Hard drive or cooling fan problem!! I am wondering!

[Becky Sue]

My computer is making different noises. I am scared that it is about to quit.

I leave the computer on 24/7. But if I have to turn it off for some reason and it gets cooled down. Then when I turn it on again it makes a louder noise,clanging noise. I am thinking the hard drive, but now I wonder is it the fan making the strange noise, that cools the computer down.

Is there a way I can figure out which one it is? I am not a computer geek. The only reason I have had the back off of the computer tower was to add RAM, with the help of a friend. So I have looked inside.

I am thinking maybe I should open the back up and blow any dirt/lint out of the fan with conpressed air?? what do you think.?

I hate the thought of losing my computer. I have been looking at a new one. This computer is HP(walmart,2001). So I have had it awhile.

Any suggestions are appreciated.
Becky Sue

[CherTLC4u]

Isnt it a shame that a 2001 computer is "old" ::

Yep ... i'd take off the back and blow the dirt out. A computer tends to gather dust, lint, hair, etc. so that would be a good place to start. Just make sure you unplug it first.

[Kent]

I would open the case and feel each component (fan, HD) for the vibration corresponding to the noise. Just make sure you are grounded (touch the case to discharge any static electricity) first. If it is the Case or CPU fan (two different fans), it is an easy fix.

[KimberBoh]

Becky,

I too had the same problem. Along with the clanging noise, there was no air blowing out of the back of the computer. It turned out to be the power supply. We replaced that and Voila! no more noise and a nice breeze blowing again. It took about 15 minutes to change it.

My son did use compressed air to blow out the inside and it was really dusty in there. The first time he did it, it seemed to make a difference but that didn't last long.

Hope this helps.

[Becky Sue]

getting my nerve to take the towers back off, as soon as I turn it off.

I will blow it out with the compressed air and see if this helps. Wish me luck.

I'll come back and post what I found, if I don't do something and can't come back. :confused

Like I said wish me luck. Wish I knew more about computers.
Becky Sue

[Elleth Faewen]

Since you are taking the cover off, you can try turning it on and see if you can tell where the noise is coming from too.

[Becky Sue]

I did take the case off and I did blow tons of lint and dust out of the whole inside.
I didn't know how to turn it on with the case removed. I guess you can say I was afraid to try.
I did get it all hooked back up like it was and it did come back on when I started it. So I didn't hurt anything.
I think I would feel better if I took it in maybe to radio shack and let them figure out where the sound is coming from, or just use it til I need a new one. Haven't decided.
It did have the same sound when it restarted as it did before. durn!

Thanks for everyones suggestions.

[StephieSue]

Sounds to me like you need a new fan. Maybe 2 fans. They're cheap, and easy to self-install. Also, make sure your computer vents aren't blocked and your room is ventilated. Keep the computer away from stuff like huge amounts of dust and cigarette smoke and heat.

You might find it surprising but most off-the-shelf computers rarely ship with a good power supply. What you'll get is the basic - the just-enough-to-keep-it-from-'sploding power supply. This is just another way to get you to upgrade immediately. Kinda how many computer manufacturers now ship computers with the below-recommended amounts of RAM, in order to get you to buy more.

Power supplies are like 60 bucks at Best Buy, and you can pick up fans there, too. You'll need to ask a clerk which kind you need. They're not hard to install at all. I mean, there are a billion guides for computer novices, on the net. That's how I learned, with my first computer.

[Becky Sue]

when you speak of power supplies, I don't know what you mean, unless it is the cord that plugs in to supply elec. to the computer.
Now you see just how illiterate I am when it comes to what makes the computer work.

I have got rid of a different sounds after I blew all the lint and dust out of the unit last week.

The only loud sound is when the computer starts up after being off long enough to cool down. But this loud sound started just s few months after I bought this computer. As soon as I start using the computer then the loud sound calms down and it seems to work OK.

I guess I am also wondering how long are most computer working problem free, like how many years. on the average.

[StephieSue]

It just totally depends on how you drive it. I am hard on computers, but then I do a lot of things on them that average people don't do - a lot of video and audio work, for starters - and a computer lasts me on average 2 years*, and that is with constant maintenance (read: that is not constant problems, it's care and upkeep). But I have known people who don't use a computer for anything except email and surfing to an odd webpage here and there, and they take care of it with regular defrags and scans and spyware sweeps, and their computers have lasted them a decade. I have also known the opposite of that to be true, where people using a computer for nothing more than email and web use a computer so carelessly that they get it filled with virii and malware and end up killing it.

Of course, technology changes so much with webpage design that your hardware and your software can no longer handle some things found in webpages now, like java, css, flash, video, audio, etc. (and that's just a start).

If you keep your computer maintained and healthy, as well as protected with an adequate firewall (Zone Alarm) and anti-virus (Norton, McAfee, AVG, etc.), run regular anti-spyware programs (Spybot, Adaware, Microsoft Anti-Spyware), run a regular defragmentation, and take the time to learn just a little about how computers work - just enough so that you're not helpless every time something happens - you should be okay.

Computers are just as complicated as cars. Cars can last a long time, and one can learn how to be a good and careful driver with time and experience. But you have to learn about them and care for them if you're intending to keep it around for a long time. :yes

* Edited to add: And when I say computers last me 2 years, it's not because they suddenly blow up. :yikes It's just because I upgrade and move on, and phase the old system out. How long a computer "lasts" is totally subjective just depending on its use, who's using it, where it is, how long it's on, etc. etc. etc. ad infinitum.