Noise - Fan problem?

[kbronski]

My laptop is starting to make a sound and I think it's the fan. When I put the fan port to my ear, I can hear some SLIGHT grinding, and occasionally it'll act up and make a loud grinding sound that is reminiscent of a DVD drive crossed with an old processor click. I do believe it is my fan, but to make sure, does anyone have insight as to what something like this may be?

And, before anyone asks, my computer:

HP Pavilion dv6t-6000 Quad Edition
Owned since May 2011.

This is my first hardware issue.

 

[rvcjew]

sounds like a fan with misaligned bearing and hopefully not your hdd, if you use hd tune what does your smart data show? does it have any warnings? does it make this noise when you are in the bios? here is a video of how to get to the fan it should be the same chassis yours uses i believe (don't open it if your still under warranty let hp take care of it.). HP Pavillion dv6 Complete Disassembly and Reassembly. 2011 Laptop - YouTube

 

[kbronski]

Everything checks out okay on HD Tune.

I'll check the fan and see if something's up with it. It could just be getting knocked around from carrying the laptop so much.

 

[madcratebuilder]

Lap tops seem to pick up more dust and lint than a pc. You may get lucky and clean the fan with a can of air. More than likely you well need to pull the fan, clean and service it, even replace it. Fans are cheap and the disassemble to replace them can be time consuming. With lap tops I replace with new, it's not worth the risk of possible over heating or going inside a second time.

 

[kbronski]

it's not worth the risk of going inside a second time.

You know, taking apart a laptop isn't all that bad as long as you're careful not to break anything (i.e. those pesky plastic clips).