Virus's effect on my processor/quest Created 18 years ago2006-02-01 00:17:22 UTC by Xyos212

My computer is only 3 months old. Its an alienware, 2.93 ghz, 1gig memory, G-force 6800 GT 256mb. It has been performing fine until the past 3 weeks. I scanned my PC for spyware and Mcaffe Virus scan all updated. Found NOTHING. What the problem is the processor fan is spinning very very fast. Its VERY VERY loud and just sounds wrong. I thought it was a faulty fan, but I called Alienware support and they said its probably a virus, and want me to reformat my Harddrive! (I will lose all my files! EVERYTHING) If that wont work, then they will replace the CPU/fan. maybe......MY initial question is: Can a virus cause this behavior? Whats happening is the processor is using more resources then it should be. Say CS:S uses 40% of cpu usage. Now it uses 88%. If someone can answer this, can they also recommend a solution for me? I know quite a bit about computers, but this is beyond me. Ive tried everything..........

It could be a virus simply using your CPU, therfore heating up your CPU, therefor making your fan spin faster.

Im thinking about trying other virus scans (the demo scans) see if they find anything. What else can I do to find a virus?
(BTW its not running in the background, ive checked, at least the programs it lists its not there............)

you wouldnt lose all your files, back them up onto dvd's, cd's, or a removeable drive - then format. remember alot of the space on your hard drive is used by programs that are easily re-downloadable from the net (steam is almost 20% of mine - completely online)
that would probably fix any software problems - even if it isnt a virus
otherwise its faulty hardware

CS:S using 88% of the CPU resources is no issue at all.

Post a Process Explorer log.

An overly fast fan doesnt sound like just a virus problem. It could be that the fan is not good enough and is being 'pushed too hard' to keep your computer cool, something similiar occured with my pc and i just use a desk fan to cool it down - not an optimal solution but it works. Check out that fan closely i'd say. A number of things could be causing it, bad BIOS settings for example, it may be a virus as Alienware suggested, but it doesnt sound all too correct to blame it on a virus only.

but it doesnt sound all too correct to blame it on a virus only.

The very fact that AlienWare would play the virus card with what sounds very much like a hardware problem has pretty much pushed them off my list of possible future suppliers. Unless I know I've been visiting some dodgy sites, or otherwise playing "unsafe" with my PC, I am usually very hesitant to blame a virus when something misbehaves.

First thing I'd do is boot into the BIOS and see if you can get any sort of readout on the CPU fan speed. I think "normal" is around 3000-3600 RPM, although on newer CPUs you can often get a smart fan which runs only as fast as necessary to keep the temperature down below - well, on my machines it seems to target around 50 deg C. Leave it sitting there a while, so you can see if it increases as the machine warms up. And if it's running too fast or too loud while in the BIOS screens, I think that mostly eliminates the possibility of a virus (you might want to consider a RESET to factory defaults, to be sure - although that's not something I'd rush into either...)

If it behaves fine in the BIOS screen for half an hour or so, and then starts misbehaving when you jump into Windows, it does sound like there's a program running that's causing it -- and the first thing I'd check would be any diagnostic software for controlling the fan which might have been supplied with the machine.

If it misbehaves while in the BIOS ... I dunno. Apart from checking the connection to the MB - both the fan's power, and the physical clamping (in case it's come loose and is rattling) - about all you can try is putting a replacement fan on yourself, to see if that fixes it...

Good luck...

Edit: On second thought, I think it's probably best to check whether the fan is clamped in properly FIRST! 'Cos if it isn't, it may damage the CPU - either physically, or by not cooling it properly. Only once you've eliminated that possibility should you start trying other options... ;)

I wouldn't bet on a particular rotational speed for a fan. Mine vary from a few hundred to a few thousand. Check what your CPU fan is rated for, and what level of fan it is. Photo?

I've heard of very few viruses which simply take up CPU, it seems like a waste of time for someone to code imo.

The very fact that AlienWare would play the virus card...

Very silly, they just don't want you to return the hardware. It costs them a tonne to get their hardware diagnosed + fixed since they normally have insane setups (at least above average).

Just go for the advice other people have given (I hate to repeat things). Diagnose it, I wouldn't recommend going for a drive reformatting just yet. It could be a waste of time for something so easy to fix.

I fixed the problem! It was a loose fan that was mounted on the side of the case inside. It just needed to be pushed in, and it snapped right in place. Now it runs fine. Im so happy. I cant believe I even thought of reformatting my HD!!

Ha I just have one word:

lmao

That's one for the archives.

so, you heard a fan being loud, assumed it was you cpu fan, called alienware about it, then found out it was just a loose fan in the front of your computer?

I have just this to say:

j0 pwnd j0rs3lf j0 n0bl3t

Geez ur kind of being an ass. I only had time to open my case just recently. I assumed it was the processor, so I called in my spare time inbetween classes at my school. Dont read too much into things, you claud!

I wouldn't bet on a particular rotational speed for a fan. Mine vary from a few hundred to a few thousand.

Yeah... I only recently built a machine with a variable speed CPU fan, and while my CPU knew about it, for some reason my M/board didn't. First I knew about it was when I booted up for the first time and got a BIOS warning that my fan speed was too slow... :

It was a loose fan that was mounted on the side of the case inside

Moral of the story: don't call support until after you've checked out all the simple options...