my computer's fan is getting louder...

[Toho]

so is this bad? i have a Toshiba laptop; satellite pro, sometimes my fan gets super loud and then goes back it its normal quiet mode. i have had this laptop for a very long time, about 3 or 4 years now and was wondering what might be happening to this fan and whatever it is can it be easily fixed? i cant afford to lose all the data i have
(yes i am starting to back, so don't suggest it )

[Dassen]

If it goes up it is simply because the processor is getting warmer.
Download Core Temp(google it), it'll show your processor's temperature.
Have you ever cleaned the "hole" in the computer that's next to the fan? They easily clog up with dust & random crap, and if that hole is plugged the processor will heat up(simply because the fan cannot ventilate properly).

If your fan is clogged and a vacuumcleaner doesn't do the job, you'll have to open the computer up & clean it manually. If you decide to do that, USE AN ESD-WRISTBAND. (esd = electrostatic discharge, it's simply when static electricity shoots out from you into the computer and fries components, it can fuck your PC up really good so always wear an esd wristband whenever you work inside a computer)

[FreakEyy]

Clean the inside of your laptop. I bet it's a lot of dust in there now that stops the fan from working as intended.

[Slaved]

Try vacuuming the fans. Sometimes they are really dusty and they won't get enough air through them.

Edit: Got owned by poster above me

[chris1554]

Try vacuuming the fans. Sometimes they are really dusty and they won't get enough air through them.

Edit: Got owned by poster above me

Please, please! Do not put a hoover near your pc, especially when its on. If your warranty has ran out, simply open it up and clean it.

[Toho]

i think I'll take it to professionals to clean it up, i dont want to risk....this means i have to delete all my porn too...damn

[Dassen]

i think I'll take it to professionals to clean it up, i dont want to risk....this means i have to delete all my porn too...damn

That'll be unnecessarily expensive. Buy an esd wristband, look up how to open your computer on the net (again, google), and simply DIY :P

[Fixati0n]

Please, please! Do not put a hoover near your pc, especially when its on. If your warranty has ran out, simply open it up and clean it.

There's nothing too wrong with sticking a hoover on a low setting near some components, especially the fan, to get rid of the dust.
I've been vaccuming my PC for years and nothing's gone wrong so far. As long as it's on a lower setting and you dont stick it on/very close up to the components then it's fine.

[gnomepatrol]

Oh boy, misinformation in this thread.

First try this, you don't have to open your laptop for this, go down to your local store and get a can of compressed air. Use that can and blow out all of the holes in your laptop. Get the straw that is attached to it close to the holes so it loosens up the dust or blows it out. After you are done with that, take your vacuum cleaner and put it to the exhaust port of your laptop, the area where the hot air is pushed out. Then suck all the dust out. You just want to leave it over that port. Leave the laptop plugged in while you do this. It will keep it grounded and there would be no worry for ESD or anything else for that matter. This process would work even better if you have an air compressor.


Okay you said your laptop is 3-4 years old. Normally at this age the TIM or thermal paste has reached its end of life. You would need to open up the laptop remove the heatsink, clean the old paste off with some isopropyl. You can get the iso from just about anywhere. Be sure to clean the GPU as well, the single heatsink normally covers both the CPU and GPU. Once you have done that, you will need some new TIM. Purchase before you clean so you can do this all at once. Apply a small amount to the center of the CPU and GPU dies (center of the processors). Only do this for laptops (for a desktop pc it is fine to put a small grain sized amount of tim in the center of the die and let the pressure from mounting spread the tim), get a Ziploc bag and wrap it tightly around your index finger. Take that finger and spread the paste across the entire surface of the processors evenly. Then replace the heatsink. You want to tighten the screws in a diagonal pattern slowly to apply pressure evenly over the processors to insure good contact with the heatsink. Finish up putting the laptop back together.

Turn it on and check the temps. Use either core temp,real temp, or hardwaremonitor. I personally prefer hardware monitor since it will give readings for all the temp sensors in your laptop. To check your temps. If they are bad repeat the above process and be sure that the heatsink is mounted correctly and tightly.

Good luck and hope this helps you.