Top 10 Fixes for a CPU Fan Not Spinning

The computer hardware will get warm no matter what. It will heat up depending on how it is used; for example, if you type in a word processor, it heats up, but if you play a game, it heats up, and if you have too many tabs open in Chrome, your system will go supernova.

Fans are installed in the system chassis to protect the system from heat damage. They activate when the temperature rises and turn on if the system gets too hot.

It is important to remember that the CPU fan will stop spinning when the CPU temperature is low or you are not running any power-hungry programs. In this article, we will look at how to fix the CPU fan not spinning problem and fix any fan problems on your PC.

Why is cooling necessary?

Cooling is essential for optimal computer performance. This can be achieved through the use of cooling systems, coolants and, most commonly, cooling fans. When you find that the CPU cooling fan is not spinning, this is cause for concern. While this may not be a cause for concern, when combined with CPU overheating, it is a cause for concern.

Computer power supply (power supply) fan, CPU (central processing unit) fan, case/chassis fan, and GPU (graphics processing unit) fan are all examples of fans. To save space and weight, laptops are usually equipped with a single fan.

Users are reporting that their CPU fan has stopped spinning; as a result, the machine overheats, gives a BSOD and shuts down due to thermal monitoring. Some of them won’t even turn on the computer. They may encounter a fan error during the boot procedure.

Often these are measures that protect the computer from overheating due to a faulty fan in both cases.

Power supply fans, CPU fans, case/chassis fans, and GPU fans are all examples of computer cooling fans. According to users, when the CPU fan stopped spinning, the system would overheat and give a BSOD. The machine would shut down due to the heat control system.

It may take some time to turn on, as there may be a problem with the fan during the boot process. This post will discuss the problem and how to solve it. It contains the main tools for solving the situation “if your processor fan does not work.”

Why did the CPU cooler stop working?

If the CPU fan is not spinning, the problem could be with the fan, motherboard, or power supply. The fan may become clogged with dust and lint, preventing it from rotating. The fan wiring can also get in the way of the blades, preventing the fan from spinning (these fans don’t have that much torque).

Your motherboard may be the source of the problem; if the circuit supplying power to the fan is burned out/shorted, the fan will not spin. The same problem can occur if your PSU (PSU) cannot provide the 5V or 12V required to run your fan.

The power supply is often built into the motherboard of laptops. This can also happen due to several circumstances which are listed below:

1. Problems with the BIOS

ATX motherboards have so far been able to control CPU temperature and fan speed through BIOS settings. As a result, there is no need to open the case of the device to inspect the CPU fan. Instead, you can enter the BIOS settings while your device is starting up.

The BIOS may not be able to monitor the speed and temperature of the CPU, which may suggest that the CPU fan has stopped spinning.

This problem is almost certainly caused by

• The power cable for the CPU fan is connected incorrectly: for example, if you plug a CPU fan into the chassis fan power connector on the motherboard, it will not be controlled by your BIOS fan and will be marked as unusable.
• Contact Issue: The BIOS will report that the CPU is not working if the CPU fan power cable is not making proper contact with the motherboard.
• Processor fan design flaws: It is also possible that the processor fan has a design flaw and is causing it to fail.

2. Improper installation of the CPU fan

The CPU is installed on the computer motherboard and the CPU fan is installed on the CPU. The CPU fan will not work properly if it is installed incorrectly.

3. Dust in the CPU fan

If your computer has been used for a long time, it may generate a lot of dust. If there is a lot of dust on the CPU fan, the CPU speed may slow down and the CPU fan may fail. To keep the CPU fan working properly, it should be cleaned regularly.

4. Stuck CPU fan bearing

If the CPU fan stops spinning, the bearing in the CPU may be clogged after a long period of use. This is a common problem that affects most people every one or two years.

5. Faulty CPU fan

The CPU fan is a component that can fail if it is overloaded. The CPU fan will stop spinning if it is broken.

Since cooling is very important for your computer, you should fix the “CPU fan not working”problem as soon as possible.

This article will address the issue, show you how to fix it, and provide typical fixes.

What are the signs that the CPU fan is not spinning?

The CPU fan on the processor is designed to keep it cool so it doesn’t overheat and get damaged. When you turn on your computer screen for the first time, it makes noise. Computer CPU fan failure is a common problem that affects both desktop and laptop computers.

A failed CPU fan can be the source of any or all of the following problems:

• The computer often shuts down without warning: if it shuts down and doesn’t restart until you press the power button, it could be a fan problem.
• Computer can no longer start: If your computer won’t turn on, the CPU fan may not be spinning. As a result, the motherboard may be damaged.
• No Boot Logo Visible: It is possible that when you turn on the screen, there is no CPU fan sound and no boot logo is displayed.
• The computer is too hot to work: The fan should turn on when your computer reaches a high temperature after prolonged use. It is faulty if you can’t hear the fan spinning.
• CPU fan does not turn on: The CPU fan does not turn on when the system is turned on.

