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Hardware Forum / Brand Name Systems / HP / May 2007

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HP Pavilion Power Supply Fan Not Running

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Hi Ho Silver - 10 May 2007 20:35 GMT
Computer: HP Pavilion 760n; five years old

Power Supply: HiPro

I have just noticed that the fan on the power supply is not running, but do
not know how long this has been the case.  The area around the grill is warm
to the touch but not 'hot'.  The computer is running normally, no shutdown
problems, never have.  I am wondering if this is a type of fan that only
comes on above a certain temperature.  The main computer cooling fan is
running fine, it is just the fan on the power supply that I am concerned
with.  Any thoughts?   Thanks.
Ben Myers - 10 May 2007 21:26 GMT
Replace the power supply.  If the fan stops working, all the computer needs is a
day or two of 90 degree weather and the power supply will overheat.  AFAIK, the
HiPro power supplies in the Pentium 4 and later AMD Athlon systems do not have
thermostatic controls.

Unplug the system from the wall, and see if you can move the fan blades by using
a thin screwdriver or q-tip or other object to do so.   If the fan is frozen and
won't move, all the more reason to replace the power supply... Ben Myers

>Computer: HP Pavilion 760n; five years old
>
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>running fine, it is just the fan on the power supply that I am concerned
>with.  Any thoughts?   Thanks.
Hi Ho Silver - 10 May 2007 22:31 GMT
> Replace the power supply.  If the fan stops working, all the computer
> needs is a
[quoted text clipped - 23 lines]
>>running fine, it is just the fan on the power supply that I am concerned
>>with.  Any thoughts?   Thanks.

This is very interesting...I did your 'q-tip assist' test.  I was able to
move the fan blade with the q-tip, but it was not at all free-wheeling.
After several nudges with the q-tip, it began turning slowly on its own, and
after continued nudging, is now spinning at what seems like its normal
speed!  No telling how long it was stopped, and I surmise that the power
supply must be pretty robust not to have failed itself without the fan
cooling.  I will keep an eye on it. With the whole system being five years
old, I have been thinking of replacing it and this event adds another
reason. Thanks for the 'q-tip' advice!
Ben Myers - 11 May 2007 04:56 GMT
Good.   Now go down to the nearest mass market retailer (office supplies or
electronics) and buy yourself a can of compressed air.   Remove the side panel
from the case, take the rest outside, and blast compressed air into the back
where the fan intake is and into the other openings of the power supply. You'll
probably be amazed at the accumulated dirt and dust that flies out. Don't inhale
the stuff.   While at it, use q-tips to dislodge the dirt in the CPU fan and
heat sink and give it some good blasts of air, too.

This is or should be normal maintenance on a computer, maybe once a year, more
often if used in a dusty environment.   I did this with 7 computers a couple of
weeks ago, and they had not been cleaned out in 4 or 5 years since being
installed initially.   The owners were lucky that they all had run as long as
they did, although another even older computer croaked the previous week, which
is why I did the cleaning that I did... Ben Myers

>> Replace the power supply.  If the fan stops working, all the computer
>> needs is a
[quoted text clipped - 33 lines]
>old, I have been thinking of replacing it and this event adds another
>reason. Thanks for the 'q-tip' advice!
Hi Ho Silver - 11 May 2007 18:49 GMT
Thanks for the cleaning advice.  There was (it seemed to me) fairly little
dust accumulation in the case and fans as I blew them off.  But that is
done.  The power supply fan needed encouragement again this morning after
restarting the computer; it; runs at speed, but I can hear a slight rub
every ten seconds or so, when it slows down and speeds up again.  No doubt
on last legs.  I am actively pursuing replacement of the entire computer
system and am hoping the power supply holds up until that is accomplished.
Since the power supply did run for an indeterminate length of time without
any cooling, I am in hopes that things will last a couple more weeks.  My
home is air conditioned and that helps.  Thanks to all!

> Good.   Now go down to the nearest mass market retailer (office supplies
> or
[quoted text clipped - 62 lines]
>>old, I have been thinking of replacing it and this event adds another
>>reason. Thanks for the 'q-tip' advice!
Warren Block - 11 May 2007 20:18 GMT
> Thanks for the cleaning advice.  There was (it seemed to me) fairly little
> dust accumulation in the case and fans as I blew them off.  But that is
> done.  The power supply fan needed encouragement again this morning after
> restarting the computer; it; runs at speed, but I can hear a slight rub
> every ten seconds or so, when it slows down and speeds up again.  No doubt
> on last legs.

Most power supplies come with cheap sleeve bearing fans, and they start
to wear immediately.  A little dust in the sleeve will do it, and
there's no way to prevent that.  If you're lucky, they'll alert you to
imminent failure with a loud buzzing on startup.  Or they'll just lock
up silently.

I've replaced failed sleeve-bearing fans that are less than a year old.  
Ball-bearing fans will run for years in the same conditions.  In fact, I
can't recall ever replacing a ball-bearing fan.

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Warren Block * Rapid City, South Dakota * USA

 
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