Computer Buffs,I need advice.

[Eddie6th]

I switched on my computer this morning and heard this noise like a washing machine going on. Is this likely to be a fan? Everything booted up okay and internet access was fine. Switched it off and restarted it and it went away. Did the same tonight,again,restart...okay.

I did clean the fans about a month ago,as they were gunked up with dust. I only cleaned the blades. I didn't touch anything else.

[the_invisible]

Re: Computer Buffs,I need advice.

Hey Eddie,

It could be the vibration or rattle caused by either the fan (including the one in your power supply) or the storage drives (including hard disks and optical devices). Try tightening the fans and the storage devices on your computer. 99% of the time they are the culprit of noises. They are the only culprits for weird noises. They are the only moving parts inside your computer. The electronic chips and modules could also create a high pitch sound, but it'd only be audible to children under 7 years of age. Good luck!

[Eddie6th]

Re: Computer Buffs,I need advice.

Thanks. I believe there are 3 fans. At least that is all I seen when I cleaned them.

My cousin knows about computers,but he stays a good bit away from me and i don't see him very often. And he has a bad habit of not checking his emails.

I was only concerned if it was hard drive related. But I don't think that would be as loud? I've heard a bad hard drive before and it's like creaking as opposed to loud whirring(hard to explain).

(Oh,i get your point about what youngster's can hear. As we get older we lose high frequency. Teenagers hear 20khz. It has been used to rid areas where teens are misbehavin' with success. The adults are unawares to the high pitch sound and go about as normal).

[the_invisible]

Re: Computer Buffs,I need advice.

Hey, Sometimes the CD-ROM and hard drive, during a cold startup could cause some rattling, whilring sound. You could always tighten those storage devices. The sound may not be a sign of malfunction of failure. It could be just a couple of loose screws.

[C30-Mike]

Re: Computer Buffs,I need advice.

Check your fan rotation speed for consistancy. All should be smooth from visible inspection. This would be all case fan, CPU fan, video card fan, and power supply fan.
See if there is a loose wire that may touch any fan blades.
Hard drive noise makes a ticking noise (this means the HDD is about to be DOA).

[yalerd]

Re: Computer Buffs,I need advice.

If you cleaned the blades I would check them to see if one of more than one blade is broken, sometimes fans with a crack / broken blade can cause some noise. Also fans that are old can cause the same thing, doesn't matter if it's clean the problem with old fans is that the oil in the rotation device in gone so it can cause noise.

I don't think it's a hard drive problem, if it were then you won't stop hearing it after a computer restart, you will keep hearing it any time you are using the HDD.

[Nappers]

Re: Computer Buffs,I need advice.

The fan on the CPU usually bites the dust. Pretty cheap at your local computer mom and pop store, mine sounded like a cat in a washer. I think it was 15 bucks and hooked it up and good to go.

[SHYNEMAN123]

Re: Computer Buffs,I need advice.

Are you 100 % sure it was not your washing machine ?

I know how you Italians are with your Vino. LOL

[Eddie6th]

Re: Computer Buffs,I need advice.

Are you 100 % sure it was not your washing machine ?

I know how you Italians are with your Vino. LOL

Thanks everyone. I'm pretty sure it's a fan. I'll have another look for a cracked blade,loose screws(except the ones in my head) or wires etc. Drying out also is a possibility,okay. I'll check the store to see for a replacement,if I don't see any of the above. Could be something silly as I cleaned it recently.

Frank...Very popular here...vino. Seems to be in France aswell. I'm not really mad on it though. Upsets my gut. I like a glass of JD's now and again.

Wasing machine's in the outhouse < First time I've seen this smiley used.