Faulty cooling fan

[Lawrence75]

When I switch my pc on it shoes an error message stating cooling fan not working, then shuts down

[MysteriousMe]

Welcome to HP Support Community, @Lawrence75 

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

If your HP All-in-One shows a “Cooling Fan Not Working” error and then shuts down, follow the steps below to troubleshoot it.

1. Clear the Error Message

When the message appears, press Enter to try starting the system.
If the fan is still not functioning, the computer may shut down again within a few seconds or minutes.

2. Inspect and Clean Air Vents

Turn off the PC completely.

Check all exterior vents for dust buildup.

Use compressed air to blow dust out of the vents.
Dust blockage can prevent the fan from spinning properly or being detected by the motherboard.

3. Perform a Hard Reset

Shut down the PC.

Disconnect the power cable.

Press and hold the power button for 15 seconds.

Reconnect the power cable and turn the PC on.
Check if the error still appears.

4. Update the BIOS 

Fan detection issues can sometimes be caused by outdated BIOS firmware.

Steps:

Go to HP’s support page.

Enter your exact PC model number.

Download the latest BIOS update and install it.
If the PC shuts down too quickly, skip this step and move to the next one.

5. Check if the Fan Is Physically Running

If possible, observe the fan on the back or through the vents when powering on.

If the fan is not spinning, it is likely a failed cooling fan.

If the fan spins for a few seconds then stops, the issue may be a fan sensor failure or motherboard problem.

6. When Replacement Is Required

If cleaning and resets do not resolve the issue, one of these parts likely needs replacement:

Cooling fan

Thermal module (fan + heat sink assembly)

Motherboard fan sensor (rare, but possible)

All-in-one desktops have compact builds, so the fan is usually inside and requires opening the rear panel. A technician is recommended unless you are experienced with hardware repair.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.