Computer fan starting to make noises, can't unscrew the laptop. Got a solution?

Some bit of paper must have been swallowed into it. Some days no noises at all. Others days it goes on and off.

I can't get access to the fan, there seems to be glued plastic parts involved.


Solution 1:

If you are concerned, you may want to order either a replacement fan assembly (usually around £30-£50, model depending), or take it to a professional.

In my experience, a lot (but not all) of the time random noises like this are down to age of the fan and the ball bearings are slightly ground down, or the motor is off centre, Not always, and wouldn't recommend it, but a nudge or pressure in the right place can be a temporary fix.

Solution 2:

Laptops are constructed so they can be serviced, even if it's only by "authorized technicians". Honestly, I think your "glued" parts are either

  • held in place by screws you haven't found/removed yet, or

  • glued to some piece that's held in place by screws you haven't found/removed yet.

So don't be afraid -- get back in there, find those screws, and remove them so you can get to the fan.

I disassembled a 5-year-old eMachines laptop a few weeks ago in order to clean its fan and apply some fresh thermal paste. I couldn't find a service manual online, and naturally Google didn't turn up any pictures, so I started taking things apart. There were 10 screws on the bottom, 2 on the back on the LCD hinges, 2 more on the hinges underneath the plastic covers, and 3 under the button panel that were holding the keyboard on. (All but 2 of the bottom screws were unrelated to this particular job. I could've left them in place, but I didn't know that going in.)

Search Google by model# for your laptop's service manual (or a photostream of someone taking one apart). If you can't find one, just start unscrewing all the screws you can find. Be gentle when pulling things apart, examine the assembly thoroughly before pulling hard on anything, and don't lose any pieces.

Solution 3:

Do not use a vacuum cleaner for the inside of your computer as it generates a lot of static electricity that can damage the internal components of your computer.

If you want to use a vacuum to suck up dirt, dust, or hair inside of your computer, use a portable battery powered vacuum designed to do this job, but they're not really powerful.

Get a can with compressed air in a DIY store near you for the job at hand.

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Solution 4:

The glued parts aren't glued. They are plastic snap-ins.

So like an box. You first pull out one side and the other can come out bit if you pull out the other side first the plastic will just snap.