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Upon startup, my laptop now tells me that the cooling fan is no longer functioning. I have removed every screw visible on the bottom of my stupid laptop, and the bottom won't come off so I can check out this fan. If it's something like an abundance of dust, I'd like to be able to just handle it myself without having to purchase anything.

After removing every screw visible, remove any removable panels (I'm assuming you did this) and see if there are any additional screws behind them.
Also,With the bottom screws removed, can you remove the keyboard? If it moves around, be very careful, as it is also attached via a ribbon cable.
Sometimes they hide additional screws under the keyboard.

If you are able (and willing) to remove the keyboard, pay close attention to what is connected to what!

What model is your laptop?

HP pavilion dv6

GreatZot wrote:To take it apart you have to take off the bottom AND the top. That is what frustrated me and caused me to scrap the laptop that I recently fixed. All because of a fan.

Anyway, there is a "band aid" fix you can try. With the power off, get the extension tube from your vacuum and alternately suck the various vent openings. The high speed of the vacuum can make the fan spin and possibly shake loose any debris collected there. it may only work for a bit, but it is better than nothing? Maybe?

Or you can duct tape the vacuum hose to the laptop and keep the vacuum on all the time to spin the fan and operate it that way.

If you do opt to take it apart, follow this guide from ifixit

They tell you precisely which screws / panels to remove to remove.

A lot of guides will specify that "This screw is this size", although this one does not seem to do that.

Before you do take it apart all the way, I would try Zot's vacuum idea first! (Well, I personally wouldn't but that's just because I like to take things apart)

The vacuum idea did not work, so I will try this guide as soon as I have time. Thanks!

Sometimes fans short out.
I don't really know if or where you could buy laptop fans though, never really had to do that.

External fans aren't too bad. They're a bit of a faff but they plug in via USB and they're not heavy. Not sure if your laptop would agree with that though if it's giving you a warning.

My guess for buying replacement fans for the laptop itself would be eBay.

You might have to go with Clarence's idea and permanently attach a vacuum to it!

moe wrote:You might have to go with Clarence's idea and permanently attach a vacuum to it!

Get your duct tape out

My duct tape is patriotic!

Solved. By buying a new smurf laptop. Now I need to refind that driver for the touchpad scrolling.

Also, I still hate Windows10.

Awwe, I hate buying a new laptop, having to re set it up how I like it

Yeah, I to fix the scrolling direction, like I did before, and now the drivers won't take, so my mouse won't scroll at all. I'm pretty sure I shouldn't be allowed to own a computer. I think I need to do a factory reset. Fortunately, I haven't done much with it yet.