Yeah, this error pops up every time I start my computer. It'll say this:

"Alert! Previous Fan Failure.
Strike the F1 key to continue, F2 to run the setup utility"

And the entire screen is a blank, black color with this text only. I've been pressing F1 for a long time now and it lets me run my computer perfectly. I tried fixing this problem some time last year, asking the people over at Dell, but I ended up screwing up my computer, so I gave up. Dell really has horrible support. I guess since I just got a new hard drive, I don't want something to happen to my computer, even though I should have fixed this LONG ago.

Uhm... some basic information: Dell Dimension 4550, Windows XP, the problem started ~1 year ago.

Any help would be appreciated! Thanks!

You really need to take the necessary steps to replace the failed fan or risk frying something. One of my PCs is a Dell which had a fan failure with the same message as yours. In my case it was replaced under warranty but if I had let it go, I might have fried my CPU.

Wow. Any links or guides where I can get information on what fan to get, etcetera?

get a 12v fan, that has the 3 connector piece and you should be just fine.

Er... Where can I get this? How do I connect it when I buy it?

when you disconnect your old fan (dell) will have the same exact connector piece.. Fans aren't a secret, trust me, everyone in computers who use fans use the same thing... There is no other fan connector.. on the motherboard i guess i should say.

Alright, so it should be pretty easy to spot it, it'll be connected to the motherboard? So take out the old fan (keeping the wires and such), replace with new fan, and connect wires/connectors?

Also could you recommend a reliable 12v fan brand with a 3 connector piece and around how much the cost would be?

Thanks!

There are different types of fans depending on the purpose. You can remove the failed fan and take it to a shop or computer supply store and replace it with the same size and type. I'm talking about the fan only, not heatsinks. The wires and connector come with the fan so you just unplug the old one and connect the new one.

Note which motherboard connector the fan is attached to. There are usually more than one.

Heatsinks? Do I need to get one of those?

Any fan should be compatible as long as it has 3 connectors, right? Are there any reliable brands that sell fans which you could recommend me a good one?

Lastly, it's the fan connected to the motherboard, correct?

Thanks!

Any fan should be compatible as long as it has 3 connectors, right?No. As I said before, there are different fans. You could have more than one fan (two) on the motherboard. The main one is the CPU fan and the other would be the much smaller northbridge fan. You'll have to tell us which is not working. Check Newegg.com for fan types, sizes and prices. Keep in mind you shouldn't use a case fan for the CPU, for example. BTW, your motherboard could have other fans connected to the motherboard but not actually on the motherboard such as a case fan. If any of them failed, the BIOS might detect those as failures too. You just have to visually check all your fans to see which as failed. If it happens to be a case fan, that would be an easy fan to replace.
Lastly, it's the fan connected to the motherboard, correct?Yes, most likely. But as I said, there is more than one possibility.

If you can find an appropriate replacement fan, you don't need to replace the heatsink too. I only mention it so you don't automatically remove the heatsink with the fan. Just remove the fan. If you remove the heatsink, then you have to clean it and apply fresh thermal compound to the heatsink before reinstalling it. But keep in mind only the two motherboard fans (if you have two) have heatsinks. If a case fan is powered by a motherboard connection, there is no heatsink to worry about.

Okay, thanks! But how do I check which one is failing? Do I run my computer while the case is open and just visually check?

Okay, thanks! But how do I check which one is failing? Do I run my computer while the case is open and just visually check?

Yep.

Also, If it is your main CPU fan, then you may have to order a special fan. Dell uses this weird green plastic shroud that directs airflow from the Heatsink to the main fan in the back.

For example look Here (http://www.pcsurplusonline.com/viewprod.cfm?id=5835)

Lol, I'm a fan noob. I'll just check which one is failing and post here? What information do you need? Like... "the fan on my motherboard" is failing, or maybe there's #'s on the fan?

Sorry and thanks! :)

Okay, well, I checked anyways. The fan right above this cubish, silver thing with layers jetting out about the length of a pinky (I'm guessing it's the heatsink). A white/black/red twisted wire connects the Motherboard and fan. And it has a green colored lid thing covering it. It's the same one at this link: http://www.pcsurplusonline.com/viewprod.cfm?id=5835 that AtK SpAdE gave.

So... any suggestions? :)

Sooooo, I'm guessing I should just visit a local store and get that fan.

