I just spent that last 3 hours repairing my laptop. The fan started screaming at bedtime and so I just turned it off. At 3 a.m., I got up and turned it on. I just couldn't leave it alone. So, after taking it apart, vacuuming it, spray-dusting it, and then finally just banging on the fucker I discovered that I could stick a safety pin into the grille and momentarily stop the blades. I did that a few times until it started making a sound like there was something broke off inside. I turned it off, shook it, banged on it, blew in it, and then turned it back on. The blades played with this shard of something for a couple secs and then it became whisper quiet. I actually thought I'd broke it. But no, it's whirring away like new. Damnedest thing.