NationStates Jolt Archive

Well this isn't good.

So, starting at some point yesterday, after a several day hiatus of being completely off, I turned on my computer. After a couple hours, something in it--possibly the harddrive--started to make a weird noise, something like a creak and a scratch at the same instant. It has been repeating itself off and on for the entire time the computer has been active, now, regardless of shutdowns and whatnot. I am not a hardware person. I don't know the first thing about what to do. I suspect that it is most likely the harddrive itself as I've been noticing occasional slow-downs and even slight freezes while it repeatedly made the aforementioned noise.

So, question is, what do I do? How do I figure out what the problem is, and how would I go about fixing it myself? I'd prefer to not have to take it in to be looked at or to have to replace the harddrive.

One other thing: my computer sits on a desk right next to a window. Said window has been open--for the most part--constantly for the past two weeks. We've been having quite a few rain showers and excessive temperatures during that time. I even had to set-up a fan next to the computer to cool it off at one point during one night. This may have affected the computer more than I would have thought at first.

What do you say, hardware peeps? Is it bad?

(I should note that I did one other thing before this started. That thing was download a scanner to detect what kind of memory my computer uses. I downloaded it off of the website of a business that sells all different types of memory. It scanned my computer, and it was soon after I did this that the problem began. It is most likely coincidental, considering I'd thoroughly checked the program out with my virus scanning software(AntiVir) before using it. Still, I thought it worth mentioning.)

EDITSU: Please see post 14.

Do you regularly dust the computer? Dust build up is usually the cause of many of the problems I take care of.

Also, can you tell where the actual noise is coming from? The best method is to make a funnel out of a piece of paper and put the small end to your ear, point the other end at various things in the computer when it's making noise (such as the power supply, the harddrive etc)...

If it's not a dust issue, my first instinct would be the power supply. When a power supplies' ball bearing starts going bad it makes grinding noices, which can be quite annoying.

What is the name of the program you used, the actual name and place you downloaded it from???

Sounds like the hard drive heads have crashed. If that's the case, get as much data backed up as you can, because there's no going back now. It's going to die completely very soon.

Do you regularly dust the computer? Dust build up is usually the cause of many of the problems I take care of.

Also, can you tell where the actual noise is coming from? The best method is to make a funnel out of a piece of paper and put the small end to your ear, point the other end at various things in the computer when it's making noise (such as the power supply, the harddrive etc)...

If it's not a dust issue, my first instinct would be the power supply. When a power supplies' ball bearing starts going bad it makes grinding noices, which can be quite annoying.

What is the name of the program you used, the actual name and place you downloaded it from???
...dust? I don't think the case of this computer has been opened since we installed the card for the wireless network, which would have been about a year ago, now. I think I'll dust it out shortly. I have every intention of installing some new memory in it shortly anyway, so I'd need to open it up.

As for the program, problem is, I deleted teh file shortly after using it. The name of the company was...Crucial something, that much I recall. At the moment I don't know what the website is because my damned browser likes to wipe its history back to several months ago everytime it's closed.

Mindset: I hope not. I have no way to back up anything on this computer short of copying out dozens of CDs, and I don't exactly have more than a couple I can write to.

If your HD heads had crashed, then you would not be posting, you would be looking at a black screen.

Most likely is either the power supply or a cooling fan. Given that you say that the machine's response times lag while it is making the noise, it is more likely to be a cooling fan. This could be a coler for the CPU, but it could equally be on your graphics card. Either unit getting too hot would slow the machine down.

Best thing to do is to open the case and locate the source of the noise. If it is a fan, then replace it as soon as possible (ideally you should have a spare fan available - but almost no one does) and use the machine as little as possible until you do replace it. (Minimise the risk of heat damage.)

If it is the power supply, then there is little risk in continuing to use the machine. All that will happen is that it will die when the power supply fails, and come back to life when you replace it.

If the noise is coming from an HD - switch the machine off until you can arrange to back up all the data you have on that HD. (Unless you don't care about losing it that is.)

Ctrl + Alt + Del

:D

[I'm sorry. I had to do it.]

If your HD heads had crashed, then you would not be posting, you would be looking at a black screen.

Most likely is either the power supply or a cooling fan. Given that you say that the machine's response times lag while it is making the noise, it is more likely to be a cooling fan. This could be a coler for the CPU, but it could equally be on your graphics card. Either unit getting too hot would slow the machine down.

