Dell Optiplex 9020 SFF Desktop PC

I have a question for some of you computer guys out there. I picked up a small load yesterday and when I got home I found a Dell Optiplex 9020 SFF Desktop PC in one of the boxes.

It boots up but the 3 fans inside are running full blast. It sounds like a big server. A quick google search and I see many people with the same PC having the same issue but not a lot of answers.

I was wondering if any of you know what might be causing this.

I will continue searching but I thought I would check with you guys also

Thanks, Jim

I work alot with these and this is a very common issue with these dell's...........It has something to do with thermal sensor and motherboard...........Usually if I can't get the fans down to a normal speed I just part it out (sell the cpu and save the ram/hd for another build)

Dells are a quality machine but they're kind of a PITA sometimes. The company isn't exactly forthcoming with service information. You have to dig for it. HP's are much better in that regard.

Anyway ... *whatever*.

To cut to the chase: There's a fair chance that it's a problem with the BIOS.

I would try updating that before parting the machine out.

This link "should" do it for you.

https://www.dell.com/support/home/us...esktop/drivers

Look for the BIOS update labeled urgent. ( It was just released a few days ago.)

* Fairwarning * Make sure that your PC can't accidentally power down partway through the BIOS update process. That will brick the BIOS and make the machine useless.

It's probably running win 8 or later. Go to power settings and temporarily adjust them so that neither the HDD or monitor can power down after a certain period of inactivity.

Thanks for all of the advice. I googled this issue but could never resolve it. I almost scrapped the desktop several times but didn't so it collected dust for several weeks.
I turned my attention instead to my current desktop that still has Win 7. I have been wanting to install Win 10 but it appears you cannot find a free legal way of obtaining that so I bought a downloadable copy for 25 bucks. I got it installed and really like it.
I was sent links to install Win 10 and and one link was to create a bootable usb for another PC so I created one. I thought I would try the USB to install Win 10 on the Dell 9020 with the fan issue.....figured it couldn't hurt to try.
I stuck a 2 TB hard drive and 20 gig of ram in it and the USB was successful installing Win 10.
It works great and no more fan issues. I know it's an older machine but it's a lot faster than any other I've ever owned.

Way to go Jim. Nicely done. That was no easy fix if so many people have been wrestling with it and very few have found a solution.

I looked into it and the Win 10 thing is kind of a grey area. The bottom line would be that although Microsoft officially ended their free upgrade program awhile back .... they never really discontinued it.

Gawd ... they've really done a good job of smoothing out all of the problems. The latest win 10 build is pretty good.