Cooling your computers is what make the computer last
I have had at least two laptops, both HP laptops, that broke down due to a broken internal fan. The last HP was broken twice even. And the last time it broke down it wasn´t fully diagnozed by HP tech service at their head quarters repair dep. in Stockholm. Due to the internal fan I got a complete screen madness and shut down of my laptop. Couldnt work with it. But considering it now, two years after it broke down, surpricingly, it seems to work okey when using a two fan laptop cooler from Targus, 29 euros, or was it 19 euros on a sale? Around 2-300 swedish kronor making this old laptop work again. I now use it mostly to beta-test stuff, and for a last resort, would my current Dell laptop brake down.
Because Swedish Dell sales, customer service still haven´t got back to me, to give me an estimate of what an extended hardware support for my Dell Inspiron 7520 Laptop would cost, I need to be prepared better this time, would anything happen to my curent Laptop. The Swedish Dell technical support is actually great. They have alwaysed help me. But the Swedish Customer Service, Sales support, is poorly, and have once again shown that they are not good enough. It is Dell sales and customer service people that always make me think twice, to buy a Dell. But when I do buy anything Dell hardware, I am pleased so far. I can not understand why Swedish sales and customer service is soo bad, to be honest. I really can´t. It should be something Michael Dell should look into. Or his top branch of people.
Anyway, back to reparing your laptop, regardless of brand. I wouldn´t hesitate to repair a desktop myself, but a laptop; it is just too many screws and special screw drivers needed, having to be bought. To much I could damage when trying to fix something on it. Nah, it is important to have a knowledge of which local repair shops to go to. And check for prices. I was, as an example quite surpriced to learn, that two years ago, replacing a fan on my old HP laptop, would mean I would have to repalce the mother board as well. It was so connected – according to the repair guy. And they would basically charge the full amount of a brand new laptop, with better set-up. While the video attached below, and a local repair shop pricelist, shows it is quite easy to replace a fan on a Dell Inspiron, the model I have.
So this means, I might, might, might, forget about paying Dell any extended hardware support this time around. I most probably won´t replace a fan myself anyway – I prefer paying a girl or guy to do it for me, being professionals as they are, to do it. And this video attached, really show how easy it is, and very well done video. Don´t seem to leave out the ”obvious” steps so many people forget to show, when they write tutotials and videos.
Cooling is probably, without any surveys behind me to back this statement, one of the most possible reason to why a laptop stop working. And if it wont cost much too fix it, then why not do it.
”Dell Inspiron 15R (5520 / 7520) CPU Cooling Fan Replacement Video Tutorial”
Also, when using a cooling plate like the one from Targus, or any other brand, such as my current favorite Cooler Master U2 Plus, I would suggest placing a small bag clip between the laptop and the plate in the front – especially when using the cooler from Targus. It lifts the laptop and creates even better cooling, letting the air flow even better.
So, cooling people, thats what´s imporant. Start by buying yourself a cooloing plate, like mine from Targus. I know a guy in the US who built an interesting custom made cooling box system for his old laptop. The cooling is always what is so important to think about. especially if you work the laptops and desktops as hard as I do.
Stefan Lindblad
Illustrator, graphic designer and artist
www.stefanlindblad.com
