Pc Fail

Icemanbrfc

Icemanbrfc

Honorary Master
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So i think something on my pc is failing me. When i boot up the 1st time, i get this grinding noise for about a minute or so, and then it would quiet down. However, when i shut down after that, and boot up again, i dont get that grinding noise. Its only after i boot up say the next day, that i get that initial grinding noise.

Now im no pc expert ie components, but im guessing something must be wrong, as i also get the occasional pc switching off in the middle of something.

Please advise, so that i may be able check.

Ta
Isgak
 
is it cold where you stay atm?

if your pc is cold your fans make that noise until its warm, my old cheap fans use to do it when it is cold and but sometimes even if it is not.
 
If your pc makes a grinding sound and you kick it does it go away? lol because if it does it might be a loose or dirty fan. Try see the dust buildup on the fans you are using. Else it seems like they might be reaching the end of their lifetime. The turning off in the middle of something can be due to your pc overheating or shorting out. Make sure the fan on you power supply is working properly.
 
agree with the posts above, sounds like you have a fan or fans that are dirty or just old,
try cleaning them ... compressed air etc .... never hurts to keep your case clean on the inside.
 
It's a fan or hard-drive. "Grinding" noise sounds like it could be an HDD but if it's more a whining, screeching type noise it's probably a fan. Usually graphics card and power supply fans go first. Open up the case while the PC is on (and making the noise) then carefully stop each fan with your fingers in turn to see when the noise stops. If it's a power supply or case fan, replace the fan. If it's the graphics card, youre unlikely to find a replacement but you can take the fan off, spray some electric lubricant into the bearing and it should stop. I used my old HD5770 for more than a year with no problems after it started making a hell of a noise.
 
agreed ,Open the side panel, start up pc and listen or even just put your finger on the fans housing and feel for vibrations .

OR put nose in fan:P jk
 
Its actually extremely cold where i am, well Cape Town has been cold lol. Im happy to know it could just be a dirty or old fan, which could be cleaned or replaced. Like i said, only say the next day, on initial boot up, do i get that grinding noise for a minute or so, and then you can hear it start to quiet down. Really annoying though, but ill have a look and see if its dirty.
 
Yeah it starts out just making a noise when it's cold outside, but eventually the bearings will wear out from all the dust and the noise will be permanent. Evenyually the fan will cease up completely if you don't do anything but that will take ages. You'd far more likely be driven insane from the noise before that ever happened.
 
Had the same problem with my old Pentium 3 many moons ago.

Open the case and see if you can isolate the source of the noise. check that all screws are tightly fastened. You will either have to clean and lubricate your fan/s, or just buy a replacement one.
 
Cheers for all the replies guys. Its been driving me nuts, and as im not familiar with these things, i wasnt sure, but knew something wasnt right.
 
TJ99 said:
It's a fan or hard-drive. "Grinding" noise sounds like it could be an HDD but if it's more a whining, screeching type noise it's probably a fan. Usually graphics card and power supply fans go first. Open up the case while the PC is on (and making the noise) then carefully stop each fan with your fingers in turn to see when the noise stops. If it's a power supply or case fan, replace the fan. If it's the graphics card, youre unlikely to find a replacement but you can take the fan off, spray some electric lubricant into the bearing and it should stop. I used my old HD5770 for more than a year with no problems after it started making a hell of a noise.
Click to expand...

Im hoping its not the GFX card, as i just recently had that installed. As said, the noise will disappear after about a minute or so. Im not clued up with opening pc's, so will ask somebody to have a look.
 
Icemanbrfc said:
Im hoping its not the GFX card, as i just recently had that installed. As said, the noise will disappear after about a minute or so. Im not clued up with opening pc's, so will ask somebody to have a look.
Click to expand...

Just unscrew the side panels and clip them off gently, be wary of any cables if they are attached to a fan on the side panel that you don't rip it out.. Then follow the advice of the previous posts and stop the fans until you isolate the source. Then replace fan if its not serious
 
Very common on old power supplies.

I have never been able to fix it when it does that (without replacing the fan).

You might as well clean it just for fun, but I doubt it would help.

Edit: When it finally stops making that noise, please check its still spinning and then replace PSU as needed.
 
Yeah its the fans.
Probably the power supply fan. I usually tear off the paper label on the side of the fan, and put a few drops of oil in, and then tape the label back on. This will keep the fan going for another 3 years or so without noise.
 
Speaking of noisy fans I get the odd oscillation now and again where the entire chassis starts to resonate. Have not looked for the cause and just give it a tap when it starts for now.
 
Most probably a fan.

The way I diagnose which is by stopping them one by one with my finger, and when the noise stops I know which one.
 
Ho3n3r said:
Most probably a fan.

The way I diagnose which is by stopping them one by one with my finger, and when the noise stops I know which one.
Click to expand...

That would involve me lying flat on my side on the floor with a torch in hand to find the culprit. Will have to wait :D
 
Ho3n3r said:
Most probably a fan.

The way I diagnose which is by stopping them one by one with my finger, and when the noise stops I know which one.
Click to expand...

That would involve me lying flat on my side on the floor with a torch in hand to find the culprit. Will have to wait :D
 
ponder said:
That would involve me lying flat on my side on the floor with a torch in hand to find the culprit. Will have to wait :D
Click to expand...

Haha :p Well you do not really need a torch, it's only the CPU fan, GPU fan and the couple of fans around the hard drive and blowing in/out the box, unless you're like my brother in law who has like 12 :D
 
encrypted said:
Very common on old power supplies.

I have never been able to fix it when it does that (without replacing the fan).

You might as well clean it just for fun, but I doubt it would help.

Edit: When it finally stops making that noise, please check its still spinning and then replace PSU as needed.
Click to expand...

When it stops making the noise, the fans are still running. I used a piece of paper, just to make sure the fans are still spinning lol. Im praying it just needs a good clean on the inside, rather than needing to replace a fan.
 
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