why does my computer make noises?

Hi,

when my computer is idle (usually when I go to sleep at night, cause I keep it turned on over the night) it starts making cracking noises (the type of noise you hear in windmills when the windmill turns grains into flour). Also, the LED above the power-on LED flashes a lot during these noises.

Does anybody know what the issue is? It couldn't be the PSU as I just replaced it 2 months ago, so it must be a different component, but I can't figure out for the life of me which one is the culprit, and I'm afraid it might be the HDD. If the HDD... or even the CPU fail I'm fucked!

If someone knows the answer please share it!

Thank you!

Im no expert here, but sounds like the HDD. If it was the power LED flashing, I would say the PSU. But, the other light is the HDD, I believe.

Stuffedegg said:

Im no expert here, but sounds like the HDD. If it was the power LED flashing, I would say the PSU. But, the other light is the HDD, I believe.

Click to expand...

Damn!

Thanks for the reply...

yea most likely HDD , encounter before.
But also hard to say.

Sometimes due to aging worn and tear but HDD still working and fine just that it produce a bit of noise after years of usage.

Record the noise and post it here.

Normally when the PC is idling, there shouldn't be any loud noise, unless there's an automatic Windows update or something of that sort. Isn't it the fan though? That can get faulty too.

Anyway, if you think, it's the HDD, you can check the health of it easily running the CHKDSK command with the appropriate parameters from command line: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/chkdsk

Switch to a SSD. Problem solved!
It could be a combination of HDD and improperly mounted fans, too.

It's none of that.
It's a sign of a paranormal activity.
I know that because when I moved out of my parent's house, I used to live in a haunted studio.
Each night, I heard such sound in my computer too. And they stop as soon as I sit in front of it.
If it was a normal sound or something resulting from an issue in the computer, it would make the sound every time, not only at night when you're not in front of it. I ended up disassembling the computer and replacing everything in it, but the sounds kept going on each night, some night louder than other.
You don't have to worry though. Normally, this means nothing. Your computer is perfectly fine.

My advice : pray or move out of the place you are right now if you're afraid of such things. There might be another signs of paranormal activities around you that you didn't notice yet.

Once, I noticed it, I started to hear a loud and clear sound of a hand slamming on the table of my desk some night. A little light walked around the studio. Someone entered it each night with a clear sound on the wood of the door at 9 PM each night. There were many little noises that something made on some furniture. It even broke my TV by I don't know what means.

There was a thread about ghost here where I talked about being haunted in depth.

This is not a joke nor a troll answer. This is a genuine answer.

Change HDD to SSD, and all coolers to not a cheapest ones. I am using https://www.bequiet.com/

Gogol said:

Switch to a SSD. Problem solved!
It could be a combination of HDD and improperly mounted fans, too.

Click to expand...

I use to ask this HDD vs SSD which one last longer.

yes come performance of course is SSD but come long life span actually is HDD
A lot so call Hardware folks told me also price

this is why most servers still choose HDD , cos maybe due to price cheaper also last longer?

LED blinking means there is something running that process any task, make sure there no schedule task by any software or by windows during your sleeping times and properly clean the cooler fan on your power supply and processor fans that will reduce the noise.

YujinTan said:

I use to ask this HDD vs SSD which one last longer.

yes come performance of course is SSD but come long life span actually is HDD
A lot so call Hardware folks told me also price

this is why most servers still choose HDD , cos maybe due to price cheaper also last longer?

Click to expand...

HDD is like an elephant, while SSD is like a Ferrari. Yeah, probably the elephant will live longer; but it won't be able to do 150miles an hour, I guess.

P.S. in case you did not understand, Money isn't the biggest issue for most who opt for SSD. Performance is. As for data security, people replicate their data to slower hard disks, for that.

Gogol said:

HDD is like an elephant, while SSD is like a Ferrari. Yeah, probably the elephant will live longer; but it won't be able to do 150miles an hour, I guess.
P.S. in case you did not understand, Money isn't the biggest issue for most who opt for SSH. Performance is. As for data security, people replicate their data to slower hard disks, for that.

Click to expand...

I using HDD. I prefer things last longer.
I don't mind speed is slow to be honest. As long able to do the work I want the computer can handle quite ok, I fine.
next I don't use computer to game . Only play abit gaming on ps4.

I used to game on computer but kinda sick keep upgrading just for gaming.

YujinTan said:

I don't mind speed is slow to be honest. As long able to do the work I want the computer can handle quite ok, I fine.

Click to expand...

Yeah, if your job involves copy pasting to excelshit, then yeah. It shoudl work. Even raspberry pi should work. That's not the point here.

YujinTan said:

yea most likely HDD , encounter before.
But also hard to say.

Sometimes due to aging worn and tear but HDD still working and fine just that it produce a bit of noise after years of usage.

Click to expand...

I can live with the noise, that's not the problem. The problem is that it might brake down any moment, and I can't afford a new HDD until next year at the very earliest. Did your HDD brake down fast after it started making noises, or it lasted more??

HoNeYBiRD said:

Record the noise and post it here.

Normally when the PC is idling, there shouldn't be any loud noise, unless there's an automatic Windows update or something of that sort. Isn't it the fan though? That can get faulty too.

