CPU Fan Failed on Brand New Pavilion Slimline s5610f

[Thom_C]

Two weeks ago, I bought a Pavilion Slimline s5610f (Windows 7 Home Premium 64).  It worked fine for a week.  Then, when I power up the system from cold, I started getting the error message "ERROR: CPU Fan Has Failed! PC will automatically power down in a few seconds. Service the PC immediately to prevent damage to the PC." 

This confuses me, because the fan runs fine when powered-up.  From a cold start, it spins rapidly for a few seconds, then goes to a lower level of spin -- but it keeps spinning.  If I try powering-up again about 10-20 times, I can eventually get it to not have the error.  When the system is running, the CPU fan (and the system fan) run fine.

I went to the support pages and found a document http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c00013522&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&product=4295657.  I checked to make sure the fan was working -- although I didn't do so by removing the cover because I didn't know if that woulde void the warranty.  It seems to be working fine.  I am able to see and hear the fan through the vent holes.  (I guess the fan's power cable to the motherboard could be loose, but the fan continues to run so I don't think so.)

Then, I (attempted to) follow the instructions it gave for checking out the BIOS settings.  Unfortunately, the document suggests changing a setting that is not available on my system.

So, I am basically stuck at this point.  I do not have an F2 option to bypass the error.  I do not have an option to change a BIOS setting.  The only thing I can do is keep trying cold starts until it works.

I have read in the forum about bad capacitors, dusty/dirty fans and heat sinks, and people changing hardware causing problems.  None of these should be the problem with my system.  It is brand new, and I haven't even opened the case or added any hardware (only attached monitor, printer and external speakers).

I checked online with HP to see if there is a BIOS update for my machine, but there isn't any.

DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS?  I have sent in a Customer Service email to HP, but haven't been successful with them in the past on other computers.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions you can give.

(Also, if HP is listening, does removing the cover void the warranty?)

[Hanspuppa]

Hello Thom_C, Here  is a link that may help with this issue. If it does not, you might need to contact HP about this issue.

I would not be concerned about replacing the battery since this is a new system and highly unlikely the battery is faulty.

Just look at the advance options that are suggested. These may not apply to your system, but just a thought.

[Thom_C]

Hanspuppa -- Thanks for the suggestion.  Unfortunately, the advance option they mention in the link is the one that is not available on my system.  My BIOS does not allow for changing the Hardware Monitor settings.  There is no selection/choice for doing that.

Maybe there is some problem with the CMOS battery (I don't know what that is).  But, as you mentioned, since the computer is so new, I would be surprised.

Thanks again for the suggestion, though.

[Hanspuppa]

Hello Thom_C, The battery they refer to is the CMOS battery that provides voltage to the system BIOS to keep all the stored settings in the BIOS chip. These are usually called coincell batteries since they are about the size of an American quarter coin, and only have 3.3 volt capacity. These batteries usually last 5 years, and I have had them last 10 years. It really depends on how long the computer is connected with the power cord.

These batteries are mounted on the motherboard, and not difficult to access, but I am almost certain that is not your issue.

HP has a return policy of 21 days, so if you wanted to return the system, you can do this within the 21 days period from the invoice day. If you are happy with your system otherwise, and wanted to keep it, I would contact HP and see what they advise to correct this issue. You should not have to continually deal with this on a new system.

[Thom_C]

Curiouser and curiouser -- down the rabbit hole we go!

OK guys, here is my update -- and a challenge for you techies out there.  (I know this is a long post, but I also know you like a challenge.)

I was receiving a brief error message followed by a system shutdown upon attempting to power-up a brand new machine (see above).  Somehow the BIOS (erroneously) was detecting an error with the CPU fan and turning off the machine to protect it from damage.

I have tried a number of things to diagnose and fix this problem, but without success.  Here is the history of what I did, including a list of USB devices I am using (the importance of which will become apparent down the line).

USB Devices:

• HP keyboard and mouse that came with the computer
• HP Deskjet 5650 (I know it is old, but it still works)
• HP PD3200 Pocket Media Drive (external hard drive)
• Logitech Webcam Pro 9000
• SanDisk Cruzer 8GB flash drive

Fixes Attempted:

• Check the CPU fan -- it is working fine, even during boot-up
• Reset BIOS to factory defaults using F5 -- no change
• Update BIOS to the most current version available for my system -- there is no more current version, this is the latest (v6.05)
• Disable Hardware Monitor in advanced settings in BIOS -- option not available in my version of BIOS
• Disable USB Legacy Support in BIOS (you will see later why I wanted to try this) -- option not available in my version of BIOS
• “Hard start” the system (Step1: unplug power and all USB devices except keyboard and mouse.  Step 2: press and hold power button for 20 seconds to discharge any stored-up electricity.  Step 3: reattach power cord and restart system.) -- this had a surprising result:
  • Upon first restart, the system worked fine.
  • Then, I plugged in the printer and webcam (my typical configuration), attempted a restart and the error reoccurred!
  • These results persisted, even after many attempts.

Diagnostic Process:

It seemed to me that there was some sort of a short in the USB cable for the printer and/or webcam or a conflict between the two that was causing BIOS to detect a power fault (and erroneously attribute it to the CPU fan).

