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[HP Probook 4710s] My fan won't start

Slydox Posted messages 42 Status Member -  
Slydox Posted messages 42 Status Member -
Hello/Good evening to you, Here is the text translated into English, preserving HTML structure and wording as closely as possible: Hello/Good evening to you,

So here I am, I’m presenting my big problem: For a few days now, the fan of my portable HP ProBook 4710s has stopped working, despite the very high temperatures that keep rising on my poor processor and my poor motherboard, this is problematic, I would like to have your help.

This problem had already occurred a few months ago; I had then taken apart my PC to clean the inside in an impeccable way, then I reassembled it, nothing had changed but after some time the fan started working again. I told myself then that it would happen the same this time, but even though I redid these actions, nothing!

I then considered looking on the internet for a solution; the only thing I found on forums is the existence of software that allows changing the fan speed, and the problem again is that none of the several ones I tested managed to make my fan respond...

I come back to the people of CçM.net! Could you help me?
(If necessary, I will provide more information)

Thanking you, Slydox.

10 answers

  1.
    soulsy Posted messages 2939 Status Member 367
     
    Good evening,

    Have you tried Notebook FanControl?
    https://www.computerbase.de/forum/threads/vorstellung-notebook-fancontrol-nbfc.1070494/

    It's the only software I found that could control the speed on this laptop personally.

    The download link seems to point to the developer's SkyDrive space, I can give you the direct link in a private message if needed. The latest version is NoteBookFanControl-0.14.4.60.beta

    I’m not sure if it’s the case on your computer but I noticed the fan was always running at full speed, or at least making a lot of noise even if the CPU temperature is below 40°C... That's why I looked for software to adjust its speed. Anyway, perhaps that might have caused a bit premature wear due to that excessive speed, which would explain why yours is dead today ??

    Otherwise, there is an option in the BIOS like "Fan always on while on AC power" (fan always on when plugged in), but I don’t think that will make your fan restart...

    You should be able to find a replacement part on eBay for not too much. And just to finish, the software I suggested didn’t completely solve the problem because the fan sometimes still runs quickly... The ventilation on this laptop is very bad (HP’s poor design, for a ProBook...). I saw a forum where the guy drilled holes under the fan so fresh air could come in. You who took it apart, do you think that’s doable?

    PS: you’ll damage your CPU if it overheats too much ...
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  2. Slydox Posted messages 42 Status Member
     
    Person... ? :/
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  4. Slydox Posted messages 42 Status Member
     
    Good evening, thank you very much for your reply, no I haven't tried this software (I've tried 4 or 5 I think, all without success). On the site you sent me, I couldn't find the download link, so I would really appreciate it if you could send it to me in a PM, that would be very kind of you!
    Edit : I found it, but the problem now is that it doesn't work, unless I don't know how to use it, a little private tutorial (or here) would be welcome... ^^"

    Otherwise, going back to my fan, yes sometimes it made a helicopter-like noise, but that was quite rare, otherwise it ran normally, this kind of bad luck happens to me suddenly... I thought about looking into it and tinker with the BIOS tomorrow, I think that's the only chance left, well before you reply to me.
    I'll check with my parents about eBay (minor, no blue card ;( ) if the solutions you provided haven't been the solution.

    And about the holes under the PC, yes I think it's doable since it's quite close to the bottom of the computer, but as I said earlier, I am married to misfortune, I won't take any risks and I'll talk to a repairer, maybe they can do it without risk.
    (I dismantled the PC but not completely, I stopped at the surface of the fan to remove the main dust, clean it... to remove it completely from the computer is a real mission, this model is really not the best in this regard...)

    Thanks again for your response!
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  6. soulsy Posted messages 2939 Status Member 367
     
    To test quickly with the notebook fancontrol app, you can move the slider to the right (located at the very top, this sets the speed in percent, 0% = fan off) and then click the "Set" button (top left).

    If you click the gear icon (top right), you should see that the configuration for the HP 4710s is loaded. Personally, it loaded automatically for me; I didn't need to select it from the list.

    Thanks for the info; evidently your fan didn't seem to run continuously like mine. Maybe there’s something to update (the BIOS?) or not to fix the issue... or just a bit of cleaning. Not keen on updating the BIOS and risking a crash anyway.
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  7. Slydox Posted messages 42 Status Member
     
    That’s exactly what I did at the start, but nothing happens, just like for the others…
    So the hypothesis is this: I’m not up to date with everything?

    Maybe it’s because my PC was reformatted about a year ago (a little less, I think), the repair guy might not have installed everything?
    Do you have any idea what I should do to fix it if that’s the case?

    I’m really hesitant to touch the BIOS tomorrow, but I don’t know much about it, it seems risky if I make a wrong move…

    Should I install/reinstall several drivers available on HP’s site?
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  8. soulsy Posted messages 2939 Status Member 367
     
    Sorry, I miscommunicated. For the updates, I’m talking about on my PC to solve the issue of the fan running continuously.