All I need to do is take out the old one and pop in the new one? Start my computer and I'm good to go. No need to run any programs to install the fan or anything?

hey there Sake and others -- I have the same problem and have been getting a runaround from my local repair shop. Also a Dell 8200 getting this "Alert! Previous Fan Failure. Strike the F1 key to continue, F2 to run the setup utility" on boot, then if I proceed the system runs very slow. They said I needed to reinstall my OS? Does that make any sense? (background -- I had no boot whatsoever a week ago, in advance of this problem, and they changed my video card. A few days later the "Alert" message started)

Would like to know if and how the problem in the above thread was resolved -- thanks!

i'm having the same problem too. I just checked out ebay, so i might give one of these a shot http://search.ebay.com/dell-dimension-4300-fan_W0QQfromZR40QQfsooZ1QQfsopZ1QQsbrsrtZd

Open the case up, ensure what fan is not spinning. If its the fan on the heatsink for the processor (fan on thing stickign up off the motherboard that isnt' a card) then yes, that can explain why your system runs slow. Modern CPUs have throttling when they aren't cooling properly to keep them from reaching damaging temperatures.

The ones Enrique linked on ebay will work just fine. If its the one with that green cup on it that is failed, then yes that is what you need to buy. If its a bigger one, those are just regular 80 or 120mm case fans, and don't buy from that ebay link because thats too expensive, even Staples sells cheaper and better case fans.

Just found this by googling that "previous fan failure. strike f1" error. That's after replacing the case fan, but not before. The one I bought was Antec SmartCool 92 mm. It has a connector to the PS and a signal wire to the MB. I thought that would prevent the Dell error, but it hasn't. I guess Dell's have "special needs".

Anyway, 92 mm is the correct size for Dell Dim 8200, and probably several other models. But you probably won't get rid of that error unless you figure something out that I haven't. I'll check back if I find anything out.

EDIT: I should have checked the next google result (http://hardware.mcse.ms/message108356.html) first. Disable Keyboard failure reporting in the BIOS setup. You'll still get the error, but it only lasts about 1 second, and you don't have to press F1. Oh, and replace your case fan first :)

Yes I can agree with benthere this is NOT a hardware problem -- I inspected the fans they were all working fine (actually my pet theory is that a fan I had outside pointing at the back of the box may have been turning the power supply fan the wrong way?) anyway rebooted a bunch and fiddled here and there and honestly don't know what the pivital action was but the message stopped and the comp is running better than ever (?) anyway good luck all!

One of my older PCs is a Dell 8250. It had a fan failure after about a year or less after I got it. The same message as you got, Gord. In my case before I could decide what to do, Dell called me first. Evidently they had a lot of such failures with a batch of fans. They sent a contractor out to my house and replaced the CPU fan at no cost. Lucky me, I guess. :)

Okay, I think this post might be the answer to your questions. I myself have a Dimension 3000 and when I replaced the fan because it was too loud, THATS when I got the same error message as you. Previous Fan error, press F1 to continue, or F2 for setup. Try this: press F2 for setup. once you're in setup there should be something that says 'Report keyboard errors'. Go there and use the arrow key to put "DO NOT report keyboard errors." That should work. Know why? Because I had been at it for months and THAT got rid of the error. Let me know if this works.

I also have a Dell Dimension 4550 and have been getting the same fan failure error message for well over a year now. It seems to me it doesn't mean the fan is still failing but that it has previously failed at least once in the past. I went into setup utility to one of the options that made note of such errors and marked them all as "read". My computer subsequently shut down and I got the same message upon rebooting it. I've been planning on rebuilding my pc and figured it's be best to get a new fan in the process if nothing else to get rid of that error message.

Hi all.

1. The error comes if at any time ever you have turned your PC on while the CPU Fan was NOT plugged in, or not reporting a signal. AKA busted.

2. Dell fans, much like the rest of dells parts are all custom fit. Their Power supplies (or most of them) have a different pin setup and the fans have a unique shaped fan attachment. I had to rip the piece out of the motherboard, leaving just the 3 bare wires sticking out. I stuck a standard fan onto it, everything works great. A CMOS reset does nothing, so there must be another backup somewhere. Your PC should run fine after the reported error is skipped/passed, unless you actually had a fan error and thus a heat problem.

3. I won my dell at work, and even then, I paid too much for it.

Just some insight.

Confirmed Dell Hater Says: Go to Dell support after all is said and done and update the BIOS. Then the message will go away permanently.

... after hacking together a Dell connector and off the shelf fan and pissing about in the BIOS settings for half a day...

(better yet, smash it to bits with a hammer and build one with off the shelf parts)

I have been getting the same error message for for several months and last week my computer totally shut down. I tried to restart and can not even get the power on. Any suggestions?

