CPU fan error Press F1 to resume - how to fix the error

If you see a CPU Fan Error message Press F1 to resume when you turn on your computer or laptop and you have to press the F1 key to boot Windows (sometimes a different key is specified, and with some BIOS settings it may be that pressing the key does not work, there may be other errors like Your CPU fan fails or speed is too low), in the guide below I am going to explain how to find out the cause of this problem and fix it.

Generally, the error text indicates that the BIOS diagnostic system has detected a problem with the CPU fan. And this is often the reason for their appearance, but not always. Let's consider all the variants one by one.

Find out the cause of the CPU fan error

To begin with, I recommend that you remember if you have changed the speed of the fan (cooler) through the BIOS or program settings. Or maybe the error appeared after unmounting the computer? Does the time reset on the computer after shutting down?

In case you have adjusted your cooler settings, I recommend that you reset them to their original state or find the setting where the CPU fan error does not appear.

If you have a reset time on your computer, it means that your computer's motherboard battery is dead and other CMOS settings have been reset, among other things. If this happens, you just have to replace the battery, see the manual for more information.

If you disassemble your computer for any reason, you have most likely connected the refrigerator incorrectly (if you disconnected it) or disconnected it entirely. More information on this below.

Checking the refrigerator

If you are sure that the error is not related to any configuration (or your computer has needed to press F1 since its purchase), it is worth taking a look inside your PC by removing one of the side panels (the one on the left, seen head on).

You should check if the CPU fan is clogged by dust, or if something else is preventing it from rotating properly. You can also turn on the computer with the lid removed and see if it spins. If any of them are observed, fix it and check if the CPU fan error has gone away.

As long as you have not ruled out the possibility that the refrigerator is incorrectly connected (for example, that you have disassembled the computer or that the error has always been there), you should also check how it is connected. Typically a cable with three pins is used, which connects to three pins on the motherboard (sometimes 4), and they are usually signed on the motherboard, similar to the CPU fan (there may be clear abbreviations). If you are not wired that way, it is worth fixing.

Note: Some system units have functions to adjust or view fan speeds from the front panel, often requiring the "wrong" connection of the refrigerator to work. In this case, if you need to keep these functions, please read the documentation of the system unit and the motherboard carefully, because it is likely that an error occurred during the connection.

If none of those things work.

If none of the options helped to fix the refrigerator error, then there are different options: perhaps the sensor in the refrigerator has stopped working and needs to be replaced, it is even possible that something is wrong with the motherboard of the computer.

In some BIOS variants you can manually remove the error warning and the need to press the F1 key when starting the computer, but you should only use this option if you are absolutely sure that this will not lead to overheating problems. Normally the option looks like "Wait for F1 if there is an error". It is also possible (if available) to set the CPU fan speed to "Ignored".