You can use the computer check tool to check if your computer’s hardware and software are up to date. If the program detects that the CPU fan is not working, it will notify you.

What are the dangers if your CPU fan is not spinning?

When a CPU fan stops working, it can lead to various problems, including:

1. Computers often shut down without warning. Computers often shut down without warning, resulting in device failure or data loss.

For example, if your machine crashes unexpectedly, you won’t be able to save your data. Also, all your data will be gone if you restart your computer.

2. The CPU fan stops working: In this case, the CPU and motherboard may be damaged, making the computer unable to boot.

Solutions to fix that the CPU fan is not spinning

Here are solutions to fix the problem that the CPU fan is not spinning.

1. Restart your computer/laptop
2. Clean the wiring in the fan blades
3. Clean the fan from dust with compressed air
4. Replace motherboard
5. Replace power supply unit (PSU)
6. Get a new fan
7. Reset BIOS
8. Relubrication of bearings
9. Check if the CPU fan is properly connected to the motherboard
10. Turn your computer off and on again

Before moving on to the solutions, there are a few troubleshooting steps to follow:

1. Checking the fan connector

On most modern motherboards, a pair of fan headers can provide enough current for the fans. However, in your case, one of those headers was probably not working due to a power outage or something.

As a result, it is obvious that before we start, we need to double check if the fan connector is working. For this reason, we suggest unscrewing and removing the PC case. The cable connecting your FAN to your motherboard should now go straight into the fan header.

Remove this PIN from the Fan header and your FAN will be disabled. Replace it in another fan header on the motherboard (they should be accessible at the edges of the board) and see if the fan now turns on with the PC. Your PC case fan is not spinning due to a faulty fan connector, if that happens.

2. Voltage monitoring

Another way to check if the PSU is working properly is to check if the FAN is getting the correct voltage from the PSU or motherboard. Get a voltmeter and check the wire connecting the fan to the power supply or motherboard, depending on your device, to see how much voltage it’s getting.

“3-5V”or “12V”are the two most common voltages used by most fans on the market. If your computer isn’t getting these numbers, it’s likely that your power supply or fan is defective.

If there are no other problems with the computer, the problem might be with the fan not being able to draw enough power to power itself.

3. Run a diagnostic test

The most specific and practical test we can perform to evaluate fan functionality is to run startup diagnostics to determine if the components associated with your motherboard are actually working properly.

Turn off the computer, disconnect the power line from the processor, then press and hold the “Power”button to remove all current from its components. Reconnect the power cable, restart the computer, and immediately press the “F12″key to go to the boot selection page.

To perform a diagnostic scan,

• select the Diagnostic option and press Enter using the arrow buttons to move the selection pointer to perform a diagnostic scan.
• When the diagnostic scan is complete, the computer will ask if you want to run a memory test. Select no on this page because we don’t have to.
• After that, a 32-bit scan will begin; select “User Test”on the screen if there is a choice, and then select “CPU Fan”as the specific device.

If you get the error “Error code 2000-0511 Validation 13133” after scanning, it means that the fan has failed and your motherboard cannot identify it. Try installing the fan in another system if you want to be sure, but it will most likely need to be replaced.

Now let’s look at each solution one by one:

Solution 1: Restart your computer/laptop

It will stop working because it gets in the way of a finger or debris. Even if the dust is removed, the fan will turn off so as not to be burned. Reboot your device to fix the issue.

Solution 2: Clean the wiring in the fan blades.

Cables to the fan motor can prevent the blades from moving because CPU fans have limited torque. Remove the fan and look for cables or other objects stuck in the blades. Secure the fan wire to the side with epoxy to prevent it from sticking to the fan blades.

3. Clean the dust off the fan with compressed air.

Fans are always clogged with dust. Deposits can hit the fan blades and prevent them from spinning because these fans don’t generate much torque.

You can clean the fan by taking it apart. Take a can of compressed air and inject it into the vents.

4. Replace the motherboard

Testing your PC with a running CPU fan is the only way to know if the motherboard is to blame for a fan issue. The motherboard will need to be replaced if it doesn’t spin.

If you have the required electrical ability, you should also check if the CPU fan output voltage is in the range of 3-5V (for laptops) to 12V (for desktops). At zero or less than the minimum required voltage, your CPU will not be able to start the fan. In this situation, you may also need to replace the motherboard.

