Clicking noise

d3moliti0n · 17 May 2009 at 14:45

Hi

Whenever I start up my PC, after the initial screens (the ones that let you into the BIOS) and just before the Windows XP loading screen, there is a clicking noise coming from my computer tower (which lasts about 20 seconds or so) and it sounds like it is coming from the front of the computer where the hard drives are located. The thing is, I have checked my hard drive's several times for errors, scanning them and checking the health etc and there are no problems.

I have also tried unplugging each drive upon start up (I have 2 HDD's), basically leaving one plugged in then starting up the comp then switching around and trying the other, but the clicking is still there even with them unplugged. This has been happening for about 2 or 3 months now I think aswell.

Does anyone have any idea what this noise could be?

Thanks for your help.

Eddie · 17 May 2009 at 14:53

If you've tried it without any HDDs in and it still does it it'll be a fan somewhere, possibly a PSU fan.

Try giving your system a good clean out with an air duster as it could just be a build up that's causing the clicking.

In my experience though it usually points to either a fan on the way out or something catching a fan. Clicking noises coming from a HDD usually mean the drive is on it's last legs.

Does the clicking noise stop after a while or is it doing it all the time?

d3moliti0n · 17 May 2009 at 14:55

The noise stops after like 20 seconds or so, just before the Windows XP loading screen appears.

Ucof · 17 May 2009 at 15:00

Put your fingers on the HDDs when the clicking is happeneing, and see if you can find any vibrations.

I've done that in the past and found it to be the best way.

Eddie · 17 May 2009 at 15:04

d3moliti0n said:
The noise stops after like 20 seconds or so, just before the Windows XP loading screen appears.

Sorry, yes I'm half asleep, you did say that in your op.

Is it a continual clicking noise, like a clock tick, and is it always the same type of noise?

Have you got a FDD in the system?

d3moliti0n · 17 May 2009 at 15:07

The only drive's I have installed on the system are a DVD-RW (and it's not coming from that) and the two hard drives, and the noise is like a rapid clicking noise with a 2 or 3 second pause, then it starts up again for another 10 or so seconds at the same pace, and the noise is the same every time I switch on the PC.

Eddie · 17 May 2009 at 15:40

Try and hear exactly where it's coming from so you are 100% certain.

Can you switch the PC on without any HDD drives in and see what happens? Have you got any other fans in the system?

When my PC starts up the gfx card fan spins like crazy and then slows right down in normal desktop use so I wonder if the noise is coming from the gfx card, maybe full of dust or something?

One thing's for sure though, I would back up just in case anything goes pear-shaped.