Unusual hard drive/fan problem

[Bing111]

I have a Dell Dimension 8400. In the past few weeks, whenever I switch the power on at the socket my PC just switches itself on without me pressing the power button. However straight after it does this the fan gets louder and louder until it sounds like my computer is going to blow up and I switch it off at the wall. When this first started happening if I blew on the fan or tried to clean it my computer would usually let me switch it on as normal when the power socket is on, but recently this hasn't happened much and it is increasingly difficult to switch my computer on. I wouldn't be too bothered if there's nothing I can do to fix it as I was planning on buying a new PC soon, but if I'm unable to turn it on again is there any way I can save my pictures?

 

Thanks!

[PseFrank]

Hi Bing111, welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help

 

I'm not sure at all what may be causing this behavior, but someone else here will I'm sure be able to throw some light on the subject.

 

However...one thing you can try is to go into the Bios and disable any Auto Power settings.

 

To enter the bios hit F2 when the computer first starts. Navigate to the Power Management section, hit Enter on your keyboard and then look for a heading that says Auto Power or something similar. Using the arrow keys on the keyboard select Disable and hit Enter.

Save the changes you have made and exit the Bios...F10 is often the keystroke to save and exit...It will tell you somewhere on the screen.

 

As far as saving and backing up your pictures is concerned. The easiest way to do that if unable to start your computer is to remove the HDD from the case and place it in an external enclosure (Sometimes called a Caddy). You would then plug the enclosure into a healthy computer via USB port and transfer your personal data to the healthy machine.

 

An Enclosure can be purchased at your local computer store for probably no more than £15 to £20 pounds.

[Bing111]

Hi Bing111, welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help

 

I'm not sure at all what may be causing this behavior, but someone else here will I'm sure be able to throw some light on the subject.

 

However...one thing you can try is to go into the Bios and disable any Auto Power settings.

 

To enter the bios hit F2 when the computer first starts. Navigate to the Power Management section, hit Enter on your keyboard and then look for a heading that says Auto Power or something similar. Using the arrow keys on the keyboard select Disable and hit Enter.

Save the changes you have made and exit the Bios...F10 is often the keystroke to save and exit...It will tell you somewhere on the screen.

 

As far as saving and backing up your pictures is concerned. The easiest way to do that if unable to start your computer is to remove the HDD from the case and place it in an external enclosure (Sometimes called a Caddy). You would then plug the enclosure into a healthy computer via USB port and transfer your personal data to the healthy machine.

 

An Enclosure can be purchased at your local computer store for probably no more than £15 to £20 pounds.

 

 

Thankyou for your detailed reply.

I would try and enter BIOS but don't have time for the computer to start up before I have to switch it off because of the fan.

I will try the hard drive caddy, but as I am unable to get to a computing shop today and need a few files, is It safe to install my hard drive into my friend's computer to copy files? However, I have XP and she has windows 7?

[PseFrank]

Is It safe to install my hard drive into my friend's computer to copy files? However, I have XP and she has windows 7?

 

I see no reason why you couldn't do that.