BIOS thinks my fan is not working

[mmogul]

I have a HP (Compaq)Presario 6454NX Desktop using an ASUS P4G533-LA motherboard. This PC has two fans - one on top of the cpu and the other on the computer frame.

Here's the problem. There are two 3 prong connectors on the mobo to connect each of the fans. One is not working. This was not a problem until I upgraded the bios to a later version. Now the system recognizes that one fan is not working and automatically shuts the system down during the bootup process.

I purchased a 3 pin fan power Y cable (basically a splitter) that would allow me to connect both fans to the working 3 prong connector on the mobo. It worked - in that it provides power to the fan. However, the bios still thinks it is not working so it shuts the computer down.

So my questions are:

Is there another hardware workaround? Would an adapter that connects the fan to the power supply work? Or would the bios still think it is not connected?

or -- Is there a way to go back to an earlier bios version? If so, where would I find the version number and the file (silly me did not note what I was using before I upgraded)?

or -- is there a way to disable this fan test in the bios startup?

or -- should I just go out and buy a new mobo?

Thanks.

Mark

 

[acewarlock]

Have you tried to fix the bad connecter?




This is a Signature and not part of the answer, it appears on every reply.

This is an Analogy so don't take it personally as some have.

Why change the engine if all you need is to change the spark plugs.

 

[mmogul]

The connector on the mobo physically looks ok. So I wouldn't know where to start with it. I really don't want to get into soldering things on the mobo (don't have the tools or the know-how).

 

[acewarlock]

Do you have a voltmeter or continuty tester?




This is a Signature and not part of the answer, it appears on every reply.

This is an Analogy so don't take it personally as some have.

Why change the engine if all you need is to change the spark plugs.

 

[wahnula]

The BIOS revision # is the first thing that appears on the screen at boot-up. I have to hit "Tab" during boot to see this info on my Asus mainboard.

There should be a way to defeat the fan test in the BIOS, look under "Hardware Monitor" or change the "Halt On" setting.



Tony

Users helping Users...

 

[Lemon13]

do you need the new bios-version, if not step back 2 the older one.
check ur manual, wahnula is right!

 

[mmogul]

Acewarlock - I do have a continuity tester but do not know what I need to test here.

Wahnula - Your approach is could be the way to go. I can hit F1 and get into the setup. But when I get there, I do not see anything like "Hardware Monitor". I was hoping that there was so kind of undocumented way to get into some other kind of setup. (I tried pressing the "tab" key on startup but that did not help. I don't have a manual and can't find this model number on the Asus website.

Any ideas are welcomed.

Lemon3 - I would love to step back to the previous version. But I have not been able to find it on the Asus website. Any ideas?

Thanks everyone for taking the time to help.

 

[BadBigBen]

Hardware Monitor is also called on some BIOS versions as PC HEALTH ...

what ASUS mainboard are we talking about...

why did you update the BIOS...

it is possible that the attached FAN, is actually either damaged, or the fan spins at a lower RPM that the mainboard can not recognize correctly...



Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

 

[mmogul]

Hi BadBigBen - The Asus mainboard is ASUS P4G533-LA. The reason I updated the bios -- I had a disk crash. After I reinstalled windows, I had to update a number of drivers. When doing all these updates, I just wasn't thinking and did a bios update as well. Unfortunately - I did not follow your motto. (I am getting close to the second part of your motto).

I am getting into the bios by pressing the F1 key at startup. Are you suggesting that the Hardware Monitor is found another way or would it be found in one of the submenus? (I've looked but I can't find it).

The fan appears to be spinning properly - but you could have a point.

 

[acewarlock]

Even though you have the fan plugged in and working, the fan Monitor moniters the the current on the power connector it should be plugged into. As you don't have anything plugged in the Monitor thinks it's not working.

With the AC power disconnected use the tester to see if the is continuity from each pin on the MB connector to the next point on the MB. I'm thinking there in a bad Solder connecton on the Pins at the MB.




This is a Signature and not part of the answer, it appears on every reply.

This is an Analogy so don't take it personally as some have.

Why change the engine if all you need is to change the spark plugs.

 

[mmogul]

acewarlock - thanks but I did this first. I found the Hardware Monitor on the bios (it was on the second page on one of the screens). I had actually been there before but did not realize the name of it.

Anyway - the settings for the fan monitor were set to ignore - which I would think mean that the computer should not care if the fan is working or not. I turned each one (system and cpu) back on to monitor and after each change rebooted. Every time had the same problem. By the way, the system fan was showing zero rpm, even though it is spinning, which makes sense given your comment.

Then I did the reverse so they were set back to "ignore".
Get this ... after the last setting where both fans are set back to ignore, the system started up and windows loaded. Frankly, I have no clue why it now started when I'm back at the exact same settings as before.

Hopefully this sticks.

Thanks everyone for your thoughts.

 

[acewarlock]

Sometimes turning things on and off and back on again wakes them up and they start working again.




This is a Signature and not part of the answer, it appears on every reply.

This is an Analogy so don't take it personally as some have.

Why change the engine if all you need is to change the spark plugs.

 

[wahnula]

The BIOS version appears on the screen before you are prompted to enter SETUP, it is one of the first things you see. The "Tab" option is only for newer M/Bs.

Sometimes this information flashes by too fast to read it, in the past I have found it handy to have a digital camera on hand to take a picture of the BIOS screen's info as it flashes by. I have an older Asus M/B, on the screen after boot it first says the BIOS maker, then "ASUS P4S8X BIOS REVISION XX.X". (Happened too fast to note the revision...)

On the first page of this board's BIOS setup is a "HALT ON" option, with choices for "no keyboard" etc. but this will just stop the boot, not shut down the system.

I would note the BIOS revision and then go back one version and see if the problem clears up. If not you may have jarred the HSF away from the CPU during your repairs.

Tony

Users helping Users...

 

[gbaughma]

It could be that the fan went bad.

If it is reporting 0 RPM, sounds like the sensor on the fan may have gone.... can you swap the fans (you said you had two with 3-pin connectors) and see if the problem follows the fan, or stays on the same header?



Just my 2¢
-Cole's Law: Shredded cabbage

--Greg

http://parallel.tzo.com

 

[mmogul]

gbaughma: Regarding the fan -- I know it is good because if I switch it to a different connector on the motherboard, it runs and registers RPM.

But in any event, I have everything working now -- though I'm not quite sure why (see my previous thread)

Thanks.

 

[BadBigBen]

sorry, that I did not answer bofore now... but I am glad you have it up and running...

Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

 

[LawnBoy]

Then I did the reverse so they were set back to "ignore". Get this ... the system started up

I have seen this hundreds of times when dealing with EEPROMs (the type of CMOS memory chip that holds the BIOS code). Settings don't "take" until you change them to something else and then change them back (which re-writes the appropriate bits into the chip).

Why this happens I've never figured out. I run several distributed control systems that do this kinda crap to me all the time. I'm very sure it's the fault of EEPROM, but I don't have any way to prove it...

"We must fall back upon the old axiom that when all other contingencies fail, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth." - Sherlock Holmes

 

[mmogul]

Lawnboy - thanks. That's good to know.

 

[franklin97355]

If it happens again try taking the third wire (usually yellow) out of the plug and put it on the other connector. This is the tach wire and tells the computer the fan is spinning.

The answer is "42"

 

[mmogul]

Franklin97355 -- thanks. That is very helpful.

Mark