HP Envy Fan Running High - Tried Everything

[AW_]

I have been dealing with this problem for 2 years now and I am out of options. I love this laptop but the fan issue is driving me crazy. It keeps running on loud and making a constant whirring sound even when I'm not doing anything, which is frankly really embarrassing in class and in public. 

The fan used to make a buzzing noise whenever waking it from sleep. Then it changed to making the buzzing noise CONSTANTLY so I replaced the fan (this was about six months ago). When I replaced the fan, the buzzing noise stopped, but the fan was still running on high. Using SpeedFan, I could see that my fan speeds were ABOVE 2000+ RPM even when the CPU usage was only at 6-13%, which is ridiculous. (yes, cold room, nothing blocking fan, and I dusted it). 

I cleared everything in Task Manager. I changed system cooling policy from active to passive. I even put my laptop on power saver mode, lowered maximum processor state to 50%. I have to turn on airplane mode to take exams just to reduce the speed, but that barely works. 

Before you ask, YES I UPDATED THE BIOS. I even updated to the most recent version released on Jan 26, 2018. I CANNOT ENTER THE BIOS, HOWEVER. I have tried with every F combination there is upon startup. There isn't even a little sentence below the HP that says "press X to enter the BIOS" like there used to be. 

What gives? What even do I do at this point? It's clear there's something in the software making my fan constantly run on extra high, since I JUST REPLACED THE FAN. And before you ask me to replace it again, don't worry, I bought a new one a few weeks ago. I changed it and there was no difference. 

[EddyK]

Hi AW_,

Yeah I've owned a few HP laptops where the fans were loud enough that it was quite embarrassing in public...:smileysad:

So you're sure that there isn't some sore of background/corrupt process in task manager?

Also do you perhaps have HP CoolSense or CoolControl? I've found that turning it on often increases fan speed and is very annoying. You could actually try installing it if you don't have it and see if it instead solves the issue.

Some HP laptops seem to be very sensitive to slight CPU changes and start turning up the fans like crazy. I feel like they're just programmed to be like this (although it's very frustrating). 

In terms of being unable to access the BIOS, did you try tapping the Esc key? This would normally open up the HP Startup Menu. This can also be accessed by going to Windows Advanced Startup Options Menu and referring to UEFI Firmware Settings.

You could also try referring to speedfan here but I can't assure it will work for you.

Hope you find a solution,

kem579

[AW_]

Thanks for your reply. So I have HP CoolSense and I switch that between on and off. It doesn't seem to make a difference. When I look at my task manager, my CPU usage is still really low so I don't think it's corrupt processes. 

I tried entering the BIOS again and actually I think I got it this time. While on the "restarting" screen, I tapped F10 (without FN) like it was prom night and FINALLY I entered the BIOS. I switched the fan from always on to disabled, and that WORKED for getting rid of the CONSTANT whirring (which was my main, anxiety-driven issue), but the fan is still RIDICULOUSLY sensitive. Just being on Chrome, without watching video, makes it whir loudly again every two minutes or so. 

For when I'm in class, what I do is turn on Power Saver, switch fans from active to passive, and reduce the maximum power state percentage rate. That makes it so the fan DOES NOT WHIR IN CLASS AT ALL. Then again, my computer performance is kind of limited in those situations, so I can't really watch video/Tweetdeck is kind of slow. 

I still want to know how to make my fan not run loudly every two minutes. Just now (I'm on HP Recommended power state), I switched the system cooling policy from active to passive. That didn't help. It's frustrating that using my laptop at the most basic level means I have to deal with a loudass fan every two mins. I hate that I have to sacrifice my processing speed in class or in public just so that it doesn't whir. I'm not gaming or anything during these times. Again, this really sucks paired with social anxiety. 

[AW_ · Accepted solution]

Finally solved the issue! I bought an Asus laptop.