I think it's broken..

[draggar]

I swapped someone's laptop the other day to get their issue resolved quickly. The network card in their laptop stopped working and then it wouldn't turn on.

I got the replacement motherboard today and when I swapped them out it was clear why it happened.



Nice!

Ant to top it all off, the user mentioned that their laptop would also get very hot. Gee, I wonder why. I wonder if this has something to do with it:



Yes, that is the fan and it is COMPLETELY filled with dust.

[Broomjockey]

Is... is that a crater? Uh... Wow.

[HYHYBT]

So how *do* you check or clean out the fans on a laptop yourself if opening it voids the warranty?

[draggar]

So how *do* you check or clean out the fans on a laptop yourself if opening it voids the warranty?

I don't void the warranty - I'm certified (in several ways). I can also open up most cell phones and not void their warranty.

[Broomjockey]

I don't void the warranty - I'm certified (in several ways).

I think he meant more how do we, the uncertified multitudes, do so.

[Sunflash]

I've noticed that the last couple laptops I've had whose company begins with a DUDE, have not had a 'do not open case or will void warrenty' on it.


Which is good, because I've had to fix more things in there than I should've. :|

[draggar]

What happened with this one is that they pushed their PCMCIA modem into the slot a little too hard and broke it - little metal pieces went on a trip to where the power connector connects to the motherboard (you can see it on the top left - plus on the other side is where it plugs into a docking station).

[HYHYBT]

Let me try that another way: My laptop seems hotter than it used to be. How do I find out whether it's just dust in the fan, and even possibly clean it out, without either voiding the 14 months of warranty I have left or sending it in?

[draggar]

Get a can of compressed air - make 100% sure you hold it upright, and blow it into the ventalation ports around the fan.