Alot of noise at Startup

[Ancient Lady]

I have an HP media centre PC m5970 with XP Media centre software.

For a few months the computer makes awful whirring noises at startup. The noise goes after a few minutes and if I reboot the computer when it is warmed up the problem does not return.

I first thought that it might be the fans but they are clean and have been checked. I have completed the checks within my operating system ie PC Doctor which I think tests the hardware for malfuncition and no problem is reported.

Does anyone have any idea what this could be?

[Seth]

Welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help Ancient Lady.

 

How was it determined that the computer doesn't have a defective fan?

 

Does the whirring noise sound like it's coming from inside the case, or from the top front where the optical drives are?

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Hello Ancient Lady

 

Welcome to FPCH

 

You don't have a cd left in the cdrom drive by per chance do you?

 

Which fans were cleaned, did they check the PSU and CPU fans and was the CPU heatsink cleaned thoroughly?

 

Other than a whirring sound do you hear any grinding or clicking type sounds?

[Seth]

I can almost guarantee it's a fan.

 

Keep in mind that you may also have a fan on the graphics card and the main system board (motherboard).

[Ancient Lady]

Thank you for your reply.

The computer is under a warranty scheme with PC World and they sent an engineer to do an annual check and investigate the noise. Whilst he was here he took the sides of the computer off and cleaned the fans. He said he could not detect anything wrong but he did admit that the noise was not usual. I am sorry but the insides of a computer are double dutch to me and I can't tell you what he actually did but it did not involve taking anything out as far as I can remember, his words to me were that he thought it was the hard drive and he thought it would fail but that was 2 months ago and it is still going albeit with the noise. I can't pinpoint the noise, it seems to come from all over if I am sitting to the side of it.

The warranty people are refusing to come out again as they say the computer is operating normally.

[Guest Wolfeymole]

PC World (sigh)

 

The word Engineer does not spring to mind when these people are mentioned Ancient Lady sorry.

 

They sell computers to the masses with an eye on profit and nothing more.

 

This, knowing PC World could probably be down to an Engineer, aka a guy out of their warehouse who probably drives the forklift, mis-seating a fan and therefore the motion has worked it loose.

 

I would not not pay these guys in washers and I would strongly advise anyone from purchasing any computer from them.

 

He thought this and he thought that and I bet he spent 2 minutes with a can of compressed air blowing it out and that was it, you did actually see him take the fan off Ancient lady yes?

 

Keep a carefull eye on when your warranty runs out and if it were me I would get them back tomorrow.

 

Your paying for it get them to it as it did not make this noise when you bought it did it?

[Seth]

his words to me were that he thought it was the hard drive and he thought it would fail

 

 

If such was the case (unlikely), then the drive should have been replaced. The words and lack of action of said tech indicate that he doesn't know what he's doing, or doesn't care to. Once the case is opened, any decent tech would find the culprit in a few seconds.

 

Your issue is a warranty repair. If they refuse to fix it, then tell them to view this thread and I'll have a word with them.

[Dalo Harkin]

It can only be 3 things really:-

Fans

Optical drive

Hard drive

as they are the only parts within the PC that physically move.

 

people at PC World may sell windows for dummies books - but i wonder how many have actually read it lol

[Seth]

Ancient,

 

Forward this thread via an email to PC Worlds head office.

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Can I just ask Lady how long the pc world chap was at your house because all techs should run through a diagnosis procedure regarding disk checking, cleaning and numerous other things which normally takes quite a while.

 

Fan removal and cleaning alone could take 30 minutes.

[Ancient Lady]

I hang my head in shame for using PC World. I knew it would provoke universal condemnation. In answer the so called engineer was here approx 1 hour and he did remove 2 fans(just checked his sheet) and clean them unfortunately they do not carry spare parts with them and he did not order any just told me to ring the warranty dept if the problem carried on as after the initial start up it did not repeat the problem as the computer was then warm.

The warranty dept said that they would not come out as the diagnostics said the computer was working correctly and they would not speak to the engineer themselves. The guy was not very polite so I just couldn't be bothered with the hassle.

I think my best option is to take it to an independent repairer armed with the knowledge I have gained from all your replies. I obviously need to go on a course to teach me about the insides of a computer.

Edited October 2, 2008 by Ancient Lady

[Guest Wolfeymole]

He removed 2 fans, did he clean them and re-seat them or just take them with him Lady?

 

His worksheet could be meaningless unless you actually saw him do this work.

 

Without these fans the pc could overheat big time and completely shut down.

 

Forget the "hassle" and argue with these clowns because your warranty is for exactly this scenario.

 

You may be at the end of the day facing a brick wall and your only alternative is to take it to privately owned repair shop but I'd argue on this with pc world.

 

As long as this computer is still in warranty Lady we must advise you not to interfere with any part of it.

 

We will however continue to help you in any way we can.

[Ancient Lady]

Yes he removed them, cleaned them and replaced them, I had forgotten in my initial post as it was a few months ago but it is all coming back to me like a very bad headache. I did see him replace them after cleaning them.

The computer is out of its manufacurers warranty, this is just an ongoing warranty scheme that I can cancel at any time.

I will have another go and try and get them back again but if your comments re their expertise are correct then I do not have much confidence in their ability to find and fix the problem especially as they tend to send the same engineer back.

[Dalo Harkin]

Lady, there is not much to putting a PC together its the parts that follow and the initial choosing of the parts that is hard - have a look at my PC BUILD on my signature and there are pics in there of a PC - you may get a better understanding of a pc just by that.

[Ancient Lady]

Many, many thanks to everyone for their help and advice. It is most appreciated.