ok so i just turned on my laptop, a black screen comes up htat says FAN ERROR the it turns off. Is there anything i can do or do i just need to take it in for repair. Its an IBM T42 if that makes a differnece, and yea i got it from the bookstore so I was planning on taking it in if i couldnet figure out the problem, would just rather fix mine than have a loaner for however long it would take to get it fixed

7/6/2006 11:39:33 PM

It's the CPU fan...pretty easy replacement. All you have to do is remove the battery, keyboard and the keyboard bezel (touchpad, plastic part where hands rest). Since you got it from bookstore then it's probably under warranty so it should be fixed for free.

At ECU we are an authorized IBM service center so we do hardware repairs on site, usually a day turn around unless parts are on back-order. Does NCSU offer the same type of support? I know they offer the same warranty but I'm not sure if they offer on-site support or if they have to ship it off.

Either way, very simple repair. Use the following link for step-by-step instructions on how to replace the fan. It really is a 15 minute repair start to finish. Definitely easy enough for you to do but I don't know if IBM/Lenovo would agree. I don't think the CPU fan is what they consider an end-user replaceable part and if you do replace it yourself then technically you void your warranty. Besides, to get the part for free through your warranty you have to go through IBM/Lenovo (or bookstore).

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-46464

[Edited on July 6, 2006 at 11:53 PM. Reason : ctrl. + shift + esc]

7/6/2006 11:50:01 PM

call ibm first, tell them you are taking it to the bookstore and need a case number, keep track of that number and take your computer to the bookstore....they will give you a loaner and your computer will be back in a week or so usually

7/6/2006 11:55:37 PM

SUcks they have to send it off for such a simple repair. Hell, even motherboard replacements take less than an hour. Only time we send computers to IBM are when they have multiple broken hardware pieces from drops, spills, etc. All other repairs (LCD, motherboard, HDD, RAM, etc.) we do on-site.

Too bad you aren't closer to Greenville. I could have the part ordered tomorrow, here on Monday and the computer back to you by Mon. afternoon.

[Edited on July 6, 2006 at 11:59 PM. Reason : .]

7/6/2006 11:58:31 PM

^yeah tahts too bad

V thanks i apprciate it

[Edited on July 7, 2006 at 12:00 AM. Reason : ,]

[Edited on July 7, 2006 at 12:01 AM. Reason : ,]

7/6/2006 11:59:12 PM

1-800-426-7378

7/6/2006 11:59:40 PM

My fiancee's laptop was doing the EXACT same thing, I opened it up, and it turned out there was a ball of dust stuck in the fan, keeping it from moving. This wouldn't come out from using compressed air through the vent, I had to open the laptop up and pull it out. Works fine now. You might wanna try this. Could save you a few bucks.

7/7/2006 6:20:24 AM

Quote :

"Could save you a few bucks."

It's under warranty so his repair will/should be free. However, it could save him the hassle of getting the laptop repaired.

7/7/2006 6:59:53 AM

i wish i had a computer to read this this morning before sending mine off to get fixed

now i have to use this gay loaner laptop till mine gets back, I hate having to redo all the settings to get them just the way i like them(i am very anal about my settings and broke up with a girl once because she fucked them up harcore before...took me a week to get everything back to the way i liked it)


thanks for your help though guys i apprciate it

7/7/2006 3:14:06 PM