XPS Fan and website issues

I have a refurbished XPS 15 and a few weeks ago I posted that it kept making a clicking sound whenever it would start a program or move to a different website. Someone kindly suggested that I run a diagnostics test - but I did not have a Dell program on my computer to do that. I bought the laptop in April. While I was worried about the clicks, the fan started making really loud noises. I haven't really loaded much onto it and don't do any gaming which would cause the fan to overheat.
I called Dell support, turns out since my laptop is refurbished they wiped out the programs and never re-installed the Dell program. The tech ran diagnositics, said the computer was fine, but changed the Bios and told me to unplug my laptop and battery because too much static was building up. He said the clicking sound was due to an update that was recently installed and could not be changed.
It has been a week. My fan started making noises again and explorer won't open random websites - I keep getting error - won't open Facebook, Amazon, a bunch of other random sites, I have CA security which used to show me which sites were safe to open - green, yellow, red - that doesn't show up anymore, Youtube videos won't run....is this related somehow?
I have no computer skills at all so would really apprectiate any help, guidance, referral, anything!!! It is beyond frustrating to have a new computer that won't access anything.

Thank you,

Cheryl

 

I have some of the issues you mentioned, the fan goes on full speed the moment I open a website or open light programs (notepad), it seems like alot of XPS 15 users are having this issue, some users suggested to change the power settings and it worked for them.. for me it didn't work and my XPS is brand new not refurb, I asked Dell to change the FAN and heatsink and they are scheduled for tomorrow, I am not even sure if this will fix the issue..check out this post and it might help: http://forum.notebookreview.com/dell-xps-studio-xps/570946-xps-15-l502x-constant-fan-off-8.html

Explorer won't open random websites too until I open a new tab and type in the website name, I will try to use a different web browser and see how it goes..

Are you sure the clicking sound is coming from the FAN? or its coming from the bottom left palm rest ? Do you have the speedboost application that starts when you login to Windows 7 ? this might trigger the fan to go on and off so uninstall it ( if it was installed)

 

The clicking was coming from the top left of the laptop - but now I haven't hear it. The fan sound, is not just the low hum of a fan going off, it is a gurgling type sound that just started happening.....the website thing is amazingly frustrating! I can't do anything, and if I finally get to a site it takes so long and if I have to navigate within the site, explorer won't let me get to the next page anyway

Cheryl

 

Cheryl,

are you connecting to the internet thro the wireless connection or a cable plugged to your laptop?

 

through wirless linksys - but I have excellent connection and whenever explorer runs the troubleshooter it says it cannot find a problem

Cheryl

 

Disable the wireless by pressing fn+f2 , then connect to the laptop using the network cable from the router.. this could be a network issue. the internet might be showing its connected but actually its too slow...can you test that?

 

Cheryl, try a different web browser. I personally like Google Chrome a lot. I find it is much faster than Internet Explorer, and has better security.

If websites still won't load in the new web browser, you've at least eliminated one possibility. Viruses do this sort of thing all the time - restrict website access. The fact that you security software is disabled is also indicative that your PC may be infected.

Try downloading Malwarebytes (free) and SpyBot (also free). Unfortunately, viruses often won't let you access these website to download removal tools.

Now is a good time to back up all your data. In the end it might be easier to restore your computer using a recovery DVD or the partition on your Hard Drive. Start with a fresh slate... so to speak.

 

I will try disabling the wirless like suggested - my security was only disabled when the Dell tech was changing the Bios - as soon as he was done the secrity was enabled - Videos stopped broadcasting, but I just found out that was because of a Flash update - so now youtube works. I can connect to Facebook, but only if I type in HTTPS/ - found out this stuff from searching the web....don't know why I had to change it though...maybe it is the same thing with Amazon.

Cheryl

 

I am having an issue with the wireless..it connects for less than 20 seconds and once I load something it goes down but it doesn't show its down.. its showing the connection is great, when I test and ping my gateway.. I see alot of delays, I tried everything but its not working so I will call Dell support tho I know they are useless

 

I uninstalled IE 9 thinking that may have been the cause - still can't connect to Amazon, but found a site that showed me how to go into Flash and now I can see videos - my clicking dissapeared for a while, now that I am back to using IE 8, the clicking came back....but it seems like other Dell owners have these issues also

Cheryl

 

Try a different browser altogether... like Firefox or Google Chrome instead of IE.

 

IE 9 has a bunch of unresolved bugs. This might be one of them. As concat said, try Firefox/Chrome/some-other-browser. IE stinks anyway.

 

I used to use Firefox on my old computer and tried it on this one - The type is extremely small and the navigation bar is always hidden and I can't go back for some reason.....is it because the computer is 64-bit. I have GoogleChrome. I thought you needed IE to get to Google, I am such a novice!!

Cheryl

 

no 64-bit has nothing to do with the issues.. IE is the worst browser in my opinion.. btw you need to install flash player in order to play videos on youtube (on any browser) so basically you install flash once on your laptop and it will work for any browser

Did the new browser resolve the websites issue? can u open any website now?

 

Hit ctl+ (control key and plus at same time) to increase scale in any browser. Ctl- to decrease. Ctl 0 to return to default zoom.

 

Firefox and google chrome are not working correctly either - don't know why. did get the videos to finally work - I searched on the net ant changed something with flash player that allows videos to be seen......my fan is running constantly and making a gurglin noise - again another search finally gave an answer - hold down Fn key and z at the same time - so far it has worked.....but I will give you an update.

Issue with Amazon are reaaly annoying me.

Cheryl

 

Did you try to disable or disconnect the wireless connection and use a regular cable coming from the router?

 

Have you tried my solution here? http://forum.notebookreview.com/7885708-post97.html

Lots of people have confirmed it has made a huge difference.

 

Risco - I just read the link to your solution - I have no computer knowledge at all except how to turn it on and hit the keys - Unfortunately, I have no idea how to do those things you suggested - I do wish I could figure it out.

Thanks,

Cheryl