Noise As Soon As Computer is Turned On

[csonsini]

As soon as I turn my computer on it starts making a noise. Sometimes
it's so loud that
my office-mate will say that it sounds like a jet getting ready for
take-off. If I kick the
lower left front edge of the tower it often will stop, only to return
after awhile.
What could it be?

 

[paulmd]

As soon as I turn my computer on it starts making a noise. Sometimes
it's so loud that
my office-mate will say that it sounds like a jet getting ready for
take-off. If I kick the
lower left front edge of the tower it often will stop, only to return
after awhile.
What could it be?

Case fan
Cd Drive
Some other fan.

It could be the hard drive, though unlikely.

 

[Joel]

As soon as I turn my computer on it starts making a noise. Sometimes
it's so loud that
my office-mate will say that it sounds like a jet getting ready for
take-off. If I kick the
lower left front edge of the tower it often will stop, only to return
after awhile.
What could it be?

It's pretty simple, and you are the only person with more option to find
out what causes the noise problem. Ingeneral

1. Noise often make by FAN (hard drive makes a happier noise <g>)

2. Each system usually have 3-4 types of fans

a- Power Supply FAN
b- CPU FAN
c- Graphic Card FAN
d- Case FAN

3. And all you need to do is having the case opened and find out which of
those fans making noise. Then you have option

- Fix it (oil it)
- Replace it.

That's it! you have become a computer (fan) technician <g>

 

[Brian Cryer]

As soon as I turn my computer on it starts making a noise. Sometimes
it's so loud that
my office-mate will say that it sounds like a jet getting ready for
take-off. If I kick the
lower left front edge of the tower it often will stop, only to return
after awhile.
What could it be?

Just a guess:

1. Does it stop if you press the case rather than kicking it? If yes then
something is vibrating. Possibly something is loose, possibly even the case.

2. Do you have a cd in the cd drive? For some systems spinning it up can be
noisy - although probably not as noisy as a "jet getting ready for
take-off".

3. Pop the case and make sure that all of the fans (motherboard/cpu and
possibly graphics card) are not obstructed. I once had a pc where one of the
wires was being kicked by the fan and that make a lot of noise.

4. While you have the case open and assuming you still get the noise, does
the noise stop if you unplug the power lead from your hard-disk and/or cd?
(Only plug or unplug with the power off!) If its disk related (which I
doubt, but you never know) then look at replacing it.

Hope this helps. Please post back what it was.

 

[Josh Higgs]

As soon as I turn my computer on it starts making a noise. Sometimes
it's so loud that
my office-mate will say that it sounds like a jet getting ready for
take-off. If I kick the
lower left front edge of the tower it often will stop, only to return
after awhile.
What could it be?

I had a computer that used to do that; it's a fan of course. They do that
when the bearing wear down. Eventually, most likely, the offending fan will
go out, and your computer may overheat. I'd say replace some fans, or let it
burn up and get a new one.

 

[Paul]

As soon as I turn my computer on it starts making a noise. Sometimes
it's so loud that
my office-mate will say that it sounds like a jet getting ready for
take-off. If I kick the
lower left front edge of the tower it often will stop, only to return
after awhile.
What could it be?

Take the side off the computer, and find the offending fan. I have one
electronics store in town, that carries a selection of replacement
fans. They are expensive, but worth it (ball bearing fans, so won't wear
out as fast as sleeve bearings).

In sleeve bearing fans, some are sealed, like Panaflo fans. Which should
in principle, lead to a longer life. But most of the sleeve bearing
fans you'll find in computers, will be the lower quality ones.

The worst fans are the cheap sleeve bearing ones. Some of those
fail the first day you get them. I had one that drooled a puddle of
oil, onto the bottom of the enclosure it was in. So the manufacturer
sought to hide his crime, by lubing the hell out of a product doomed
to fail.

And "kicking the tower" will lead to hard drive failure. I hope you
have backup copies of your user data.

Paul

 

[kony]

As soon as I turn my computer on it starts making a noise. Sometimes
it's so loud that
my office-mate will say that it sounds like a jet getting ready for
take-off. If I kick the
lower left front edge of the tower it often will stop, only to return
after awhile.
What could it be?

Could it be that someone was kicking the system and one of
the fans has fallen off? If the fan fell off, the component
it was supposed to cool will be getting quite hot, and with
a motherboard controlled fan, it'd then run at max RPM.

 

[GT]

Case fan
Cd Drive
Some other fan.

It could be the hard drive, though unlikely.

It WILL be the hard drive if he keeps kicking the case!

 

[GT]

As soon as I turn my computer on it starts making a noise. Sometimes
it's so loud that
my office-mate will say that it sounds like a jet getting ready for
take-off. If I kick the
lower left front edge of the tower it often will stop, only to return
after awhile.
What could it be?

Everyone has suggested a faulty fan, but it could just be an annoying
vibration in the case - take the lid off the case and see it still makes a
noise.

If you kick the case when the hard disk is spinning then you will probably
break it. Most hard disks spin at 7200 rpm and the platters are made of
glass*, so when you kick it you are in danger of causing the metal head to
touch the glass platter while it is spinning, which will cause it to shatter
and destroy all of your files - a bit like jamming a large stick in the
spokes of your bike whilst cycling very fast!

* At least they used to be - dunno what they are made of now, but it doesn't
really matter, if something touches it at 7200rpm you can kiss your data bye
bye.

 

[Joel]

Everyone has suggested a faulty fan, but it could just be an annoying
vibration in the case - take the lid off the case and see it still makes a
noise.

If you kick the case when the hard disk is spinning then you will probably
break it. Most hard disks spin at 7200 rpm and the platters are made of
glass*, so when you kick it you are in danger of causing the metal headto
touch the glass platter while it is spinning, which will cause it to shatter
and destroy all of your files - a bit like jamming a large stick in the
spokes of your bike whilst cycling very fast!

* At least they used to be - dunno what they are made of now, but it doesn't
really matter, if something touches it at 7200rpm you can kiss your data bye
bye.

Hmmm I have always thought kicking the case often end up with newer and
better system, not? <bg>

 

[Rod Speed]

Everyone has suggested a faulty fan, but it could just be an annoying
vibration in the case - take the lid off the case and see it still
makes a noise.

If you kick the case when the hard disk is spinning then you will
probably break it. Most hard disks spin at 7200 rpm and the platters
are made of glass*,

Not necessarily.

so when you kick it you are in danger of causing
the metal head to touch the glass platter while it is spinning, which will cause it to shatter
Nope.

and destroy all of your files - a bit like jamming a large stick in the spokes of your bike whilst
cycling very fast!

Nothing like, tho it will kill the drive eventually.

 

[GT]

Not necessarily.

Hence the * and subsequent declaration of unsureness. What are the made of
now then?

Nope.

I would have thought sticking something metal through something thin,
fragile and spinning at 7200 rpm would cause it to shatter. You say nope, so
perhaps you could explain why it wouldn't cause damage?

 

[Rod Speed]

Hence the * and subsequent declaration of unsureness.

Your most is just plain wrong.

What are the made of now then?

Aluminium, glass was a relatively short term side track.

I would have thought sticking something metal through something thin, fragile and spinning at 7200
rpm would cause it to shatter.

It doesnt. You dont stick something metal thru
the platter, and it isnt thing and fragile either.

You say nope, so perhaps you could explain why it wouldn't cause damage?

Basically because you dont stick anything thru it.

The problem is actually a head slap damaging the magnetic coating
and the head and ending up with very fine bits of the magnetic coating
floating around the chamber and getting jammed between the heads
and the platter surface etc.