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computer making clicking noises

18 years ago

My computer is making clicking noises when you first turn it on. When it goes into windows xp, the clicking stops. But when you are in windows and you click to open a program, it opens the program multiple times. Can be as many as 40-50 times. Everything becomes very erratic and sometimes I can't even click to restart or shut down the computer. I thought it was a hard drive problem but I have totally disconnected the hard drive and I can still hear the clicking noises when I reboot. I thought it was the floppy drive and did the same to it and the clicking is still there when you reboot. I just can't seem to isolate the clicking noise. Any ideas?

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Comments (8)

DA_Mccoy
18 years ago
Possibly, and no guarantee, you might be looking at a H/D failure. Had it happen to me once. The intermittent clicking followed in time by a complete failure. Until you know for sure one way or the other it would be wise to backup all important data, documents, pictures and music to name a few.

DA
asolo
18 years ago
agree with damccoy's suggested possibility. Back up everything at once, then proceed with diagnosis.
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owbist
18 years ago
Because you can remove the hard and floppy drive without a cure you might try a different keyboard. Yes I know it sounds silly but I did read about a similar incident long ago.

It may not cure the sound but may overcome the multiple openings of any given program. Borrow a keyboard, you only need it for a few minutes if you do not have a spare lying about the house.
johnkr
18 years ago
I agree that dying hard drives can make a clicking noise. It can also be something as simple as a wire or cable touching a fan blade as it spins. I would check the internal fans just to be sure. A clump of dust or gunk can also cause a fan blade to make noise.
debo_2006
18 years ago
UPDATE:

I put in a new fan today and the noises are gone. My computer hasn't been this silent since it was new.

Thanks for the replies, and I'm happy that it was a $15 fan replacement instead of the hard drive.

Deb
haymeadowfield
Original Author
18 years ago
I turned on the computer today and no clicking. So far it is not the hard drive or the floppy drive and it is not a memory module as I tested that last night. The CPU cooling fan is a new one. It is one of those with the copper tubes and is suppose to be better than the standard cooling fans. Could it be the video card? I have a Radeon 7500.
I also want to thank everyone who posted quick responses.
owbist
18 years ago
The new piped heatsinks can be huge, I have the silver orb and had to trim the fins on one side to avoid hitting the power supply. Is it possible that this new heatsink is almost touching something and perhaps a slight vibration is causing it to tap on another component? The only thing on the video card could be perhaps the power cord to the onboard fan is touching the blades intermittently.
debo_2006
18 years ago
Sorry haymeadow....I posted a very similar issue the other day and when I updated earlier today (see above), I thought this was my post. I didn't even pay attention to the name. Sorry.

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