Fan is intermittently loud

[GrampyPeter1]

Periodically a fan comes on with a rattling buzz that sounds like it is unbalanced.  BUT, it does not always "buzz".  Sometimes it comes on with a normal hum that is acceptable.  When it buzzes though it is unacceptibly loud.  I tried blowing some compressed air in the vents and , while it does affect the fan speed, the buzzing noise returns as soon as I stop the air. 

I've had the pc since Nov 2017 and the buzz sound started after about 5 months or so. I'd like to have it fixed before the one year warrantee expires.  Please advise what to do.  Thank you, Peter

[DavidSMP]

@GrampyPeter1,

Good Day.  A warm welcome to the HP community. I read the post regarding issues with the fan running fast intermittently. I will assist you and let’s get right to it. Terrific diagnosis and perfect presentation of the issue.  It is appreciated greatly.

Let me gather some information for better clarity to assist you correctly:

• Did this happen after a recent power outage or surge?
• Did you update the bios and check again?
• Please provide the complete model number or product number of the computer as the xx towards the end has a lot of models in the same computer family.
• Does this happen while using specific graphics intensive programs or playing graphics-intensive games?

For a start, try these steps:

Perform all the relevant steps from this link: https://support.hp.com/in-en/product/hp-envy-15-u100-x360-convertible-pc/7252842/document/c01007591 (HP Notebook PCs - Fan is Noisy and Spins Constantly, PC is Warmer than Normal)

• Updating your Notebook computer BIOS
• Keeping notebook air vents clear and clean
• Increasing the efficiency of the notebook to reduce heat
• Using Windows Task Manager to identify corrupt processes
• Selecting power save settings to shut off your computer when it is not in use

Now check if it gets fixed. For further assistance follow complete instructions from this link: https://support.hp.com/in-en/product/hp-envy-15-u100-x360-convertible-pc/7252842/document/c01657439 (HP Notebook PCs - Reducing Heat Inside the Laptop to Prevent Overheating)

This should nail it if there are no hardware issues with the notebook.

If the issue persists then the notebook needs to be repaired. I will send you a private message to assist you with the next course of action. Please check your forum private message box next to the bell notification icon on the upper right-hand corner for a private message from me for further assistance.

Good luck and keep me posted about the developments. If this helps, please mark this as “Accepted Solution” as it will help several others with the same issue and give the post a Kudos for my efforts to help

Thank you and have a great day ahead. 🙂

[ValleyOTS]

I just had to visit this thread (or any thread) about the nosey fan issues with this Notebook.  I followed all the instructions I could find...messing with the Bios, restarting about 100 times to no avail.  Finally after the 2nd person over to my house asked what this noise was that they were hearing, that I took matters into my own fists and starting banging on the **bleep** thing to quiet the fan. That worked but never for long. So, one day when the noise woke me up from a nap I took drastic measures and stuck a pin inside the fan compartment and broke the fan, on purpose.  

Since doing that, the notebook has NEVER GOTTEN HOT.  The problem is just running the bloody fan.  I run Photoshop on this thing with other windows open and still, it stays nice and cool.  I'm not recommending this of course, but maybe someone with a lot of time on their hands would like to try semi-permanently shutting off the fan and then see how the thing runs.  

[GrampyPeter1]

I am 78 yoa and worked as an EE for 38 years designing products using microelectronics much like a pc does.  HP responded to my original posting with a very thorough, canned responce; none of which even mentioned my noise problem.  Sure the fan runs when my pc gets warm that was not my problem.  The fan makes an annoying mechanical "buzz, rattling," noise that I felt was not software/firmware related.  I took a chance and removed the back of the pc.  There are 2 fans.  I opened several programs to get some heat generated.  When the fans came on, one of them made the strange noise.  I carefully  removed the cover from the offending fan by "popping" the 5 small retainer clips.  The fan blades are very fragile.  One of them was very loose and hanging "by a thread."  I believe it was the source of the noise when the fan spins.  I removed the loose blade.  I ran the fan to ensure that it was still balanced ok with the missing blade. Two other blades were still attached but very close to touching adjacent blades.  I carefully applied a very small drop of super glue to anchor the 2 blades with their neighbor. Fan still ran ok.  When I replaced the fan cover, the small retainer clips were broken so I held the cover in place and attached some super glue to each retainer.  Put the back cover on and voila, so far the noise is gone.  I think the blade hanging by a thread was intermittently rubbing on the fan cover. 

I was anxious about doing this procedure but in the end it was not difficult.  I'm sure my HP warrantee is voided but it was worth it to not have to send the pc in for repair.