Two days ago my sister called to let me know the dell computer I had given them is not working. My niece was alone with them computer for a few minutes and now when it is powered on the monitor stays blank(though it is getting power) and the tower makes a clicking noise. The tower is getting power because the power light is on but it blinks, the computer is a desktop and about 3 years old. It uses windows 98. We have already checked the cords to make sure they are all plugged in correctly and can not figure out what is wrong with it cause the only thing my niece can reach on the computer is the keyboard. Does anyone know why it is doing this? I'd like to see if it's something we can fix ourselves before we bring it to a repair shop.
2006-08-14 04:07:23 · 9 answers · asked by Crystal L 3 in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Desktops
Open your computer up and power it on to check if any of the fans are spinning. This will also let you hear better where the clicking noise is coming from. If no fans are spinning then it is your power supply.
My first impression would be that your hard drive has gone bad, however you state that the screen stays blank when you power it on. You should at least get to the start of the Power On Self Test (POST) screen, at which point the computer should complain about not finding a boot device.
Normally a computer will make a single short beep when you power it on. Is it making more than one short beep? This could indicate the problem be reviewing the POST codes from the site below:
http://www.technick.net/public/code/cp_dpage.php?aiocp_dp=guide_beep_codes
2006-08-14 04:22:32 · answer #1 · answered by Jay 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
With your description, it 'sounds' like a bad hard drive. The clicking is the 'heads' of the hard drive banging against the platters. This happened to me last year. Not a good feeling.
Try this. If you have the Win98 CD, then put that in and start up. The computer SHOULD recognize the Win98 CD and ask if you want to boot from the CD. Say yes. Then, you would probably get a message that there is no 'bootable device' (bad hard drive)
Have no fear, if that is the problem, you can buy a HD and put it in. (no, it's not difficult at ALL)
good luck
2006-08-14 04:13:48 · answer #2 · answered by words_smith_4u 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like a hard drive crash -- in which case, all you can do is replace the hard drive.
BUT, before you rush out and buy a new hard drive, crack the case and take a look at the fan/fans to make sure they're intact. The clicking noise could be from a broken fan, in which case, the heat may have fried a lot more than just the hard drive, in which case, unless they can do the rebuild themselves, it would be a lot cheaper to just replace the computer.
2006-08-14 04:17:56 · answer #3 · answered by Mel 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like your hard drive might have gone bad. Unless you have a disk in your cd/dvd drive, your hard drive is the only other thing that moves which would cause a clicking sound. If it is your hard drive, new drives are pretty cheap, about 50-100 bucks. The bad part is that you would have lost all of your data. Good luck.
2006-08-14 04:14:25 · answer #4 · answered by JustJake 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Usually a clicking sound is indicative of a bad hard drive. And, if you're not getting the computer to boot, I'd say that's what it is. Sorry!
2006-08-14 04:12:24 · answer #5 · answered by mttprrish 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ok do this open up box and see if a cable is touching a fan if not them leave open the box and see where the noise is coming from just b careful ...oh yes u may have to tape the button down that is on the edge of the part where the cover meets the box...
2006-08-14 04:15:27 · answer #6 · answered by starchild1701 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like a power supply or a hard drive. If it is still under warranty, call Dell tech support.
2006-08-14 04:14:13 · answer #7 · answered by Yoi_55 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is a ghost in your machine. Take it to an exorcist immediately.
2006-08-14 05:04:07 · answer #8 · answered by Darrel 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I would think it a hard disk drive too...
2006-08-14 04:16:57 · answer #9 · answered by seb 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