Noisey Computer

[ndillon]

Hello. My computer makes noise! Sounds like is coming from HDD. Here's the thing though; does not happen all the time, read on.
When the computer is inactive for about 1 minute, i can hear, what i can best descrtibe as, a low "rattling/clicking" sound that sounds like is coming from the hard drive. If I am running any pre-installed screensaver, the noise stops when the screensaver starts, I just hear the fan and the odd click. If i am running any other screensaver (not preinstalled/downloaded), the noise continues.
I have shut down everything except systray and explorer and it still comes on.
I have changed monitors and still happens.
I would like to stop it because, #1, is it damaging my computer? and #2, it is annoying.
I have a HP, 500mhz, 192 ram, Win 98se, with original sound/video/modem cards.
Otherwise, computer is ok.
Could this have anything to do with Frontpage 2002 that i installed a few months ago? this seemed to start around then?

Thnx, Neil.

 

[apex1x]

It sounds more like your hard drive is breaking down.
In BIOS, make sure SMART detection is active, as it should let you know when your hard drive is becoming flakey.
Also, run a thorough scandisk on your hard drive and see how many bad sectors there are.
I would recommend backing up your data immediatly and then put in a new hard drive. ~Apex1x
Miller's Law:
You can't tell how deep a puddle is until you step into it.

 

[mudskipper]

apex1x sounds like he is right on. All of his suggestions are sound ones--good suggestions to follow. It sounds like it is failing to me too!

You should take his suggestion and back up pertinant info immediately, just in case. Better safe than sorry! Definitely run a Surface scan (in scandisk) on the drive. If that does not come up with any Bad Sectors, then try the following. (if it does come up with bad sectors, then replace it!!).

You can boot to a floppy, type dir c: /s at the prompt and hit enter. This will do a directory listing of everything on the hard drive. It should be fairly fluid (might hesitate here and there for a second). If it hesitates greatly (especially if it is accompanied with that clicking sound that just started), then it REALLY sounds like it is failing. Mudskipper
___________________________________________________________________________________

Groucho said it best- "A four year-old child could understand this! Quick! Run out and find me a four year-old child: I can't make heads nor tails out of this!"

 

[Grenage]

Aye, but back up before you run the scandisk since it might kill it off.

On the other hand it might be a system controlled fan in the computer that just powers down a little when your computer is not active. In which case the bearings have probably gone and the fan needs replacing.

Open up the case and when it's making the noice try to pinpoint it.