[SOLVED] deleted thermal config file, fans won't stop running

loeki.b · 2026-01-13 16:43:14

Hi, to begin here is my laptop : HP Spectre x360 2-in-1 Laptop 16-aa0xxx

My issue is the following :
I installed Thermald as my computer was overheating too frequently.
I then accidentally deleted

/etc/thermald/thermal-conf.xml

with it. From that point on, my fans have not stop running. I tried recreating the file with the different default files provided in the Arch Manuals and by Thermald on git to no avail. I tried following the Arch Wiki Fan Speed Control, but got stuck at the end of the point 1.1 as RPM value was 0. I then tried to Increase the Fan Divisor for Sensors (step provided in previous page) to fix this, but when running sensors -s received this error :

 Error: File /etc/sensors.d/fan-speed-control.conf, line 2: Unknown feature name 
coretemp-isa-0000: No such subfeature known

I found a Similar Issue on the forum (sadly unsolved due to lack of response by owner) which lead me to attempting using NBFC.

I immediately got stuck at step 3 as it found no compatible config files.

Now I am in an impasse and I do not know how I should proceed and what I can do. Perhaps there was an easy fix from the get-go that I haven't noticed, I am quite new to this OS. Anyone got an idea as of what I could do to make my fans go back to normal and stop them from constantly running?

UPDATE : I had a somewhat stable situation for a while, but this issue came back to haunt me. However, this time I found a fix. After deleting thermald for an n-th time, I also deleted the folder containing the config file. I also went to update my graphic's card drivers on my windows partition, I don't know which of the two fixed the situation, but now my fans are calm.

The sweet sound of silence has finally been bestowed upon me. I thank all those who tried assisting me. It wasn't in vain, as it helped me have a stable situation for a couple weeks. I apologise for the absence as well, my exam revisions got the best of me.

Last edited by loeki.b (2026-02-23 15:49:27)

Scimmia · 2026-01-13 16:50:21

Were things working before you deleted that file? Where did it come from in the first place?

teckk · 2026-01-13 23:02:27

https://github.com/intel/thermal_daemon
https://github.com/intel/thermal_daemon … l-conf.xml

5hridhyan · 2026-01-14 10:06:53

loeki.b wrote:

stop them from constantly running?

there is a option in BIOS (I'm in F.68) and I have option called "Fans always on" which is toggled "on" I guess it's default, If you have one try turning it off.
and is your temperature normal? even if they are normal are still the fans spinning at max speed?

Last edited by 5hridhyan (2026-01-14 11:17:40)

loeki.b · 2026-01-14 10:53:43

Scimmia wrote:

Were things working before you deleted that file? Where did it come from in the first place?

Things were working well yes, and upon downloading Thermald (which I now know is for servers) the fans would only turn on when the temperature would be too warm. I don't know where the file came from sadly, but I assume it came either from Thermald directly or was already there.

loeki.b · 2026-01-14 10:57:49

teckk wrote:

https://github.com/intel/thermal_daemon
https://github.com/intel/thermal_daemon … l-conf.xml

The second one is the current config file I have and today, my fans are surprisingly quiet (still running though, but much much better). I restarted my laptop multiple times yesterday, so I wonder what lead to this change.

loeki.b · 2026-01-14 11:16:54

5hridhyan wrote:

and is your temperature normal? even if they are normal are still the fans spinning at max speed?

Firstly for the BIOS, I verified and the option was toggled off. My temperature was normal, but my fans remained at max speed to the point my cores all reached almost 30°.

BUT, yesterday I opened my Windows partition to play a game, and before heading to Linux I opened the BIOS upon seeing your comment, so I do not know which of the two did it, but my fans seem to have returned to a closer to normal behaviour.

As I only use my laptop for taking notes and working, I would prefer if my fans only turned on in precarious situations rather than being constantly on, and I feel that as I type this they are getting progressively faster, so my question for everyone is : how can I reach this?

Also thank you to everyone who took the time.

Last edited by loeki.b (2026-01-14 11:17:07)

5hridhyan · 2026-01-14 11:32:39

loeki.b wrote:

I would prefer if my fans only turned on in precarious situations rather than being constantly on

to my understanding fan curves are enforced by the embedded controller. You usually cannot “only turn on in precarious situations” on HPs directly. What you can do is reduce CPU heat so the EC never decides to ramp them.
thermald does not directly control fans, but incorrect thermal policies can cause the EC to run them at max. For typical light workloads, the practical solution is to limit sustained CPU power or turbo boost to have a quieter operation, while accepting that fans will still ramp according to EC policy.

Last edited by 5hridhyan (2026-01-14 16:24:39)

Arch Linux

#1 2026-01-13 16:43:14

[SOLVED] deleted thermal config file, fans won't stop running

#2 2026-01-13 16:50:21

Re: [SOLVED] deleted thermal config file, fans won't stop running

#3 2026-01-13 23:02:27

Re: [SOLVED] deleted thermal config file, fans won't stop running

#4 2026-01-14 10:06:53

Re: [SOLVED] deleted thermal config file, fans won't stop running

#5 2026-01-14 10:53:43

Re: [SOLVED] deleted thermal config file, fans won't stop running

#6 2026-01-14 10:57:49

Re: [SOLVED] deleted thermal config file, fans won't stop running

#7 2026-01-14 11:16:54

Re: [SOLVED] deleted thermal config file, fans won't stop running

#8 2026-01-14 11:32:39

Re: [SOLVED] deleted thermal config file, fans won't stop running

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