Anyone good with computers?? Win2k Specifically

[jmgtp]

I have an ancient IBM Thinkpad 770 that I use for net access when I don't feel like being restricted to my desktop (wireless networks are nice).

Anyways its a P2 233mhz and 96mb ram, a lil slow but really not that bad for what I use it for. It's running Windows 2000 (I had a brief flirt with xp on it, but it's just too slow for XP). 2000 runs very well on it and is very stable, I really don't want to downgrade to 98 to cure the following issue:

The problem is that the CPU fan never comes on, and this thing gets pretty hot, especially if its on your lap. I read all over the net that XP and 2000 have issues with some thinkpads and the cpu fan. The fan comes on when I first start it up and runs at high and low speeds for a moment, but once windows starts to load it goes off and never comes on again. I installed all the windows service packs, hotfixes and such, via windows update. Still the fan doesnt work. In the bios (which is a pretty simple one) there is a test for the computers components and the fan checks out ok. Is there something I am missing or is this thing doomed to run hot? Is there any way other through windows to force the fan to run constantly? I know I could jump the fan but the case on this thing doesnt look like its gonna come apart easily and I don't want to break it.

Thanks,
John

[bszopi]

Interesting.... A friend of mine has this problem, but we figured it was because they forgot to hook the fan back up after is was sent in for other hardware service. Never thought it was a W2K specific problem. I'll have to look into it more, for both of you.

[bszopi]

Well, one issue was supposed to be fixed in SP2 (http://support.microsoft.com/default...roduct=win2000). That's all I've found so far....

[jmgtp]

Hmm... I installed the service packs and windows update has nothing left for me, so I really don't know what is going on with it. Thanks for looking into it

[jeremy96gase]

A friend of mine hand the same issue with his old toshiba laptop. Somewhere he got a program that turns on the fan when the program was actavated.
He might have gotten it from toshiba, but maybe not.

Have you contacted IBM about this issue?

[Sunthief]

Just wire the fan wires strait to a 12V source. Eg power to Hard drive or something. Just bypass the control for the fan. It should cause no problems to except using a little more power then needed. If its a 3 wire connector to the fan make sure you leave the RPM connected to the motherboard. It should be red, yellow and black. Contrary to what you would think the yellow is the RPM not the 12V. So use the red and black wire for the power.