Best thing to do is to open the case and locate the source of the noise. If it is a fan, then replace it as soon as possible (ideally you should have a spare fan available - but almost no one does) and use the machine as little as possible until you do replace it. (Minimise the risk of heat damage.)

If it is the power supply, then there is little risk in continuing to use the machine. All that will happen is that it will die when the power supply fails, and come back to life when you replace it.

If the noise is coming from an HD - switch the machine off until you can arrange to back up all the data you have on that HD. (Unless you don't care about losing it that is.)
I've got about sixty gigabytes worth of information I cannot afford to lose on this computer, so I would need to back it up.

I suspect you're right about the cooling fan. I had a similar problem last summer with another computer, now that I think about it. It's got to be the heat as well as a malfunctioning fan. When I shut this computer down in about an hour or so, I'll take a good hard look at everything inside. Hopefully, I'll be able to see the problem. If necessary, I can always run the computer with the case off in order to specify the problem. I've done that before with another computer.

Its not your HDD.

If it were, your computer wouldnt be working at all.

Likely, its the bearings in one of the fans.
Perhaps the power supply, perhaps a case fan, or worse...the cpu fan.

If you have any programs that monitor heat in your system, check them.
If your MB temp is over 100 degrees..thats not so good.
The Processor temp is even more important.
Anything over 150 (farenheit) is not good either.

Close to 200 is super-not-good.

I hope it's not the hard drive. Just in case, back everything up NOW, before it falls over.

It just could be one of the many fans on the PC - CPU fan, chipset fan, one of the case fans or even the fan on the video card. I've had two fans die on my PC but easily fixed.

Replacing a case fan is generally easy but CPU or Video card fans need more effort (and must be done correctly).

On not, it could be power supply fan. If your power supply fan is not working, your PC will be prone to turning off without warning.

not to sound too uppity...


but whether or not your HDD is about to crash. it is always good to have a backup of your shit. mebbe go once a week or so and backup your shit. Buy a dvd burner (not too expensive nowadays) if you don't want to backup to a million cd's...


personally, i think it's the HDD too. Most likely not the PS because i don't think that would cause slow downs... Could be a fan too. If it was the HDD, it would be more of a clicking noise. or a "ker-chunk, ker-chunk"...


either way. backup your shit :)

(got burned by that. did a ghost image to cd and then didn't test it.... one of the discs didn't work and now i lost all my shit. Does anyone know of a good ghost recovery program where you don't need all the cd's to get it to read data?)

Is it a loud annoying buzzing noise? Because if it is, I don't think there's any reason to worry considering my computer has been doing it for about three years. However, this seems to be something to do with the disc drive and I very much suspect that this is something incredibly obvious that everyone who uses a computer should know, and nothing to do with your problem, so I'll shut up now.

I've got about sixty gigabytes worth of information I cannot afford to lose on this computer, so I would need to back it up.

If this is so, then you should back up anyway. Even if your HD is not about to crash, a sudden crash could corrupt some data. NTFS makes this rare, but still happens. You can get a new 80Gb or larger HD for backup for not too much money these days, very cheap if your information is that invaluable.

If you've got a DVD burner, buy a stack of cheap (but not El-Crapo) DVDs. Burn everything useful to DVD.

If you've got spare hard drive about, copy the stuff to this hard drive.

Well, after a great deal of frustration, agony, and stupid problems, I've got it fixed. Turned out it was the sheer amount of dust in the computer's guts. Got that cleaned out. Thing is, this computer hates being turned on without the case being on exactly right. If it's not on exactly right, then it'll refuse to detect the operating system.

And there's one other problem: the sound doesn't work at all now. On anything. No matter what I do, I can't get the sound to work. I've looked at everything. The sound card is hooked up properly and functioning properly. The speakers are hooked up properly. Even the speakers themselves aren't the problem, as I tried several different speakers and sets of headphones on it. It just refuses to work. I don't know what it could be. I'd prefer not to have to open up with computer again, however, and I don't think it would help at all, since the system says all of the hardware is functioning fine.