Anyway, if you think, it's the HDD, you can check the health of it easily running the CHKDSK command with the appropriate parameters from command line: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/administration/windows-commands/chkdsk

Click to expand...

Well, that does sound like a good idea. But I have no mic. Will the smartphone do it? If yes, do you know how? I mean, with an app, or how exactly? Also, I'm not sure if it's the fan but I stared at the fan last night for a good 2 minutes and it kept spinning as usual. The thing that bothers me is that I took the left wall of the computer case out so I can stare into the case but I still couldn't locate where the sound was coming from.

And thanks for the link. I will take a look at it after I respond to all the replies and I'll let you know if I identify the issue

Gogol said:

Switch to a SSD. Problem solved!
It could be a combination of HDD and improperly mounted fans, too.

Click to expand...

Oh, you have no idea how I would love ti switch to an SSD. Next year when I get some money that's the first thing I'll do

@Sweetrevenge ... lol, I'm not afraid of paranormal activity, mate. And to be honest, some 10-15 years ago I would have thought just like you ... But not anymore. One of the components is definitely at fault, I just can't figure out which one...

Smeklinis said:

Change HDD to SSD, and all coolers to not a cheapest ones. I am using https://www.bequiet.com/

Click to expand...

will do this next year. Also, my cooler is OK... I think...

vcc said:

LED blinking means there is something running that process any task, make sure there no schedule task by any software or by windows during your sleeping times and properly clean the cooler fan on your power supply and processor fans that will reduce the noise.

Click to expand...

how do I "make sure there no schedule task"? I genuinely have no idea how to do this. My OS is Windows 7 ultimate x64 if that matters.... Also, the CPU cooler is extremely silent, I actually love that piece of hardware, so I don't think that's the issue cause I'm looking at it right now and it spins just as silently and smoothly as it did in 2014 when I got this computer.

Gogol said:

HDD is like an elephant, while SSD is like a Ferrari. Yeah, probably the elephant will live longer; but it won't be able to do 150miles an hour, I guess.

Click to expand...

agree, but my HDD is actually a hybrid SSD-HDD from Seagate if I remember correctly. I mean, I know for a fact that it's a SSHD (hybrid hardware that is), but I don't remember if its Seagate or another brand. Seagate most likely, though...

tazarbm said:

Will the smartphone do it?

Click to expand...

Yes, it should be able to do it. Probably this is the easiest way: https://vocaroo.com/upload, record and upload it in one place.

tazarbm said:

I can live with the noise, that's not the problem. The problem is that it might brake down any moment, and I can't afford a new HDD until next year at the very earliest. Did your HDD brake down fast after it started making noises, or it lasted more??



Well, that does sound like a good idea. But I have no mic. Will the smartphone do it? If yes, do you know how? I mean, with an app, or how exactly? Also, I'm not sure if it's the fan but I stared at the fan last night for a good 2 minutes and it kept spinning as usual. The thing that bothers me is that I took the left wall of the computer case out so I can stare into the case but I still couldn't locate where the sound was coming from.

And thanks for the link. I will take a look at it after I respond to all the replies and I'll let you know if I identify the issue



Oh, you have no idea how I would love ti switch to an SSD. Next year when I get some money that's the first thing I'll do

@Sweetrevenge ... lol, I'm not afraid of paranormal activity, mate. And to be honest, some 10-15 years ago I would have thought just like you ... But not anymore. One of the components is definitely at fault, I just can't figure out which one...



will do this next year. Also, my cooler is OK... I think...



how do I "make sure there no schedule task"? I genuinely have no idea how to do this. My OS is Windows 7 ultimate x64 if that matters.... Also, the CPU cooler is extremely silent, I actually love that piece of hardware, so I don't think that's the issue cause I'm looking at it right now and it spins just as silently and smoothly as it did in 2014 when I got this computer.



agree, but my HDD is actually a hybrid SSD-HDD from Seagate if I remember correctly. I mean, I know for a fact that it's a SSHD (hybrid hardware that is), but I don't remember if its Seagate or another brand. Seagate most likely, though...

Click to expand...

it last more , before finally down.

HoNeYBiRD said:

Yes, it should be able to do it. Probably this is the easiest way: https://vocaroo.com/upload, record and upload it in one place.

Click to expand...

Um... do you know how I can move my recording from phone to computer?? I don't have a cable I'm afraid

YujinTan said:

it last more , before finally down.

Click to expand...

whew! Let's hope it lasts 3-4 more months

tazarbm said:

Um... do you know how I can move my recording from phone to computer?? I don't have a cable I'm afraid



whew! Let's hope it lasts 3-4 more months

Click to expand...

now my only computer even running bot beside work , I also use HDD .

but I not sure yours because i read further down you claim is " hybrid SSD-HDD "
mine is solely just HDD.

YujinTan said:

now my only computer even running bot beside work , I also use HDD .

but I not sure yours because i read further down you claim is " hybrid SSD-HDD "
mine is solely just HDD.

Click to expand...

yeah, it's a hybrid... I think one of the few that have been manufactured cause I think this new thing (hybrid HDDs) had faded quite fast.

Anyway, thanks for the tips. I will record the sound in about 12 hours or so and post it here tomorrow morning if I can figure out how to move the sound from phone to computer.

Someones been running scrapebox 24/7 lol