1. You should restart your Dell computer.
2. Upon seeing the Dell logo, press F12 to enter the One-time Boot Menu.
3. Using the arrow keys, select Diagnostics and press Enter.
4. To complete the diagnostics, follow the on-screen instructions and respond appropriately.
   Be sure to record the validation code and the error code if the test fails.

Update the BIOS and device drivers

Dell recommends updating your device drivers and BIOS as part of your scheduled update cycle. Updated device drivers and BIOS may contain feature enhancements and changes that help keep your system software current and compatible with other computer modules (hardware and software).

In order to ensure optimal performance of your computer’s fans, you should install the following device drivers.

• BIOS
• Chipset driver
• Thermal chipset driver
• Video card (GPU) driver

To learn how to download and install a device driver on your Dell computer, see the Dell knowledge base article Drivers and Downloads FAQs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What causes laptop fan to stop working?

  Often, fans stop working, make abnormal noises, and overheat due to obstructed air vents or fans. Accumulation of dust on vents or fans. There is not enough ventilation.

What will happen if cooling fan is not working?

What happens if the cooling fan stops working? Your engine could overheat if your cooling fan stops working. The engine parts may be damaged as a result. It’s a serious problem that needs to be addressed by a mechanic.

How do I know if my Dell laptop fan is working?

Press F12 when the Dell logo appears to enter the One-time Boot Menu. Select Diagnostics by pressing the arrow keys and enter on the keyboard. You must follow the on-screen prompts and respond appropriately to complete the diagnostics. Ensure you record the error and validation codes if the test fails.