I have Dell Desktop running WindowsXP
2007-01-09 16:44:12 · 4 answers · asked by Northwest Womps 3 in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Laptops & Notebooks
The sound could be coming from any of the rotating parts. This could be fans for your case or your chips (CPU, graphics chips, etc). It could also be the motor in your hard drive.
It could be as simple as a cable touching one of the fans inside your computer case. We will open the case later, so that will be an opportunity to check this.
Do you just hear the sound at startup, like a ramping up? If it doesn't happen any other time, then it is a fan that is constantly running (probably not your hard drive).
Using your power settings, get your hard drive to "sleep" after 1 minute of no activity. Then start your browser. This should stop and restart your hard drive. Do you hear the sound? If so, you've found the problem.
If it seems it is a fan, get a can of dust remover and your vacuum. With the computer off, open the computer case and without touching any of the components dust out all the fans and around the heatsinks. Keep the vacuum on during this process to pick up the loose dust. Dust will not only reduce the efficiency of the heatsinks, it will clog up the fans. Once this is done, start the computer with the case open and if the sound is still there, see if you can identify the source.
If you've identified the sound from a case fan and dusting will not cure the problem, disconnect the fan. You can usually leave the case this way if you have several case fans. If you only have the one case fan, or are concerned, you can get a replacement case fan for a few dollars from Fry's or a computer surplus store. Make sure you get a 12v version, or one with the 4 pin power connector that is common in the cases.
If the sound is coming from your hard drive, you will have to replace the drive. Do this as soon as possible. It may be easier to do this by adding a USB drive to first transfer your datafiles. Then install your new drive and format and install windows.
2007-01-09 17:16:30 · answer #1 · answered by MarkW 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It may be the heads on your CD drive. During startup, this drive will often spin up to see if a disk is inserted. If you're not prepared for this, it could easily sound like a problem. Watch the lights on your CD drive to see if the noise corresponds to the drive activity. If so, all is well.
2007-01-10 10:09:00 · answer #2 · answered by Dwight S 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Does it sound like there's some weird clicky or whining noise? Then your hard drive is going out. Quickly back up all your files before it's too late.
You have about 2 weeks left if this is the case.
2007-01-09 16:48:12 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
My laptop does this also. I don't know if you have a fan on the desktop but I know that lap tops do. I think that the sound is the fan starting up and also just the mechanics. But then again I am not an expert....
2007-01-09 16:49:28 · answer #4 · answered by K 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