Strange grinding sound...

[Muffin_Daddy]

I know most computers are suppose to make grinding sounds when programs are starting and running.. but mine is making a wierd grinding sound; it's louder than normal grinding and it'll grind three times and pause and do it again for another couple of times like that. It just does it whenever I'm opening a program and sometimes when I have too much running, in which case it'll go on for a little longer and my entire computer freezes up, you can't even Ctrl+Alt+Delete in this time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I don't think it could be spyware or a virus or the result of me not taking care of my computer. I do a virus scan weekly, ad-ware and spyware scan and disk clean up whenever I'm getting ready to go to bed and I defrag, run a regisitry repair and windows washer every other day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Is something possibly loose in my computer and needs to reattachment? Just wanted to know before I go taking my computer appart. I can tell where the grinding is coming from, the bottom right side.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Computer Stats, etc.:

 

 

 

Dell Dimensnsion L733r

 

 

 

Came with ME, upgraded to XP.

 

 

 

System Pack 2

 

 

 

Intel Pentium III Processor

 

 

 

730 MHz, 320MB of RAM

 

 

 

Only 13.98GB of Space

 

 

 

Free Space 5.24GB, 37%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If there's anything else you need to know, ask.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks in advance.

[Mercifull]

Could be a hard drive packing up? How old is your computer?

 

 

 

Post some specs plz ^_^

[Boogityboo04]

Im guessing its your old hard-drive dieing, as you have almost an old computer by todays standards (and its a dell). I'd back your stuff up RIGHT NOW, my hard drive locked up like that and i lost quite a bit of work.

[Hulk12]

Yes I do agre the only logical explanation is the harddrive. Although any loose parts in a CD-ROM drive could cause this (unlikley due to location).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Possible problems in HDD:

 

 

 

Head grinding against platter.

 

 

 

Platter chiping (instant data loss)

 

 

 

Magnetic film pealing off of platter (instant data loss)

[Chris]

Hulk's pretty much summed up what could be wrong.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In an older system like yours it is a problem that's viable.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Suggestion: Backup important documents/files and get a new hardrive. If you don't feel confident with installing a new hardrive, get a local PC shop to do it.