Hello!
I've been getting an intermitent rattling sound coming from what I perceive the center fan on the laptop. It starts out as a terrible rattle (louder than the default windows startup .wav) then goes away after a few minutes, but comes right back as soon as I run an application.
I've been suspecting my laptop of having a heat problem because it will not often restart immediately after I shut it down once its been on for several hours. It seems as though it has to cool down before it will run again. I read a blog where someone stated that a fan with a rattling sound from the start and then gets quiet could be an indication of failure or at least underperformance.
I had to have the motherboard replaced about 6 months ago and according to Sager I now have the latest bios and even they found nothing else wrong back then.
I am not a stranger to the guts of computers, though I've never attempted to open up something as dear to me as my 3880. Since my laptop is now out of the warranty period I am considering trying to troubleshoot the fan myself, but I first want to make sure I am diagnosing things correcty. I'm also trying to gather information on what to expect when I open it up through a repair guide or fan replacement walkthrough.
The way I see it I am going to lose the laptop eventually to heat (and I do mean heat! I need to place a rag on the palm rest to protect my hand) so what do I have to lose by taking a chance at fixing the problem?
I would appreciate any information on fan troubleshooting and replacement anyone could provide. I would like to note that I have been operating the laptop with a cooling pad for the last 6 months and I am still experiencing uncomfortable temperatures. This fan has been getting worse and worse sounding and the new thing of not being able to restart for a few hours is starting to worry me.
Please help!
Scott
I've been getting an intermitent rattling sound coming from what I perceive the center fan on the laptop. It starts out as a terrible rattle (louder than the default windows startup .wav) then goes away after a few minutes, but comes right back as soon as I run an application.
I've been suspecting my laptop of having a heat problem because it will not often restart immediately after I shut it down once its been on for several hours. It seems as though it has to cool down before it will run again. I read a blog where someone stated that a fan with a rattling sound from the start and then gets quiet could be an indication of failure or at least underperformance.
I had to have the motherboard replaced about 6 months ago and according to Sager I now have the latest bios and even they found nothing else wrong back then.
I am not a stranger to the guts of computers, though I've never attempted to open up something as dear to me as my 3880. Since my laptop is now out of the warranty period I am considering trying to troubleshoot the fan myself, but I first want to make sure I am diagnosing things correcty. I'm also trying to gather information on what to expect when I open it up through a repair guide or fan replacement walkthrough.
The way I see it I am going to lose the laptop eventually to heat (and I do mean heat! I need to place a rag on the palm rest to protect my hand) so what do I have to lose by taking a chance at fixing the problem?
I would appreciate any information on fan troubleshooting and replacement anyone could provide. I would like to note that I have been operating the laptop with a cooling pad for the last 6 months and I am still experiencing uncomfortable temperatures. This fan has been getting worse and worse sounding and the new thing of not being able to restart for a few hours is starting to worry me.
Please help!
Scott
