Sound from cpu

[Guest_imported]

I have a hissing sound coming from my Windows 98 Compaq PC.
If it is the hardrive what are the procedures needed to fix it? Do I need to install a new hardrive after backing up my system? If so how do I back it up and reinstall the new drive?? Also could this be a fan problem?

Please advise.

 

[dakota81]

It's just a fan, either your power supply's fan or your cpu fan. If it doesn't bother you, don't worry about it. If the hissing stops, then you should worry that maybe the fan has stopped working...

If it's the power supply fan, I actually stick a screwdriver into the fan and stop it while it's on, this usually startles up the fan enough so that whatever was causing the rattle or hiss goes away.

If it's the CPU fan, I'll poke it with my finger, see if that helps stop the noise.

You probably won't get to many computer repair guys telling you to do this, but it actually works most of the time. Worst case scenario you have to buy another fan which you would have to do anyways before you began poking at them.

 

[amandeephunjan]

man i have a hard disk which has beenmaking hissins sound for the past 6 months but it is working fine so nothing to worry but keep a look at your system internal to see if some cable is not disturbins the cpu fan

 

[CitrixEngineer]

dakota81:

Shhh!

You're giving away all the secrets of the techies who always advise to never do those things LOL

I always carry around a can of Spray Duster, such as this

http://www.techspray.com/1671info.htm,

which is what I use when the customers are watching. ;-) It's just the job for blowing gunk out of fans - and everywhere else, really. There are other brands out there - this is just so you get the idea. CitrixEngineer@yahoo.co.uk

 

[fedto]

workst98,
I have run across an unusual noise from my Compaq in the past, it could be described as a hissing. All I had to do was spray the case, cpu fan and the power supply fan out with compressed air and blow out all of the dust and such, it amazes me how much dust a pc colllects. After booting it back up it was fine.

 

[Guest_imported]

Thanks for all the advice.

I will try all the suggested ideas.

Can someone advise (if it was my hardrive) how I would back it up and install a new drive? Do I need to format the new drive, install new OS and how would I recover my old files?

 

[cdogg]

Please be extremely careful if you decide to stick anything into the power supply, even if it's just to stop the fan. Hate to see you come in contact with any compacitors!!
%-)

 

[Guest_imported]

Workst98 (Visitor)

If you can install the new drive with the old one,
an easy way (without purchasing any software) would
be to use xxcopy. Follow the instruction given
and after you finish, you can swap your drives and
then reformat your old one and check on it. Try the
site :

http://www.xxcopy.com

 

[TopHat2]

“Can someone advise how I would back it up and install a new drive?”
One way to do this is, if you have enough room in your drive bay (the case the HDD sits in) is:
1) Disconnect the cables from your old HDD and take it out, set the jumper(s) to make it a slave (unless its very old the jumper settings should be written on the HDD case), don’t put it back in yet.
2) Install your new HDD.
3) Put your Windows installation floppy and CD into the computer and start it up, follow the on-screen instructions (if you don’t have a windows install floppy, set the CD as you first boot device in BIOS)
4) Put your old HDD back in the PC (making sure it’s jumpers are set to slave), most IDE cables will allow you to attach 2 HDD’s, if not buy one that does.
5) Use windows explorer to copy the data files you want to keep over to your new HDD, as to applications you will have to re-instaal them from there respective installation disks.

Another way is to use Norton Ghost to copy an image of your old HDD to the new one. This will copy everithing including your OS and applications (you can't just copy the OS and applications with normal copy commands like "xcopy&quot.

http://www.symantec.com/sabu/ghost/ghost_personal/