    In your case, I think your fan is dead or it is disconnected (after a shock...) or there is a bad contact...

    For the BIOS, I don’t think it will solve your problem either, so if you have the courage to go there it’s not that serious. Just a precision, this kind of BIOS is very limited and it is therefore difficult to do something that will block the machine and there is always an option to load the BIOS default settings in case needed.

    I just looked on eBay, you can find fans for around 10 euros and for 20 euros, you have the heatsink with it. You should search in English “fan probook 4710s,” for example. In French there are 70 euros, but the price is really ridiculous I think...

    In fact, for 10 euros, it comes from China or the United States, so it’s not great (shipping costs, delivery time), it’s better to look for something that comes from Europe even if it’s a bit more expensive.
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  9. Slydox Posted messages 42 Status Member
     
    Ah, I wish you good luck with your problem too (At least you’re sure it won’t fry your PC!)

    I think it’s dead, but the thing is it sometimes starts working, so is it dead or do I just need to fix the problem?

    I’ll tinker with the BIOS, but by resetting it to default if I mess up, will I lose all my data?

    Otherwise, I do think about buying a new part, thanks again for your answers
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    1. Slydox Posted messages 42 Status Member
       
      Here, my fan is running right now as I write, but for how long..?
      Edit: 2 minutes...
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    2. Slydox Posted messages 42 Status Member
       
      To my great surprise, I noticed that the fan starts up as soon as the computer reaches 70°C (Critical Mode) and keeps spinning until it drops to 50°C.

      It's the first time in a long while that it responds, so it's not dead!

      I tried to control it again with your software, but nothing happens, the fan is true to itself!

      I was wondering if it would be possible, for example, by tinkering with the BIOS, to make it run as soon as it reaches 20°C? (In other words, always)
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    3. soulsy Posted messages 2939 Status Member 367
       
      In the BIOS, there won’t be that kind of option. And there’s no risk of wiping everything by loading the BIOS defaults; it only changes BIOS options. So for your fan, it’s a bit odd. Either a bad connection as I mentioned, or it’s partly burnt and thus only starts when the voltage is higher. Well, that’s a hypothesis; I don’t know enough. I only know that the fan speed is proportional to the voltage applied to it. You can test by setting the software slider to 100% (all the way to the right) if it isn’t already?
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    4. Slydox Posted messages 42 Status Member
       
      As I told you, all the software I tested don’t recognize my fan, unfortunately, this one doesn’t get away from the rule either... I’ve tried pounding on that poor little "Set" button, nothing changes...

      I went into the BIOS, but the thing is, it’s very small, there’s nothing special, I couldn’t even access the fan options, I’m disappointed.... (And you were right!)

      Your hypothesis seems coherent to me; what would be needed, then, is for me to manage to modify the voltage of my PC?

      And otherwise, tomorrow I’ll go to a corner near Paris where there are a multitude of computer shops (Rue de Montgallet for the connoisseurs), I’ll explain my problem to them, I’ll check the prices of fans...

      Thanks again for helping me!
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    5. soulsy Posted messages 2939 Status Member 367
       
      I live right next to Montgallet :) but I admit I don’t really know the shops and I couldn’t tell you if there’s one that could help you more than another; you can always ask for advice and request quotes. And you should also go to Boulevard Daumesnil and Rue de Charenton—the best places aren’t necessarily just on Montgallet Street, I think.

      Too bad about the software because it’s the only one that worked for me, even when the fan is running the software has no effect?
      For the voltage thing, I was saying that a bit randomly, I don’t know how the small DC motors that spin the fan work, but maybe there’s a burnt coil or I don’t know ...
      And if you blow into the fan (near the grill on the side) could that help it start? (you need to make it turn in the right direction...)
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  10. soulsy Posted messages 2939 Status Member 367
     
    Indeed, most of them are closed on Sundays, maybe a few are open on Sunday mornings but even that isn’t certain.

    Otherwise, to be sure that it’s really the fan that’s faulty, you could dismantle it and power it yourself at 5V or perhaps even 3.3V depending on the type; there can be 3 wires (a ground, the power/reference, and the control that varies between the reference voltage and 0V). It takes a bit of decent DIY, but with a few pieces of wire and some batteries to power it, it should be doable.
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  11. Slydox Posted messages 42 Status Member
     
    Yes, my cousin did actually tell me something like that

    He told me that with an adapter you could see whether it’s the fan or the motherboard that isn’t detecting temperatures properly.

    If it’s the 2nd option, I’m afraid it could be the end for my PC …

    He explained all that to me, but the problem is I’m not really sure how to go about tinkering with it :s
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