Not so. They are not necessary for any laptops. If your laptop is getting excessively hot without a cooler, then the cooling vents are probably clogged up with dust.
Instead of wondering about its necessity, I'm more worried if it is safe to use. You have a fan spinning under your HDD. Kinda freaks me out.
You have a moving object close to your HDD. Not really sure but maybe the fan's components has magnet in it. Maybe it's not too dangerous, but I'm kinda paranoid when it comes to my data storage.
The laptop model in question is Acer Aspire 5732Z. I've found a disassembly manual and if I'm not missing anything, it seems it's quite tricky to remove the covers and parts etc to reach the fan & cooling devices. To access the fan, I have to remove : 1. External modules, 2. Remove switch cover, 3. Remove keyboard, 4. Remove LCD module, 5. Remove upper cover, 6. Remove lower cover, 7. Remove motherboard, 8. = voila, the Thermal module + fan should now be visible. -tim.id.au/laptops/acer/aspire%205732z%205332.pdf
I'm aiming for the compressed air solution. I'm just fearing I'll blow around the dust so those will settle on other vital parts.