I work for dell computers and I thought I would reply so I can help you out free of charge.
All you need to do is go to the BIOS, by continually tapping on F2 immediately after you start your computer, then expand all the trees by hitting the right button on your keyboard and find event log and clear it out.
I had the same problem and that resolved it.

Have a nice day or night.

:0|

I think another possibility is the CPU has overheated and failed. You probably shouldn't have ignored the message so long. When I got that message on a Dell Dimension 8250 when it was still fairly new, the CPU heatsink fan failed. Dell replaced it under warranty. Evidently, at that time they were having a number of similar failures. To their credit they contacted me first and arranged a tech to come to my house and replace it free of charge. It's been fine since.

Greetings, I've also had this problem for many months, starting when I was replacing the 1.8 Ghz with a faster CPU, first 2.4 then 3.06 P-4s With 512/533 FSB - Front Side Buss. Anyway when exchanging the first 2.4 for the 1.8 I plugged the Case Fan's black connector to the white connector on the M.Board next to the CPU's Heatsink, - "only thinking about seeing if I'd gained much speed. When I started up I got a Fan Failure message and upon re-checking I seen I should have leaned forward another foot to see the correct colored receptical. So after that I got the Prev.Fan Failure most every time I'd boot up. - Along the way - I replaced everything in My Dell Dim. 8200's Case but the Power Supply. Mother Board, CPU a couple times, Different Fans, - I'm running 2 CPU Fans Replacing the original Case Fan and 1 on a new Heatsink also {pointing up to the Case Fan}, I also Upgraded upper Memory several times, changer original Graphics Card, I mean everything in My 8200's Case.but the Power Supply "Except the Modum".! No Good. I finally found a Dell Tech. that really researched the priblem I guess, He gave Me a combination that seems to work for a while then needs redone. It's ---> turn on ----> caps lock ----> num lock, ----> scroll lock, then hit, ----> alt e ----> alt b, ----> alt f, then let It do an "Automatic IDE configuration" for You. After It restarts I found that if I Shut Down, reboot, hit F2 for System, go to System Events - 2/nd from the bottom hit Enter at "System Events" Clear all the Fan Failures, Mark as read, hit Esc. and let Er' reboot, and It should hold for a few days or so [Knock Wood], Till You get to do the Drill again. Thank You. G.G.

It looks as if this is haunting everybody. It's a pain in the ....

Alright, I'm sick of trying to solve this problem through Dell--hoping you guys can help!

I had been having the same "previous fan failure" message, so I ordered a new fan through Dell spare parts. I had gotten a new laptop so I was really lazy about trying to fix the desktop (it's a Dell Dimension 4600C by the way), so it's been turned off for probably 2 or 3 months now. I tried to replace the old fan with the new one tonight. It came with an attached heat sink, so I replaced the blower and the heat sink. I plugged everything in and tried to turn the computer on, and all that happened was that the power button turned orange (I feel like it used to be green when functioning), the fan gave one loud blow, and then nothing happened. It just kind of sat there with the orange light on.

I took the new fan out, detached it from the new heat sink (which didn't have some little doodad on the bottom--a microprocessor maybe?), and tried attaching it to the old heat sink and trying again. The same exact thing happened.

Anyone know what might have happened? Or more importantly, how I can fix it? There's a lot of information on this computer that I really really don't want to lose. At the very least, how can I access all those old files to save them? I was bad about backing things up.

you must purchase one fan with 12v and its ampere should be around 0.42 A .

thats it you will not face any problem again

Alright, I'm sick of trying to solve this problem through Dell--hoping you guys can help!

I had been having the same "previous fan failure" message, so I ordered a new fan through Dell spare parts. I had gotten a new laptop so I was really lazy about trying to fix the desktop (it's a Dell Dimension 4600C by the way), so it's been turned off for probably 2 or 3 months now. I tried to replace the old fan with the new one tonight. It came with an attached heat sink, so I replaced the blower and the heat sink. I plugged everything in and tried to turn the computer on, and all that happened was that the power button turned orange (I feel like it used to be green when functioning), the fan gave one loud blow, and then nothing happened. It just kind of sat there with the orange light on.

I took the new fan out, detached it from the new heat sink (which didn't have some little doodad on the bottom--a microprocessor maybe?), and tried attaching it to the old heat sink and trying again. The same exact thing happened.

Anyone know what might have happened? Or more importantly, how I can fix it? There's a lot of information on this computer that I really really don't want to lose. At the very least, how can I access all those old files to save them? I was bad about backing things up.


please check out your psu, (power supply problem,)if not than your m\b prob.