My PC is making a weird noise (or 2)

[SubzeroDiabolos]

I've noticed something lately that's been bothering me. Every now and then, my computer makes a clicking sound (not mouse related, it comes from the mobo) and then a very soft *beep*. My PC still runs fine though so i'm curious what is that supposed to mean? Am I about to fry something?

[Gippo]

when it makes this "mystery sound" is Windows running.

[SubzeroDiabolos]

Yea I could be browsing BG and it'd do it. (That's actually how I came to post it, been doing it for a while now but I decided what the heck, i'm already here.)

[Ezek]

Could possibly be your system overheating (iirc some mobos will beep continuously until the temperature drops down). Are you sure the clicking is coming from your motherboard and not your hardd rive (loud clicking tends to point towards a failing hard drive)?

[Psion]

Clearly the right answer is your cat laid a hex on your computer after the whole fiasco you had with it. <_<

Ok, Ok, I don't know the actual answer heh.

[Wintermute]

Is the clicking constant?

If it is it could just be a wire that's come loose and is coming into contact with one of the fans in the system. I used to have this problem with a random cable in my PSU, annoyed me to no end.

[Cheerios]

Could possibly be your system overheating (iirc some mobos will beep continuously until the temperature drops down). Are you sure the clicking is coming from your motherboard and not your hardd rive (loud clicking tends to point towards a failing hard drive)?

A hard drive clicking will bring the system to a halt until the clicking stopped. He mentioned that everything runs fine, so I'd rule out the hard drive.

[Franzer]

back up your hard drive just in case, or at least your most important files, you'll thank yourself later.

[Mafai]

A hard drive clicking will bring the system to a halt until the clicking stopped. He mentioned that everything runs fine, so I'd rule out the hard drive.

This is not true at all, a hard drive can make clicking sounds without you noticing performance issues on the PC.

If your hearing beeping from the mobo, I'd agree that your machine is overheating and the clicking is a failing fan or something coming in contact with the fan.

[Fodder]

Do you have a second hard drive? If yes, it could be getting spun down when idle, then back up whenever you/Winders tries to access it. If this is what is happening the HDD may be fine, but the soft beep is still suspect.

Check your event log and see if there are errors related to the hard disk. Do you see something similar to below? *Backup your stuff* and run a diagnostic from your HDD mfr. Is the soft beep as loud as the beep when you first turn the PC on? Mobo beeps are usually pretty loud. Is it more of a soft "chirp"? If so it could also be the HDD. Take off the cover and listen to your HDD and fans. Clean your fans if they're dirty (power off, don't let them spin from compressed air if they're plugged in to your PC). Assuming you don't have 3 yr olds to feed it PB&Js, leave the cover off. When the noise next occurs, poke your face in there and see where it's coming from.

Event Type: Warning
Event Source: Disk
Event Category: None
Event ID: 52
Date: 4/23/2004
Time: 11:22:38 PM
User: N/A
Computer: DELL
Description:
The driver has detected that device \Device\Harddisk0\DR0 has predicted that it will fail. Immediately back up your data and replace your hard disk drive. A failure may be imminent.

For more information, see Help and Support Center at http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.
Data:
0000: 0e 00 03 00 01 00 5e 00 ......^.
0008: 00 00 00 00 34 00 04 80 ....4..€
0010: 02 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ........
0018: 00 00 00 00 00 11 2d 00 ......-.
0020: 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ........
0028: 00 00 00 ...

P.S. Mafai smells

[SubzeroDiabolos]

The soft beep is like 10x quieter than the boot up. It could be something else, but I just know it's not coming from my speakers or monitor's speakers. It could be a HDD about to fail I suppose, and I do have a second ready to back up everything but, wouldn't this one give me signs? (other than noises)

As for cleaning, I did that like 2 or 3 weeks ago it's definetly not related. My wires are no mess so they aren't touching anything and my fans aren't clogged.

[Gippo]

If its 10x quieter than your pc when it boots up(posts) as you say, its not coming from your mobo. All mobos make the same volume level noise, its the number of beeps and the length of the tone that can vary. I dont think its your mobo either. long shot , but some controllers on hd's make electronic beeps every now and then when they are in use. but I would think you would almost have to have your ear on the drive to hear it. Do you have your system plugged into a UPS backup by chance?

[Cheerios]

This is not true at all, a hard drive can make clicking sounds without you noticing performance issues on the PC.

If your hearing beeping from the mobo, I'd agree that your machine is overheating and the clicking is a failing fan or something coming in contact with the fan.

In all instances that I've seen first hand, temporary lock-ups happened when the hard drive clicked. Data isn't successfully being accessed when clicking, so how would there not be performance issues during that time? I have not seen a time where a PC functioned just fine while a hard drive was in the process of clicking.

[chiyio]

In all instances that I've seen first hand, temporary lock-ups happened when the hard drive clicked. Data isn't successfully being accessed when clicking, so how would there not be performance issues during that time? I have not seen a time where a PC functioned just fine while a hard drive was in the process of clicking.

That hasn't been my experience in most cases. My money would be on the hard drive. Especially maybe a second drive spinning up (or down) like somebody mentioned. I've heard drives make a "chirp" many times before, especially when powering down.

[Cheerios]

I must've had some pretty shitty luck with hard drives people brought in then lol. It was pretty frustrating trying to back their files up because that idea didn't cross their mind until the hard drive acted up. I could only copy a few files at a time because every so often the drives would click and halt the system, with a chance of blue screening.

If the issue at hand isn't actually related to the hard drive somehow, then it still wouldn't hurt to back your shit up. Can't pay the fire department after your house is already on fire.