Dell Dimension XPS model WHL Generation 3. Had an indication on start up that CPU fan #2 was not working. It was true.Replaced the fan.There are 5 fans in this computer.Replacement fan is functioning normally. Still getting the same message on start up. Used Everest to check on temps. All 3 (CPU,MB,and PSU are constantly within 30-34 C) which i believe to be well within acceptable values. Any suggestions as to how to stop getting the fan message error warning. Does not adversely affect my using the computer (just need to press F1 to continue). Thank you,truenorthdid you hook up the fan to the same power source that the old fan was hooked up to?Nice call, Homer! I was going to ask that, but didn't want to spin off a tangent as I sometimes do.

True, the system board/motherboard is wired in such a way that certain physical PLUGINS are connected to the "intelligence" software that governs/monitors the fans and temperatures. Other plugins accept the fans and work just fine, but they are not "wired" to the same governing software.

It's not necessarily bad -- it just means the fan runs at a CONSTANT speed, and there is no report on temperature, etc.Homer,Aegis Thanks for the input guys. Now to answer your question.Sorta! The 2 fans that are associated with cooling the CPU (located under a fairly large plastic green shroud) are both connected to approximately the same physical location on the MB (less than an inch away from each other). Now when i 1st saw the fan defective message i went into the belly of the beast for a look see. I did see one fan not working. So what i did was disconnect them both and plug the fans in to the opposite connector--with me so far. The one that didn't work still didn't work whereas the other that was working continued to do so. So i felt i had determined 2 things one that the fan did not work and the connector points both worked. Agree? So i removed the defective fan--ordered a replacement--installed the replacement when it arrived--fan is working. Now did i move the one that was originally working back to it's original connector.The short answer is i don't remember (but at 3 score and 9 years that is a credible reply).However i would POINT out that the location of the fan 1st mentioned (fan #2) is still the same # being referenced. Additionally when the computer goes into a rest phase both the fans power way down and i can hear it happen--so they do seem to be reacting to CPU useage. Further thoughts? truenorthSometime these type of errors have to be reset in the BIOS. Take a look though yours and see if you have a screen that lets you reset the alarm.

Now, not being as expert as I would like, I'd say you did fine, and things seem to be running the way they should. (I'm only a score and a year behind, so keep on going!)

Yes, you might check the BIOS settings to see if something was changed (not by you) or if there are any options.Will give the BIOS ASPECT a check and report.thank's again.truenorthChecked BIOS parameters. Nothing stood out as a problem.Did not see anything related directly to fans. Suggestions? truenorth
P.S. Not that i expected to find anything related to fans but checked out the "device manager" for possible exclamation or question marks in yellow--there are none.Could it simply be that something on the motherboard "conked out" and is not reporting as it is supposed to do, even though there is power to the fan?Aegis, You and i obviously went to the same technical training school "something conked out" is my kind of technical jargon as well. Well i suppose anything is possible--but i must say that other than getting the message at start up (which i overcome by PRESSING the F1 option) (the only other is press F2 to enter setup). Once into windows all else is fine.I have not found anything else that is giving me problems (yet). Unfortunately i belong to the school that does not use as a method of repairing mechanical automotive noise by turning up the radio volume. I tend to want to deal with warnings before they become something worse. Hence even though all "seems" normal the message of an abnormality causes me some concern (not to the level of loss of sleep though). Thanks for the input. Cheers,truenorthNo, I get where you're coming from -- it's just that you can only repair so much on a board. Over the years, I've had systems with funny quirks -- little things that went out, but weren't serious enough to keep the system from operating.

I've been hoping all along that someone with more repair experience around theses beasts would "chime in" on the situation.