Computer Problems

[PeaceKilla]

I am destined not to have a completely good working computer. I'm despirate. Anyway, here goes what problems we've been having.

Every time now, when the computer is off for some time, when I turn it on it emits a low groaning noise, sounding like a fan grinding probably, but I dunno exactly what. It does this until windows fully loads usually, then dies down completely. If the computer is shut off, then turned on a few seconds later, not a problem.. just when it has time to cool down.

Now, comes the other problem. One time, my mother turned on the computer, it loads halfway, then it says there is a disk error, and loads DOS Scandisk, in which it does a surface scan... which my mom let go on until it was scanning unused sectors, when I finally came home (About 10 minutes ago)... I exited scandisk, as it was just scanning empty sectors, and loaded windows, which it had loaded in 256 color mode, with cruddy icons etc, I fixed that.. After another restart, it loaded partially again, then said it had a disk error, doing scandisk which I exited immediatly to log on here, and talk to you guys.

Now, we don't have the money to go to some big tech dude a 75 bucks an hour, and reformating is right now not an option.

The groaning noise has gone on for a few months now (x.x I know..)
Heres mah specs:

AMD Athlon 1800XP at 1.5ghz (I think)
40GB Maxtor memory with like.. 27GB left
256mb DDR RAM

I'll go defrag, and do a full scandisk without stopping tonight, but I need some other suggestions. =(

 

[PeaceKilla]

Bump

Please help me

 

[NoNameRequired]

Open up your computer and make sure no dust is caught in the fan.

 

[Dabom]

Dust isn't the problem.

Is the computer still under warranty? Will the store you bought it from troubleshoot it for you free of charge?

If you can, take the side of the case off while it boots and put your ear near the hard drive; see if that's making the noise. I'd also run the hard drive utility listed below (you don't need to have it run every time your computer starts up); it'll help predict drive failure and show various errors. (Too bad there isn't a free version of SpinRite.)

http://www.siguardian.com/siguard1.exe (30-day free trial)

Let the surface scan and defrag do their thing before you try SIGuardian.

 

[PeaceKilla]

Actually it isnt under warrenty, cause the company who built the thing ditched and we can't find them. Like, two weeks after we got it. Others had the same problem and the company that took over has had dozens of complaints about faulty products. They are making a killing just by tech supporting the computers the other store that was there before them made.

 

[PeaceKilla]

The SIGuardian shows my temp hovers about 48, jumping to 51 when I loaded a heavy use program, then going back down to 48 once the fans sped up to compensate.. the groaning only happens when the computer cold starts, once its 'warmed up' it seems to go away. If the puter is left off for more then 5 minutes, then turned on, it groans, but if its just shut off for a few moments, then turned on, nothing. SIGuardian sees no problems, everything is at a complete green, sept temp which is about 1 off from max.

 

[PeaceKilla]

Actually I /did/ talk to one dude at the new computer place, they said its probably a hardware failure problem, of course they didn't give any information about what, due to the fact it would cost $50 bucks up front just to see whats wrong, then 50 an hour afterwards or something for repair.

 

[Dabom]

Sorry to hear that.

Originally posted by Dabom
If you can, take the side of the case off while it boots and put your ear near the hard drive; see if that's making the noise.

 

[PeaceKilla]

Gah, SIGuardian just found an unknown attribute on my computer thats lifetime ends August 29th...?

 

[Dabom]

That program pretty much answered my question to you, but I need <i>you</i> to confirm it's the hard drive making the noise; then, we'll know for sure that the motor is the problem. If it's the source of the sound, you're, unfortunately, going to need a new hard drive -- as soon as possible. Don't use that computer until you've got the new drive installed (if you can't do it, maybe a buddy can) and are ready to make backups.

If you need help removing the side of the case and locating the hard drive, don't be ashamed or embarrassed to ask.

 

[baseballcap]

The noise is prolly just a fan going out, I have had quite a few fans go out on my comp, and they did the same type of thing, next time you boot, tap all your fans and see if tapping one stops the noise and then replace it

 

[PeaceKilla]

I checked inside the case, but the noise sounds like its coming from everywhere. I wish I had a camera so I could show you what I think is making the noise, but I belive its the boxed in thing at the back of the computer, at the top, where a fan blows air out of... it has red and black wires plugged into it.. it has plenty of grit inside the fan area and when I gently tap it, the groan goes away then comes back, though it doesnt last long enough for me to do anything else. Perhaps this is the HD, but I dunno. I didn't open it, for fear of damage, but the fan looks mighty gritty from dust...

 

[LT.Homer Simpson]

It sounds like your power supply fan has dust on the blades, this will cause the fan to go out of balance and vibrate bad. This will cause a roaring sound when you start up the comp. Try to clean the dust out--(unplug the comp first)--use a vacuum with a small attachment and a small brush. If that fan stops you will lose your power supply.