Clickty click click

Dougiebabe2003 · 3 Nov 2007 at 19:44

Hi there,

Just 'updated' someone's PC and while it was round here it locked up, I heard a clicking noise and then it gave me a BSOD.

After a reset it then didn't pick up the HDD. I bent down and stuck me head in the case and I could not hear or feel the HDD spinning.

After resetting the PC a couple times I heard it click and start back up again (also could feel it when it did this)

It then picked it up and got into windows. I belive it has only done this once since then.

Would you lot say the HDD is on it's way out or is this another problem?

The PC is a P4 @ 1.9 ghz. It only has 256mb of SDRAM so is as slow as a snail on speed.

It is apprently going to be upgraded sometime in the new yr but will last this long? Would it be worth the user buying another 256 or 512 stick and a bigger (250 or 320) HDD?
Only thing with a bigger HDD is that it will be IDE, not Sata. If the PC was be upgraded in the new yr would an IDE drive be able to go across to the new PC or should they wait and get a Sata?

It's only AGP4X as well so it's really not a gaming PC but is only used for music, internet browsing and MSN etc.

The PSU is just as old though, could that be part of the problem?

Any help would be great!

Cheers, Doug.

P.S. Just been told by the user that the PC does click every now and again which makes me 100% certain it's a HDD fault.

celliott · 3 Nov 2007 at 20:28

It does indeed sound like a hard disk fault. Imo I would get any important data off it and run a few tests just to see.

Abz · 3 Nov 2007 at 21:19

Its def the HDD. I had same problem couple of months ago. What you need to do is back it and replace HDD. You can get the Sata converters to IDE, not sure at the price. If they gonna upgrade in the new year might as well wait. or get the cheapest IDE HDD

Dougiebabe2003 · 4 Nov 2007 at 00:03

Cheers guys!

Already backed everything up when it first clicked and BSOD me.

I did think it was the HDD just wanted someone to say 'yar, tis the HDD'

I'll just leave it up to them, I will tell them to make sure ANY data that they want to keep should be backed up and if it dies then it's their fault...not mine.

I did explain that I thought it was the HDD but wondered if it could've been the PSU as one of them went in another persons PC I was doing recently.

That would work for about 20-30 mins then a massive click then it just powered down.

Cheers again guys!

carlazai · 4 Nov 2007 at 00:31

crazy when you can get a good sized disk for £25 inc pnp. Tell them to splash some cash or have a lot worries on the future

Dougiebabe2003 · 5 Nov 2007 at 03:11

carlazai said:
crazy when you can get a good sized disk for £25 inc pnp. Tell them to splash some cash or have a lot worries on the future

Hi,

I think the reason they don't want to get one now is because they are thinking of upgrading in the new yr (Jan-Feb) and want a SATA instead of IDE.

I did say that a IDE would still be good for now and could either be the main disc, an extra disc or a backup drive when they do upgrade but still nothing.

Still, it's up to them. Apprently they have it all backed up elsewhere (as well as here) but I won't be keeping it forever so I hope they do.

Anywho, cheers!

Doug.