Make sure the motherboard is compatible with the power supply and other components; if they are not, you will have to spend even more money to replace them.

5. Replace the power supply (PSU)

In some cases, replacing or repairing the motherboard is not practical. Replacing the motherboard will solve the problem since laptop power supplies are built into the motherboard.

However, your fan won’t work if you don’t have a 5V power supply, or 12V if you’re using a desktop computer. As a result, the power supply will need to be replaced.

The power supply should be replaced if you hear beeps, if more than one component (monitor, fan, keyboard, mouse) stops working, or if the system works briefly and then suddenly shuts down.

6. Get a new fan

If your fan does not work on another computer, you will need to purchase a new one. Before purchasing a new fan, double check that the fan terminals are receiving the correct power.

7. Reset BIOS settings

The BIOS is the power source for your fan. It can be reset to clear any incorrect settings and restore fan functionality.

Follow these procedures if you don’t know how to reset BIOS settings:

1. Turn off your computer.

2. Press the power switch and immediately press F2 to enter the BIOS configuration.

3. Press F9 to change the BIOS settings. Now you can see the BIOS screen.

4. Press Esc or F10 to save and exit the program. Then press Enter to restart your computer.

5. Check if the fan is running.

You can also turn off all power lines, the battery, and the CMOS battery, and then press and hold the power button for at least 30 seconds to reset the BIOS settings.

8. Relubrication of bearings

Since the bearing requires some amount of lubrication to function properly, the CPU fan may stop working due to excessive friction. As a result, lubricate it with machine oil to bring it back to life.

Remove the top of the CPU fan and spray a drop or two of machine oil along the fan shaft. This should increase his productivity.

9. Check if the CPU fan is properly connected to the motherboard.

If you get BIOS warnings when you turn on your computer, double check that the wiring between the CPU cooler fan and the motherboard is in good working order.

If that’s the case, then that’s good, as your fan will work as soon as you connect the cables correctly. Double check that you have used the correct connection method if this does not work.

10. Turn your computer off and on again

The torque of the fans placed in your system determines their rotation speed. This torque is predetermined at the factory and can be adjusted or reduced by the system depending on requirements. However, there is a limit to how far it can stretch.

Since the CPU fan has low torque, it can become clogged if a finger or any other debris gets caught on it. If a fan has been blocked in this manner in one startup cycle, it will not restart until the computer is restarted. As a result, in this step we will completely turn off and turn on our computer again to make sure that this is not the case.

How to troubleshoot if the CPU fan is not working?

Try using a separate fan header (terminals on the motherboard that connect to the fan/fans) to test the fan. The motherboard or power supply can be the source of the problem if it spins.

It’s a good idea to use a brand name fan. If it works, the problem is almost certainly with your fan.

If you have a multimeter, check the voltage between the red and black terminals. If it’s not 3-5V or 12V, the motherboard or power supply has a circuit malfunction.

All PCs have diagnostic tools. Using these tools, we will check the CPU fan as follows:

1. To turn off the monitor, press the power button. Immediately press F12 to get into the system boot settings.
2. On the boot menu screen, select the “Diagnostics”option.
3. The PSA+ window will appear, displaying all of the computer’s identified devices. All of them will be subjected to diagnostic checks by diagnosticians.
4. When the exam is completed, you will receive a notification asking if you want to continue with the memory test. No, this is the answer.
5. Diagnostics for the 32-bit version will begin. Select a custom test from the dropdown menu.
6. Use the fan as a test device. After the test is completed, the result will be shown.

If you see an error message such as “Fan – [CPU fan] did not respond properly”, your fan is defective and you need to replace it.

Conclusion

Since this is such a common problem, many people have been able to decide that the CPU fan is simply not spinning. The CPU fan may be ok. Usually another factor is to blame.

However, I hope you found this post helpful, and if you encounter other issues, please visit our website for more solutions.

FAQ

What is a BIOS?

The BIOS, or Basic Input/Output System, is the firmware in the core processor responsible for booting up your PC and is the most important application to run. The BIOS, usually found on the motherboard of your computer in the form of a chip, acts as a catalyst for the functioning of the PC.

Should the CPU fans stop spinning?

No, CPU fans should not stop spinning because your system will overheat and possibly become dangerous if they do. You should immediately look for the cause of the problem. This is usually due to old age, so you may want to get a new one.

Can a PC run without a fan?

No, your computer will not run without a fan. In some cases, the computer may turn on, but only for a short time. This is because the CPU will get hot while it is in use, and since there is no fan to cool it down, it will simply shut down.

Why won’t my computer turn on but has power?

The root cause could be the power button on the case itself, or the wiring connecting the button to the motherboard if your computer won’t turn on but the motherboard light is on.