Fan Gets EXTREMELY loud on HP-dv7-6135dx laptop

[tragetica]

Hey everyone,

I love my HP laptop and this is the first issue I’ve ever had with it.  Sadly, it’s like my child, and I love it so.  I am very worried about it.  In the past few weeks the fan has gotten ridiculously loud and sometimes it’s to the point that it makes the computer vibrate never mind being annoying.  I went in the BIOS settings and changed the fan from being always on to on and off so it does shut off sometimes now.  I've tried spraying some canned air into the vent to clean it and it helps a little then is back to loud shortly after.  The fan probably needs to be replaced but seeing as my laptop is out of warranty I don't know what to do.  I could take it to Geek Squad or a local PC repair store.  Does anyone know how much a fan replacement on a laptop usually costs?  Is it hard to do yourself?  This is very distressing.  I haven't had any issues with overheating yet as I always keep the laptop on a desk and I have an oversized battery so the laptop always has airflow beneath it.  I downloaded a program called Speedfan and had no luck with adjusting the fan speed.  I just really want this to be fixed and not cost me an arm and a leg as I am laid off.  Can anyone point me in the right direction as to what I should do.  The fan wasn't always like this as I said this happened not long ago.

Its an HP dv7-6135dx Notebook

It's product number: LW174UA#ABA

I am running on Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit Service Pack 1

The processor is Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-2410M CPU @ 2.30GHz

The GPU is Radeon (TM) HD 6490M integrated with Intel(R) HD Graphics Family Chip (switchable)

Thanks Alot,

Timothy

[Moxzot]

I have the same laptop and i bought a new fan for mine about 1 month ago cause the one in it was shot, just its time i suppose, but you have to remove the whole board then remove the heatsink and unscrew the fan from the heat sink and reverse to replace the fan if you dont know how to do this you will have to let someone else do it for you took me 30 mins to do mine worked fine after that but i got a bad fan so im going to have to send it back for a replacement, anyways hoped this helped with your question, also try blowing it out with an air compressor not a can of air cause they dont have the same force air compressor cleans far better 

[Dragon-Fur · Accepted solution]

Hi,

I am sorry that your system is giving you trouble at a time when it is hard to just take it in and get it fixed.  It is always this way, it seems.

You are right to make sure the notebook is clean inside; there may be something still stuck in it - a bit of lint or little tiny bits - after a couple of years things do find their way into the vents.  Maybe you are lucky and this is all it is.  Just in case this happened, you can take another shot of cleaning it from the outside:

• Shutdown the notebook, disconnect any external bits and the power from it.
• Get a little wooden toothpick and stop the fan from turning in the large vent on the side (or back depending on model).
• Using a can of compressed air, from a few inches away, gently and repeatedly, using short bursts, spurt the the air into the vent to dislodge any dusty bits.
• Repeat the cleaning part for the other vents - toothpick not needed...

Next, go to the hardware store and get some tall rubber "feet", little circles or squares of plastic / rubber.  Place a "foot" on each corner of the bottom on your notebook, two of the feet on the edges of that nice big battery.  This is to get even more clearance under that notebook for more air circulation.

Go to your nearest Electronics store and buy a notebook cooler.  You can get a really fancy one with an on / off switch for about $70 US -- you can get a cheaper one that will work just fine for less money.  The coolers run on USB 2.0 so you do need a USB port available on the notebook.  If you have too much stuff already connected to your notebook, buy a little USB hub -- if the HUB has it's own power supply, and the hub will be turned on all the time, make sure you buy a cooler with an on / off switch so you can turn off the cooler when you are not using it.  It is actually a good way to go, but it does cost more to set up to buy both fancy hub and fancy cooler and I am mindful of your finances.

Put the notebook with new tall feet on the new cooler, turn on the cooler and Ta-Da!  Extra cooling for that struggling notebook!  Weak Magic.

When you get back to work, you can have someone look at your nice notebook and see what needs to be done next.

Good Luck!

I hope this helps.  It is not a fix - it is a Workaround, and maybe it will do for now.

[tragetica]

thanks for the ideas they are very much appreciated.  I probably will get a cooling pad because it seems that the heat triggers the fan to start obviously so less heat less noisy fan, as a temporary solution.

do you have any idea how much a fan replacement would cost? general estimate?

