how to force the fan to stay on?

I have an old gateway mt6451 running vista service pack 2. It is always too hot but the fan does not always run. The hd temp according to acronis disk manager has gotten over 120 F. Is there some way to make the fan stay on? I would prefer to not have to buy or use a cooler all the time. Even when I am just browsing the web and not doing hd intensive things, it stays above 110F. I have already checked to make sure it is not dusty inside and just recently replaced the HD. I would rather not cook the new drive and kill it. This machine has run very hot since I got it 4 years ago. I have never been able to put it on my lap without getting burned.

Thanks for any help.

p.s. if this belongs in the software section feel free to move it.

 

Turning up the fan won't cool the hard drive.

140F=60C
110F=43C

 

Your best solution for a hot running HD is an SSD - if it is also appropriate for your actual workflow (and budget, of course) too.

An external notebook cooler very effectively cools down the HD in many (all I've tried) notebooks. This may be your least expensive solution.

What HD do you have there now, btw?

 

OK. I just installed the acronis disc manager yesterday to test the old drive and it failed so I bought a new one. ( the old drive had a ton of reallocation errors and did not want to boot sometimes). The default warning settings for disk manager are warning at 107F and critical warning at 120F. Should I just ignore it or change the settings? Uninstall it?

I just now installed CUPID hardware monitor and it has the cpu temp at 71C core 0, and 74C core 1, while sitting idle on the desk top. I am not even using that computer to write this. The max temp it has is 74C/78C while using it to install the monitor. I have no idea how hot it got yesterday while installing every thing. It just seems very hot. If those are not dangerous levels , I guess I will ignore it. The computer is running well with this new install.

I do have it up on a wire rack so it has good air flow.

While writing this , I looked over at the Gateway and it now says that the current is 66/68 with the max 75/82C

 

74C idling?

Yeah, try re-pasting that cpu first!

This is an excellent tip/link I just recieved:

See
http://forum.notebookreview.com/6904288-post9.html


If you can't do it yourself, have someone do it for you.

With two cores it definitely will overheat and BSOD on you.


Btw, the wire rack will not be as effective as something like a Zalman notebook cooler - especially for something that runs as hot as AMD cpu's run.

Good luck.

 

Wait. Those temps are dangerous for an HDD? :S

 

The "best" solution sir? I guess, it you're insulated for the economy. As for me, I work for my money.

That's better. And certainly the more practical for most of us.

I'd be interested in know that too.


On a side note, I'd always considered it strange that the fan turns off with the computer since a minute or two of post operation cooling would be beneficial. At the very least, I'd like to be able to set that option.

As it stands, I just don't shut down until after I've closed all operations (then let the fan cycle down) before I shut off my computer.

 

Krane, when did 'best' mean 'cheap'? lol...

I too work for my money - notice I didn't recommend any specific SSD - just the 'idea' of one.

 

Thanks for the link for instructions on re-pasting the cpu. Nice link.
I just redid it and it seems to have brought the CPU temps down a little. They are running in the mid 60s C. They were in the high 60s and low 70s C. Even when I ran netflix for a while, they did not spike up to the 80's C like before. It is still plenty hot though. The HD seems to be staying about 42 C(107F) so no change in that.

The drive I put in is just a WD 160G. Not wanting to do anything expensive to revive this old rig. It is just an extra for kids to mess around with when they come over. I am just not ready to trash it yet.

I do want a SSD or at least a hybrid drive on my personal computer later next year. Yep that idea sounds good to me too. It is my next upgrade for me and maybe my husbands- but not for spare old backup computer.

The only other thing I can think of to try and drop the temp is undervolting, but I have never tried that before. Is it fairly easy or should I leave that idea alone?

 

As far as the WD is concerned...Ugh! Otherwise, your temperature are not bad. Most reviews I've read for new models run as hot or hotter.