• I wanted to determine which was bad -- the printer or the webcam -- so I tried each of them without the other.  Surprisingly, each one worked by itself -- and no matter what USB port I was using -- they just wouldn’t work together.
• I thought the problem might be that the USB ports were not getting enough power.  That is when I added the external hard drive to the mix.  I also threw in the flash drive, just for grins.  The results were extremely surprising and perplexing (as I headed down the rabbit hole!):
  • Any combination of the printer, webcam, external hard drive and flash drive DID NOT cause a problem.
  • Any two of these, three of these, or all four DID NOT cause a problem.
  • Any combination of ports used (between the four in the back and the two in the front) DID NOT cause a problem.
  • The error ONLY occurs when just the printer and the webcam are plugged in.  And, I tried switching which USB ports I was using, but that didn’t fix it.
  • I spent an hour trying different combinations and retrying those combinations.  The results are always the same.  Everything works fine unless just the printer and the webcam are plugged in.

Challenge:

OK, so I know there are some pretty savvy people out there.  My challenge to you is to come up with the answer to why this is happening -- and the solution of how to fix it.  Remember that the error occurs before the system even launches Windows.  It happens during the BIOS boot-up.  So, the printer and webcam are not even active at that point.

If no one can find an answer, my last resort is to ship the machine back to HP for a repair.  In talking with their customer service tech, their thought is that it is the motherboard or power supply.  I find either hard to believe, because it works fine under so many configurations.  I suspect there is some kind of USB conflict during boot-up.

My fear, of course, is that I will send my machine off for repairs, it will be gone a long time, and I will get it back with no fix to the problem.  Or worse, they will reformat my hard drive and I will have days of work getting it back to where it should be.

So, rise to the challenge and help a fellow HP’er!  I know you can do it.  Put your thinking caps on!  Kudos will be awarded to the one who comes up with the answer before the machine goes into the FedEx box.

THANKS!

[Hanspuppa]

Hello Thom_C, Sounds like a classic IRQ issue to me but the IRQs are handled by the operating system after the BIOS turns control over to the operating system. Have you tried to connect just the Logitech Web Cam without the HP printer, or the printer without the web cam? There is a recent update for the Logitech Web Cam that can be found Here

You might go into the Control Panel, Device Manager and open both the printer and the web cam and check the IRQ listings just to be sure they are not using the same IRQ. If they are, sometimes you may be able to reassign the IRQ manually. Usually recent versions of Windows handles this without any user input.

When the system boots, it checks for all the hardware attached to the system, to insure the hardware is compatible and working properly. The BIOS sends a signal to the hardware and expects a response from the hardware. It if does not get what it expects, it can sometimes get confused.

We need to get some other responses from more knowledgeable Members.

[Thom_C]

Hanspuppa,

Thank you for once again coming to my assistance.

First of all, yes, I have tried to connect just the Logitech Webcam without the HP printer and vice versa.  In both situations, the system boots fine without error (i.e. as long as only one of them is connected).  If I have only one connected, I can boot the system.  Then, I can connect the other after Windows is open and there is no problem.  [But, obviously, I don't want this to be the final solution.  That may mask some other underlying problem.]

I will check to see if I can detect an IRQ conflict, as you have suggested.  However, my suspicion is that I won't find a conflict.  That is because I cannot start the computer when both are connected (i.e. when the conflict would occur).  If I start the system with only one connected, then connect the other later, I will have avoided the situation where a conflict would be detected by BIOS.  Nonetheless, I will give it a try and get back to you.

Also, I have downloaded the Logitech software update you referenced.  It looks like it might be a more current version than the one I used for the install, but I can't tell just yet.  I will probably try that after checking for an IRQ conflict.

So, we will keep our fingers crossed.  If it comes to the point of having to manually reassign the IRQ, I will definitely need some help.  That is out of my league and I don't want to mess things up more than they already are!

Thanks again.  I hope you win the kudos prize for solving the challenge!

Thom_C

[Hanspuppa]

---

Thom_C wrote: If it comes to the point of having to manually reassign the IRQ, I will definitely need some help.  That is out of my league and I don't want to mess things up more than they already are!

I hope you win the kudos prize for solving the challenge!

---

Hello Thom_C, It is very likely that you want be able to assign the IRQ manualy, if you are using Windows 7. It does a very good job of managing the IRQs, but you just never know.

I really don't concern myself with "Kodos".  I'm not here to earn "Kodos", but just to try and help others as best I can.

As you suggest, this seems to be a challenge, and a wierd one at that. Together with some of the other Forum Members, we may be able to figure this out.

[Thom_C]

Hanspuppa,

Still no resolution.  I tried detecting IRQ conflicts, but was unable to do so.  As I mentioned, if I have both the printer and the webcam plugged in, the system won't start.  If I have only one (or neither) plugged in, it starts fine -- but then when I plug both in after it has started, the (potential) conflict has already been bypassed/avoided.

I am not adept enough at reading the resources information to know how the printer and webcam have been assigned.  Perhaps if I understood this better, I could attempt a manual reassignment.  But, at this point, I don't feel as if I can proceed down that path.

As far as the Logitech update, I did install that.  It turns out it was the same version as I had originally installed.  Nonetheless, I went through a complete uninstall and reinstall (of the downloaded version) just to be sure that wasn't the problem.  It did not fix anything.

So, at this point, I don't have anything else to try.  I am open to suggestions from the Forum.

Thanks,

Thom_C

[Thom_C]

I need help with manually changing IRQ settings.  For a description of my problem, see the thread above.  That will explain why I am in need of help with this.

If anyone can give me a written description, or a link to a document, I would greatly appreciate it.  I have seen an HP document (c01817266) that says how to detect a resource conflict through Device Manager.  But, it is not real helpful for a novice on how to pick appropriate new settings for the resources.  I wouldn't want to make things worse than they already are.

Important points are: Windows 7 Home Premium 64; (potentially) conflicting IRQ settings for a printer and a webcam connected through USB; problem detected by BIOS on startup.  Again, see the above thread for the full story.

Thanks in advance for any and all assistance!