What kind of laptop do you have and do you have the
ability to set power schemes (under Control Panel->Power
Options)?
WindowsXP has more sofisticated power management than
Win98. If your hardware has the ability to step down the
processor speed (like a mobile CPU), then depending on
how you set your power schemes, WindowsXP will adjust the
CPU speed automatically.
I'm guessing that your laptop is a little bit older than
mine, but I'll give you this example anyways.
I bought a Centrino laptop about 3 months ago. The
Pentium-M CPU in Centrino systems has the ability to step
down the processor speed enormously (Min-255MHz Max-
1400MHz). If I were to set my power scheme to "Always
On", then the processor would always run at it's maximum
speed. However, if I set it to presentation, then the
processor speed will vary depending on my usage. If I am
doing intensive work, then the processor will run at it's
maximum. If I am merely typing like I am doing now, the
processor will slow down. When the processor is running
at it's slower speed, the heat sink is sufficient to
dissipate any heat produced by the processor, and so the
fan does not come on. When running at full speed, the fan
does turn on.
One very easy way to check whether or not things are
within reason is to go into the system properties (either
hit Win+pause or right-click on My Computer and select
properties). In the window that appears, you should be
able to see the processor that is in your system, the
speed that it is running at, and the amount of RAM you
have installed on your system. If the current speed (the
second line) is below the first line (by more than just
one or two MHz), then you should be fine.
If you want to be totally sure, take your laptop to a
computer store and ask them to check whether the fan is
working or not.
Hope this helps,
Nick
(e-mail address removed)
-----Original Message-----
I recently upgraded to XP from 98se and I've noticed
that my cooling fan on my laptop does not seem to be
running. I know there is a way to change from "quiet
mode" to "performance mode" in 98se, but how do you do it
in XP?
