CPU Fan Stops Spinning After Windows 7 Boots

Can anyone help?

How do you know it is not spinning?

By eyesight?

By ear?

By reading RPM from a program of some kind?

If it were not spinning, I'd expect the PC to shut down pretty quickly due to heat issues.

By eye, I have opened the case because the computer was freezing and I wanted to see what was causing it. So I noticed the CPU Fan stops spinning when Windows 7 has fully booted (around 5 seconds after I can see the desktop).

Also, when I booted in safe mode, the fan was still spinning.

I assume you cannot get to a fully booted Windows and operate normally?

Did this fan EVER operate properly on this motherboard with this Windows installation?

Have you reset the BIOS to defaults?

Windows 7 does operate normally. Until it freezes... but, how can I reset my BIOS settings? I know it's a dumb question... but I have never used the GIGABYTE BIOS before.

And this is a brand new build, 2-days ago. So, I'm quite sure it never operated properly. Also, if you think a part is defective please let me know which one you think it is.

You should be able to enter the Gigabyte BIOS by holding down the delete key while booting.

Then look for "load optimized defaults" or "load failsafe defaults" or something similar. Save and exit.

It may not help.

Have you knowingly made any changes in the BIOS?

You built it 2 days ago. Were you able to get to a desktop without freezing and do some normal stuff at that time? If so, I'd assume the fan was spinning. Intels are supposed to shut down before heat damage can occur, but I'm not sure if they can operate at a light load without a fan without reaching critical heat levels and shutting down.

Is that fan a 4 pin fan and does the CPU fan header have 4 pins? I assume the fan connector cannot be installed onto those 4 pins in any other fashion, such as rotated 180 degrees?

It's a 4-pin fan. I will try resetting my BIOS.