The Fan in My Laptop Doesn't Work Anymore
Cooling a laptop is more difficult than cooling a desktop computer. On a desktop, the fan and cooling vents are at the back of the tower, which never moves; but on a laptop, the fan and vents are on the bottom and can get clogged and stop working correctly. In some circumstances, your fan can stop working completely --- which manifests in different ways. Dealing with a problematic fan can be difficult.
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Examination
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The first step when dealing with a nonfunctioning fan is to find out if it's truly dead. Fans break down in stages, and laptops sometimes freeze when overheating --- which stops the fan, even though it isn't truly broken. Lift your laptop up and look at the bottom. If the vents are full of dust, there's a good chance the fan is too, and you can unclog it to start it working again. If you don't see a lot of dust but the fan doesn't turn on, it may have seized up entirely and will need to be replaced.
Problems
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You can usually use a laptop for a few minutes even if the fan isn't working, but at a serious cost. The computer will overheat quickly and when the CPU reaches a certain temperature --- which is different on every computer. Then the CPU locks up, and the computer freezes and sometimes turns off. If this behavior continues, parts of your computer could actually melt, and your processor or memory could fuse to the motherboard, leading to expensive replacements.
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Warranty
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Check the status of your laptop's warranty if you're sure that your fan is dead --- or even if it needs cleaning. Most laptop warranties become voided if you open the machine beyond the basics --- swapping a battery, replacing RAM --- so be careful about doing exploratory surgery on your own. If the system is under warranty, let the service company do these repairs. This often involves returning the system to the store where you bought it or sending it away by courier. This is a bit inconvenient since you'll be without the laptop for a while, but it will guarantee the repair.
Out-of-Warranty
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When your system's warranty has expired, you have to make a more difficult choice. You can order a replacement fan and put it in yourself or open up the laptop and look inside to see if you can't clear away the dust. For both scenarios, you'll have to find disassembly instructions for your specific laptop model. These are usually available through the company's support site or on forums.
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References
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