Most computers run their fans on full speed when the system is first powered on. It's generally a BIOS-controlled function.
Also, when your computer first starts up and the Operating System loads for the first time, it runs a lot of checks, loads drivers into memory, and starts services as well as any programs you've installed that run all the time. All this means your CPU and other system components are getting a lot of use.
It is normal for it to take a few minutes for your computer to complete all it's necessary processing and to settle down for smooth running.
Using startup manager programs you can see see many of the programs set to run on start and may help resolve your freezing on start up issue.
In summary: I wouldn't worry about the fan running high. It's not a serious issue and is not normally indicative of any sort of problem.
I would worry slightly about your computer needing to be hard reset on load from time to time, but there are other questions that deal with that here on SU.
6Just to clarify, is it also cold in the room where the computer is? A cold day outside may just mean that you have cranked up the heating and the room itself is hotter than usual. – terdon – 2013-01-21T19:22:02.807
@terdon Yes, it's cold in the room with the computer. No central heating means rooms close to the outside walls get very cold. – just.another.programmer – 2013-01-21T20:57:20.350
Sounds like a BIOS bug. Or maybe the temperature is cold enough that its interpreting it as "sensor is not connected", and thus is doing a fail-safe of maximum cooling, minimum heat production. Also, how cold are we talking? — when you say very cold, I think "well below freezing." – derobert – 2013-01-23T22:31:26.237
@derobert I have not measured. Outside temperature (according to the weather service) is about 2 deg celcius, w/ no heating, first thing in the morning (after cold night). – just.another.programmer – 2013-01-24T22:22:27.523
1Ok—a few more followup questions, then. (1) how are you determining how fast the fan speed is? Are you reading off an RPM sensor in the BIOS, or are you just going by how loud it is? A failing fan can be quite loud, but not spinning fast at all. (2) Just to confirm, your humidity is low enough that you don't have condensation anywhere. (3) Normally the low-temperature spec is 0°C, any idea on yours? Or make and model and someone can try and look it up for you. – derobert – 2013-01-24T22:36:34.073
@derobert 1) by volume and speed of air coming out the vent. 2) no condensation i know of, 3) dell latitude d820 – just.another.programmer – 2013-01-25T12:26:03.323
1
Ok, according to the spec sheet, it should run at 0–35°C, you're within the range. Its probably way past when you can complain to Dell about it. Which BIOS version do you have? A05 has a "thermal control enhancement" (current is A10). http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/us/en/19/DriverDetails?driverId=R256902&fileId=2731096585
– derobert – 2013-01-25T16:07:33.613