Hi,

I happen to be at my Uncle's house who's got a Packard Bell Pentium 4 CPU 3.40GHz 2GB RAM 180GB HDD and running Windows Xp Home Edition SP2.

When it starts, there is a slightly loud noise heard for about 5 minutes, continuously and then intermittently. The sound is similar to that of sliding a pen against some metal railings... I don't know what it is or what is causing it. I have never opened inside a computer so I might not want to risk that especially since it isn't mine!

Just looking for any thoughts to share with my uncle, and to let him know if repair is needed.

Thanks.

Take the side off and look for a loose wire hitting or resting against a fan blade. Another, worse, possible problem would be a faulty hard drive

Hey,

if its a soon as you start up the PC my first guess would be a fan. does this noise happen at any other time when the PC is running? there may be something lodged in one
how long does the PC stay on for at a time may i ask?

other things to check would be any drive - try starting the PC without any media in the drives (CD's, Floppy's etc)

other than that i would turn to harddrive but i would think if there was a problem there you would hear the noise pretty much constant whilst the PC was running

Steve

Thanks for the quick replies.

Emu1616, the noise starts immediately after the PC is turned on and continues for like 5 minutes before it stops.

If this is the fan, does the fan start running immediately after the computer is turned on and for approximately 5 minutes before it stops turning?


If you mean how long it is used for at a time, I would say it is pretty much over-used! There are two of my teenage cousins usually staying on for several hours at a time late into the night...

garmanma, I'll check if I can do that. Hopefully it should be simple.

Hi JUHA

A quick look would be the way to go. Tell your Uncle that every desktop should be opened up and cleaned about once a year. Heat is the PC killer and dust does build up and clog heatsinks and fans.

It really is simple and a good tutorial is here: http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial118.html

Good luck

Normally your fan will start up when boot your PC up and willl run for a few minutes, you say that the PC is over used so id expect your to hear the noise at some over point during the time the PC is on ??

Best thing to do like its been said is to take the side off and have a look, clean out any dust (use a hover attachment its quicker lol), whilst your there boot up the PC, check for any cables hitting the fan(s), see if you can pin point where the noise is coming from (fans, HD, CD Drives etc) and post back on your findings

you had a look inside the PC yet?
anymore info as to where the sound is coming from?

Haven't gone back yet.

I'll let you know when I go back, and if my Uncle will trust me to check inside the PC!