Replacing fans in a notebook

Ok, so the VAIO SZ.. (280 i think..) I have back home is EXTREMELY loud AND hot... and has been since the day I've gotten it. This applies under idle conditions, and right after boot-up...
problem remained after formatting, and changing fan-settings(fan-settings didn't help at all)
I normally kept it on my desk, and the BOTTOM of my 2" thick desk would easily get hotter than a normal laptop would. As for the fan noise, you could always hear it across from the living room.
So that was the only pc I had atm, and couldn't get anything done if I had sent it in for warranty. The warranty has now expired... and I'm thinking I need to do something about the computer... I have yet to take it apart(because doing so would've voided warranty)


What are my options?
Are there aftermarket fans that would fit inside a laptop.. do I have to order special replacement parts from sony?

And what are the possible problems?
Could it be that the heatsink is not correctly contacting the cpu?
Or maybe the fan is just defective... or could it be the harddrive?
A software problem maybe?

 

I have replaced some fans that have broken in other laptops by finding similar ones and then soldering the power leads to the proprietary connector. At best you will find a fan that is "suitable," but actual OEM replacement parts tend to cost 10x as much as they should. I wouldn't mess with it personally unless the fan is actually broken...

 

The easiest is to actually clean out your fans manually.

Open the notebook to get to the fan(s).
- use a flashlight to look through the fan and vents to spot dust clogs.
- use Q-tips and compressed air to clean them out
- lastly, if the fans are still loud.... use a bit of WD-40 on the fan (where it has the bearings to spin)... then manually spin it around to get the fans nicely lubricated.

Then turn on your notebook. This works 99% of the time.

So try it.

 

Nice info! How about starting a seperate thread for this?