Computer suffered psychical damage. Fan won’t turn off and device runs slowly

Diagnosing and Addressing Physical Damage in Desktop Computers: Fan Issues and Performance Degradation

Experiencing hardware malfunctions can be a stressful ordeal, especially when physical damage appears to have compromised your computer’s performance. Recently, a user shared an experience where their desktop was knocked over, resulting in persistent fan activity and significant slowdowns. This scenario underscores common challenges faced after physical impacts and explores potential causes and solutions.

Understanding the Symptoms

After a desktop computer sustains a fall, it may exhibit:

Persistent, high-speed fan operation: The fan runs continuously at maximum speed, often indicating the system’s attempt to cool an overheating component or to signal hardware issues.
Reduced system performance: The device operates noticeably slower than usual, which can stem from hardware damage or driver issues.

Furthermore, similar symptoms have been reported with laptops that have experienced comparable incidents, suggesting common underlying issues.

Potential Causes of Post-Damage Hardware Issues

When hardware sustains a physical shock, several problems could arise:

Loose or Disconnected Cables and Components: The force of a fall can dislodge cables, RAM modules, or other internal components, leading to hardware recognition issues or improper functioning.
Damaged Fans or Cooling Systems: Physical impacts may damage fans, heatsinks, or thermal sensors, causing fans to run at maximum speed to compensate for overheating or sensor malfunctions.
Buss or Motherboard Damage: Cracks or broken solder joints on the motherboard can cause various symptoms, including system instability and hardware malfunction.
Hard Drive or SSD Damage: Storage devices may be impacted, potentially leading to slow system performance or boot issues.
Thermal Sensor Failure: Damage to sensors might cause the system to interpret hardware temperatures incorrectly, prompting continuous high-speed fan operation.

Troubleshooting and Potential Solutions

If your system exhibits these symptoms, consider the following steps:

Perform a Physical Inspection:
Power off the device and open the case (for desktops).
Check for loose cables, disconnected components, or visible damage.
Inspect fans and heatsinks for physical deformation or debris.
Reseat Internal Components:
Remove and securely reinsert RAM modules.
Ensure all cables are properly connected, especially those related to cooling and sensors.
Test or Replace Fans and Sensors:
If comfortable, replace suspect fans or thermal sensors to see if behavior normalizes