Curse

Alexandria · May 28, 2009, 03:37 PM // 15:37

Ok, so I was cleaning my room this morning.
Afterwards I start up my PC and all of a sudden I hear this strange clicking noise coming from my computer every five seconds or so. It is really starting to frustrate me and worry me. Anyone that can shed some light on this issue?

FengShuiDove · May 28, 2009, 04:52 PM // 16:52

If I had to venture a guess, I'd say you've got the infamous click of death. It happens to a hard drive when it's taken too much dust or physical abuse, and it's probably one of the few components that will make that noise when defective.

Check and see if you're properly accessing stuff off the hard drive. If this wasn't helpful, try the linked wikipedia article and see if it might be something that they talk about.

Alexandria · May 28, 2009, 05:29 PM // 17:29

Everything works fine, just a bit laggy here and there. I can access everything just fine but it's this clicking noise that is bugging me :/ No idea what to do. So the only thing I can do is get a new HDD?

FengShuiDove · May 28, 2009, 06:24 PM // 18:24

I wouldn't jump to that. If you're still properly accessing things you know are stored on the Hard Drive then it shouldn't be that. I'm no pro, just speaking out of experience a bit. I'd wait on a second opinion from someone here or at a local tech place before doing anything drastic.

rick1027 · May 29, 2009, 03:32 AM // 03:32

id say there might be wire sticking into one of your fans or your hard drive is going id do a backup of your valuble data in case it goes fully as soon as possible open the case and make sure no wires are sticking into a fan somewhere slowing it down cause if there is you can have big problems down the road. while you got the side open check for dust and blow as much of it out you can without really touching anything. it sounds like a drive thats ready to go so as long you save the valuble stuff like saved games if you use a banking program your info and any other file you think is important

Notorious Bob · May 29, 2009, 08:04 AM // 08:04

This is quite tricky to diagnose without a bit more information.

Is it a mechanical click which would suggest a moving part problem - fan bearing, fan assembly, CD/DVD drawer motor, HD head stepper etc. or is it an electrical click indicating a short or a capacitance build-up.

You say 'every 5 seconds' - is this just a rough guess or is it really repeating at that frequency?

Given that there aren't that many moving parts in a PC then if it's a mechanical click, get your ear to the box and see if you can locate it - it basically will have to be one of your fans - case, CPU, GPU or PSU, the CD/DVD drawer (jammed and trying to open) or spinning up a damaged disc, or the HD that is on it's last legs.

If you fear it is the HD then back everything up right now before it fails and also ensure that your BIOS is configured to all you to boot from CD/DVD.

gl

KoKoS · May 29, 2009, 08:27 AM // 08:27

it means u have to turn off your loudspeekers

/faint

Alexandria · May 29, 2009, 09:13 AM // 09:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Notorious Bob

This is quite tricky to diagnose without a bit more information.

Is it a mechanical click which would suggest a moving part problem - fan bearing, fan assembly, CD/DVD drawer motor, HD head stepper etc. or is it an electrical click indicating a short or a capacitance build-up.

You say 'every 5 seconds' - is this just a rough guess or is it really repeating at that frequency?

Given that there aren't that many moving parts in a PC then if it's a mechanical click, get your ear to the box and see if you can locate it - it basically will have to be one of your fans - case, CPU, GPU or PSU, the CD/DVD drawer (jammed and trying to open) or spinning up a damaged disc, or the HD that is on it's last legs.

If you fear it is the HD then back everything up right now before it fails and also ensure that your BIOS is configured to all you to boot from CD/DVD.

gl

The clicking sound is repeating at that frequency, and by the sound of it, it is coming from the front area, around the middle. So it COULD be the DVD, but it still opens and functions as it should. Done backuping all my files now though. Such a shame

M @ T · May 29, 2009, 10:51 AM // 10:51

In my opinion if it was a cable on a fan or something the sound would be repeatable. My guess is your HD.

Get a backup, turn off the pc, remove the power cable, open the the box and use a hairdryer to remove all the dust. Just make sure you use cold air and remember not to approach any components of your PC at a distance of 10 cm or lower just in case.

EDIT: Don't do this inside your room since you cleaned up

rick1027 · May 30, 2009, 02:37 AM // 02:37

now you got it all saved try opening your case and check for dust or wire stuck into fans. if you suspect a dvd drive after removing all disks from it try unplugging it from the motherboard and power supply and rebooting the computer if the noise is gone its you dvd . if you still hear the noise with the side open take a quick peak and try to figure from where the sound comes from if its your hard drive might as well get a new one if it from a fan shut computer off unplug it and see if it loose or something sticking into the fan try to not touch anything unless your grounded usually a visual inspection will tell you all you need to know

Alexandria · May 30, 2009, 08:43 AM // 08:43

So apparently, the clicking has stopped! After a night of intense GW playing (several hours)
I don't hear the clickingsound anymore :S Ghosts?

*edit*
NVM! It started again :/

geaw · May 30, 2009, 09:54 AM // 09:54

Turn off computer now, because CPU fan is probably blocked by wires or something else. It may overheat because of this, you should contact service or open your comp and try to determine what is it, as long as you know what are you doing.

edit: It is CPU fan, because if it can't spin up (blocking cables for example) it will wait a few secounds and try to spin up again. If its still blocked, again it will wait and try to start up. Sound of starting up fan is similar to clicking.

Wrath Of Dragons · May 30, 2009, 10:27 PM // 22:27

http://www.cpuid.com/hwmonitor.php
Download and look at temps. It will give an idea if a stuck fan is the issue. geaw makes a pretty good point.

Tarun · May 31, 2009, 12:13 AM // 00:13

Most likely it's the hard drive, check with chkdsk for bad sectors and check SMART with HDTune.

Another good idea is to take the panel off and try to LISTEN to where the sound is coming from.

Alexandria · May 31, 2009, 01:58 PM // 13:58

Sound has updated to a more "tick-tock" sound. It is also more frequent (every three seconds). At first it was just "tick" every five seconds, but now.... The sound is definatly coming from the harddrive and I have blown out all the dust from my PC. Don't know what else I can do.

Elder III · May 31, 2009, 02:18 PM // 14:18

If you have determined the problem for sure you had best be getting a new hard drive - once you get a new HDD and transfer your data to it, feel free to go ahead and try repairing bad sectors or even going old school and sticking it in the freezer (no I'm not crazy) - but until you get a new one and know that your data is safe don't try anything to fix/repair it. You can get 500GB HDDs at Newegg now for around $50, that's not a bad deal.

*just noticed you're in Sweden? If so I imagine you will have to pay abit more for a new HDD, but it's certainly better than losing your data etc. *

Tarun · May 31, 2009, 05:40 PM // 17:40

Back up your data now and get a new hard drive.

rick1027 · May 31, 2009, 08:01 PM // 20:01

get a new one since youve already backup up the stuff youll have to put the new one in and do a restore at least you backed up all your important data. the job of restoring will be easier if you got all disks that your different program came with along with any system restore disks you got. might take a few hours before you finish hope you got some way to access the internet in case you have question while you are doing it