Every time I boot up my comp, I get a little message before windows pops up telling me my processor fan was not detected.

How can I fix this? How hard is it do install a new one, and where can I get a new one?

BTW, its a Dell Dimension 4500 desktop. Windows XP.

Thanks for any help!

-Casey

 

This happened to me when I first got my dell dimension. Just call dell up with your "service Tag" number and they might send you a fan to replace it, if not, you might have to pay a small fee. Very easy to replace the fan, dell cases have a tool-less design

 

Thank you!

I figured it would be easy, but wasnt sure if I would be on my own when getting a new fan.

 

Try taking it out, then re-installing it. Maybe it vibrated loose. I've unpacked new Dell's that get jolted during shipment and processor itself actually was dislodged. Just a thought before you purchase a new one.

 

Seen if its running or not, if not it could be a serious problem.

Dell fans have three or four wires. 2 are the power and the other tell the mother board that there is an operating fan. When the processor fan died in my dell I got a replacment from tigerdirect. It didnt have the wires that tell the motherboard there is a fan. So everytime I boot the computer I get the same message you do.

Start by just seeing if the fan is working. There is probably 2 fans in your computer. One for the power supply and one for the processor. The power supply on a dell is gonna be the fan toward the top, the one more toward the center is the processor fan. Just put your hand on the back and see if its blowing air.

If it was making a loud noise for a while and now its not. Its probably a dead fan.

 

If it quits blowing: 1) It should give the message that the fan has quit 2) the processor will get very hot
The BIOS should shut down the computer when the processor reaches a certain dangerous temperature.