And there's one other problem: the sound doesn't work at all now. On anything. No matter what I do, I can't get the sound to work. I've looked at everything. The sound card is hooked up properly and functioning properly. The speakers are hooked up properly. Even the speakers themselves aren't the problem, as I tried several different speakers and sets of headphones on it. It just refuses to work. I don't know what it could be. I'd prefer not to have to open up with computer again, however, and I don't think it would help at all, since the system says all of the hardware is functioning fine.
Check that it's not muted. Don't laugh. It has happened to me a few times.

It would propose running a virus scan, getting rid of unnecessary files, deleting old games, check/clean the fan, and/or dust the inside of the computer.

Check that it's not muted. Don't laugh. It has happened to me a few times.
As I've had that happen to me before as well, it was one of the first things checked. No volume problems. Speakers work fine for other things, too. I just can't understand it. It was all going well until we unhooked the case. Bloody stupid IBM computer...

And there's one other problem: the sound doesn't work at all now. On anything. No matter what I do, I can't get the sound to work. I've looked at everything. The sound card is hooked up properly and functioning properly. The speakers are hooked up properly. Even the speakers themselves aren't the problem, as I tried several different speakers and sets of headphones on it. It just refuses to work. I don't know what it could be. I'd prefer not to have to open up with computer again, however, and I don't think it would help at all, since the system says all of the hardware is functioning fine.
It's prolly not wrong either.

If you are not muted try, right-click speaker in the taskbar->Open Volume Control->Options->Advanced Controls->Advanced. Write down what it started out with, and tink with it to see if that will get your sound working. On my Heaping Pile, they have to be set just right for the sound to work at all.

It's prolly not wrong either.

If you are not muted try, right-click speaker in the taskbar->Open Volume Control->Options->Advanced Controls->Advanced. Write down what it started out with, and tink with it to see if that will get your sound working. On my Heaping Pile, they have to be set just right for the sound to work at all.
Tested it out. Not a thing happened with each alteration.

Tested it out. Not a thing happened with each alteration.
Have you tried fire?

Have you tried fire?
...as in, burning my computer? Not exactly, nor do I intend to.

I wonder...I wonder if I was accidently a little too close with the compressed air can and froze the circuits that hold the soundboard. Is that even possible?

...as in, burning my computer? Not exactly, nor do I intend to.

I wonder...I wonder if I was accidently a little too close with the compressed air can and froze the circuits that hold the soundboard. Is that even possible?
I suppose it is possible to cause so damage with compressed air. I would keep it at least three inches away from the surface you are cleaning.

I suppose it is possible to cause so damage with compressed air. I would keep it at least three inches away from the surface you are cleaning.
I was keeping it away, for the most part. Might've been too close at one point. Ah well. I'll keep at it, trying to figure out the problem. Maybe it'll resolve on its own.

I wonder...I wonder if I was accidently a little too close with the compressed air can and froze the circuits that hold the soundboard. Is that even possible?

Whoah! Whole new meaning to "the computer's frozen"! :D. Seems kinda unlikely. The real cause of the problem? I dunno....try kicking it. That helps

...as in, burning my computer? Not exactly, nor do I intend to.

I wonder...I wonder if I was accidently a little too close with the compressed air can and froze the circuits that hold the soundboard. Is that even possible?

Well hopefully, you did this with the computer unplugged.
If so, dont worry..circuts dont generally freeze, and even if it did, cold is good for computers...just not moist cold.

Im thinking during the cleaning process, you dislodged a lead somewhere.
Does your soundcard require power from the Power supply?

Did it become unplugged?

It's probably something in the HD wearing out. It's not that uncommon; I had a brand new HD die on me after only about a month....had to get it replaced. It was making all sorts of lovely "CRASH BANG PING PTANG" sounds. There's nothing you can do yourself without voiding the warranty if that's the case.

It's probably something in the HD wearing out. It's not that uncommon; I had a brand new HD die on me after only about a month....had to get it replaced. It was making all sorts of lovely "CRASH BANG PING PTANG" sounds. There's nothing you can do yourself without voiding the warranty if that's the case.


They tent to go pretty suddenly, mostly all at once.

Too much dust covering the heat sinks, makes the system run hot, and slow down.

Just changed one of my fan guard from the silver one to black "Dragon" one.
Cleaned the fan while I was at it. Amazing amount of dust builts up on one fan in year. The LEDs seem a lot brighter now!