Difference between Motherboard Failure and Hardware Failure; Is it time to throw in the towel

[KingofXP]

Currently, I have a 2011 Dell Inspiron 14R (N4010). running Windows 7 Ultimate. My Laptop is on its way out dying and, I am having severe problems in its final stretch of life. The Wifi no longer works (Or it only works 10% of the time). Also, Now I am getting messages that Various programs (like Dropbox, Kaspersky etc) cannot be found. I can also hear clicking sounds from my hard drive and, my fan is blowing hotter than usual (My Fan is not working properly).

I infer that my fan is not functioning and, it is messing up the components in my computer. Does this seem reasonable?

Finally, I have to make this computer last another month before I can buy a new one (I am a full time student and have to wait till my year is over to go out and buy one). What is the difference between a Hard-drive and a Hardware failure? For each one, is it worth it to buy a new unit or, fix them up and continue using them?

 

[digitaldoc]

Does not pay to put any money into a computer for just a month.

Hardware failure is the generic term, and it could be any component, including the hard drive.

Could try and vacuum out the air vents and see if it improves the temps and stability.

 

[Phillip Corcoran]

Motherboard, hard drive, you name it, they are all classed as "hardware" so there is no difference. Any one of them failing is called "hardware failure" (ie as opposed to it being a software problem).

If your hard drive is clicking it's definitely terminally ill and I'd be most surprised if it lasted another month. That would explain why software is apparently going AWOL (it's being corrupted by the faulty drive/bad sectors).

If you can't afford to replace anything for a month then you don't have much choice in the matter, but at the very least you should try to backup any important data to another storage device in the meantime, before the hard drive bites the dust.

 

[smorizio]

if you dont have a device use google online storage it free. for the wifi issue take power of the laptop and the battery and open the wifi card slot on the bottom and see if the card itself is seated.

 

[jsmithepa]

If I were you I wouldn't do anything. Back up important stuff and take my work to the school's computer lab(s), they have them. OK some are still running Windows XP but I got no time fumbling with this stuff... finals are coming!

 

[KingofXP]

Thanks for your problem. Today I took the spare laptop (2006 Dell Inspiron 700m) and my dying Inspiron N4010 to school. I also picked up a external fan (it is the correct type since my computer blows our dust) that was lying around collecting dust in our basement.

While the newer N4010 was connected to the fan, it worked better and, gave off less heat! (No error messages too) Thus, I have concluded that my PC has a faulty cooling fan that cannot keep the system cool? Tonight, I'm backing it up (have a external Hard Drive) and hoping for the best. When it dies, all my files will be backed up and,I'll use the N4010 for non-important tasks (and minimal strain). even though it is slow, the 700m will be my school CPU till I can get my new one!

Thanks guys for the help and, all of your answers helped me out a ton! Hope you all have a great day

 

[smorizio]

if your handy you can pick up a new cpu heat sink fan and some thermail paste most time for 20.00. the heat sink fan should be on ebay.
http://www.parts-people.com/index.php?action=category&id=141&subid=303&refine=filter_laptop-cooling
http://www.amazon.com/kaleastore-Cooling-Inspiron-KSB0505HA-C-4LUM8FAWI00/dp/B00OUB7F8U/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1431577254&sr=8-8&keywords=ksb0505ha