[Moxzot]

I did my own for about 30 bucks but if you dont feel comfertable doing it your self it could run up to 60-100 just a guess on that but you might get it cheap

[kayakdude]

$20  to $30 on eBay, most from China or Hong Kong so order one, wait a while. Meanwhile, save yourself a small collection of plastic yogurt tubs (or an egg carton)  and buy a decent min-screwdriver set from the Depot, Harbor  Freight or similar, hopefully with handle head tops that revolve on your finger tip like good techies have. Go to your local music store and get a few guitar picks: you may need them to help you wedge-separate some of the "push-in" plastic connectors that some cases have on their long sides, just to help you start to open up...

Go to YouTube to see if there is a video showing you how to dismantle your notebook. There probably is...

 Failing that, do a "search" for "how to take apart your HP-dv7-6135dx', you'll be amazed at the copy you make with pictures to lay along side your "specimen" to aid in the surgery which ANYONE can do if you're really careful and follow the instructions without getting creative.  Don't forget to disconnect the powercord from the notebook, pull the battery out, push the ON button just in case and ground yourself by touching the back input metal or similar metal to discharge any static you might be carrying before opening the case. Save the screws in sequential yogurt tubs (or an empty egg carton), label them if you have to for memory lapses...and replace the darn thing yourself. It's one of those problems that doesn't go away by itself.

About the fan-stand: I have one of those in my condo in Mexico to beat the heat build-up that kills everything in time. Its a good long-term solution but has its own issues, namely its own fan noise which is considerable if you use your SOUND RECORDER  or find it distracting and

mine  is a USB powered device, which means that it puts an additional load on the power supply and converter in your laptop which means that you may be foreshortening its life...choice is yours.

[Dragon-Fur]

Tragetica,

The estimates given could be accurate -- it depends on where you, the quality of the replacement parts, from whom you order, whether you do the work yourself.  I use HP parts and I order from HP; I have that option.  The simplest approach is to call and ask for help if this option is available for you. 

Contact HP

Here is a good resource on figuring out whether you want to tackle the disassmbly:

Disassemble the HP Pavilion dv7 laptop

Here is the Service and Maintenance Guide for the dv7:

HP Pavilion dv7 Entertainment PC - Maintenance and Service Guide

YouTube is a great resource - Watch, watch, and look around at what is available.  There are videos on the subject that can help you decide whether you want to do this yourself.  Even if you do not do the job on your own, you will be better informed when you take in or send the unit for repair.

Remember that a key factor in any repair is the repair itself and to keep from damaging anything else in the process.  Be sure you have backups - more than one set and more than one kind - BEFORE you do anything that requires you to take apart your computer or to send it to anyone else for repairs. 

Because you are having issues with the fan, I would suggest it is important to have at least the Image backup of your system done anyway -- just in case you need it.  That fan may quit working and you want to have a means of recovery.

==================================================================================

Learn how to create recovery DVDs or to save a recovery image to a USB flash drive to restore all of the original software, in the event of a major computer problem.  Includes Video.

HP PCs - Creating Recovery Discs or Saving a Recovery Image to a USB Flash Drive (Windows 7)

HP PCs - Backing Up Your Files (Windows 7)

==================================================================================

Good Luck!

[tragetica]

I am thinking about buying this fan

http://www.ebay.com/itm/GENUINE-NEW-HP-PAVILION-DV7-6123CL-DV7-6135DX-LAPTOP-INTEL-CPU-Heatsink-Fan-...

what exactly is the heatsink?  do I need to purchase a fan with the heatsink included like the one above?

I have seen fans for sale online without heat sink is it possible to remove the heat sink from the fan and attach it to a new one?  I am guessing that buying one with the heat sink attached is alot easier to replace in terms of dis/reassembly.

Thanks for your help.

[Dragon-Fur]

Hi,

You want the whole assembly when you purchase the replacement fan.

Definition Heat Sink

Once you have the notebook opened, you may see the logic of replacing the unit as a whole instead of trying to take apart any extra bits.  It is not saving enough money and take it all apart and risk not replace something that needs it.

As to the part:  The part appears to be appropriate if you have the cpu-only assembly in that notebook.  The part number will be listed right on the assembly should you need something different. 

Examine the pages in the Service manual, specifically around page 95.  Note that the instructions indicate that the replacement parts should come with the thermal paste that you will need when you reinstall the fan assembly.  Because you are opting to buy from other than HP, do make sure you receive or that you purchase all the parts you will need for the job.

From InsideMyLaptop - how to replace the thermal paste

Replace Thermal Paste