5 replies to this topic

[Boggart]

Hmm so about two weeks ago my computer starts making a weird noise, a diagnostic clicking that repeats over and over in the same rhythm.

When this noise starts, my computer takes about 2 minutes to load anything (whether a browser or something like free cell) and it will "stop responding" within 15 seconds and crash.
When I reset the computer after this noise occurs, it will take about 15 minutes to boot and the same as above still occurs.
It also takes about 15 minutes to have the computer shut itself down unless I force it to shut-down by holding the power.

However, it periodically fixes itself. Sometimes it'll stop and be good for half an hour, or maybe even the whole day. It behaved all of last week, from sunday until about 8AM today (so 8 days) when browsing through e-mail it started making the noise and crashed my browser.

I'm guessing it's not a driver issue since it periodically fixes itself, my dad says it's probably the harddrive but why would it randomly just work sporadically? And what's causing this clicking noise and why is it diagnostic of my computer being an asshole?

Any tips? If you need more information I will try my best.

Sank Q

[soul__stealer]

Heat issues? As it hears up, the fan may be contacting something every x revolutions as it spins out of balance.

Severe overheating may slow the system down and also cause it to crash. Cleaning out the case and ensuring the fan is spinning fine and dust free would be step número uno for me

[Boggart]

soul__stealer, on 22 November 2011 - 01:42 PM, said:

Heat issues? As it hears up, the fan may be contacting something every x revolutions as it spins out of balance.

Severe overheating may slow the system down and also cause it to crash. Cleaning out the case and ensuring the fan is spinning fine and dust free would be step número uno for me

Okay I'll check that, thanks. I did recently replace my videocard, so maybe that's it. Although wouldn't turning it off for like 12 hours fix the heat issue?

And now it's behaving again after like 8 hours of going KIK KAK, KIK KAK, KIK KAK *glares at computer*

Ope, spoke to soon. There it goes again

[Inkheart]

If you open it up, you're bound to find the source of the clicking noise.

[soul__stealer]

Boggart, on 22 November 2011 - 01:44 PM, said:

Okay I'll check that, thanks. I did recently replace my videocard, so maybe that's it. Although wouldn't turning it off for like 12 hours fix the heat issue?

And now it's behaving again after like 8 hours of going KIK KAK, KIK KAK, KIK KAK *glares at computer*

Ope, spoke to soon. There it goes again

It might fix the issue for a very short time, but if it's pretty clogged up (don't just check the fan, look at the heat sink to) it can still heat up very quickly. My laptop was crashing in under 15 minutes every time until I got the shots and fixed it.

Also, as Inkheart said, take the case off and run it; then find the source of your clicking while it's actually happening.

[Boggart]

soul__stealer, on 22 November 2011 - 01:49 PM, said:

It might fix the issue for a very short time, but if it's pretty clogged up (don't just check the fan, look at the heat sink to) it can still heat up very quickly. My laptop was crashing in under 15 minutes every time until I got the shots and fixed it.

Also, as Inkheart said, take the case off and run it; then find the source of your clicking while it's actually happening.

Mmk thanks you two, I'll check it out. Although I thought it might be a heat issue or just an installation error (like maybe we accidently installed the video card incorrectly) but when it worked for a full 8 days I thought it was nothing. Now it's back. Asshole computer.

So i've opened it and I can't tell the source of the sound just because my computer is stupid. Everything is behind a set of locked cases which I need tools for. But it's not any of the 3 fans caught on something and it's on the internals of the computer. I'll get my dad to open it up (he has the weird tools needed) and I'll see what the noise is. Hopefully he just installed the video card improperly and it's just needed to be adjusted.