buzzing-clicking noises

[Jo-Anne]

On my 5-year-old WinXP SP3 desktop computer, I sometimes get a clicking
noise when files or folders are opening and a buzzing noise when I'm
scrolling. It used to happen occasionally and would go away after a day or
two, but now it's that way all the time--and is driving me crazy.

Any suggestions for getting rid of this noise? (I've tried setting the
volume to Mute, but it makes no difference at all.)

Thank you!

Jo-Anne

 

[Don Phillipson]

On my 5-year-old WinXP SP3 desktop computer, I sometimes get a clicking
noise when files or folders are opening and a buzzing noise when I'm
scrolling. It used to happen occasionally and would go away after a day or
two, but now it's that way all the time--and is driving me crazy.

Any suggestions for getting rid of this noise? (I've tried setting the
volume to Mute, but it makes no difference at all.)

Identify the drive's maker and run the maker's hardware
diagnostic app. Drive noise often precedes a hard
drive's mechanical failure.

 

[Paul]

On my 5-year-old WinXP SP3 desktop computer, I sometimes get a clicking
noise when files or folders are opening and a buzzing noise when I'm
scrolling. It used to happen occasionally and would go away after a day or
two, but now it's that way all the time--and is driving me crazy.

Any suggestions for getting rid of this noise? (I've tried setting the
volume to Mute, but it makes no difference at all.)

Thank you!

Jo-Anne

The first thing I'd check, is whether there is an audio cable
stretching from the back of the CD player, to a four pin
header on the sound (whatever kind of sound the computer
uses, either motherboard or a sound card). You can play
CD audio without the sound cable, via digital audio
extraction (DAE) - that cable is no longer needed for
music playback.

Right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.
Click the Hardware tab, and then click Device Manager.
Locate the CD-ROM, and then click the plus sign (+) in front of the device.
Right-click the CD-ROM drive, and then click Properties.
Click the Properties tab.
Look for "Enable digital CD-ROM audio for this CD-ROM device"

The old CD audio cable, works like an antenna and picks up
electrical noise inside the computer. So that is a good
reason to disconnect it, and switch to using DAE.

There are other options for making noises in the computer,
and there have been bad motherboard designs, where the
Ethernet wires are placed too close to some audio signals.
For something like that, the only solution is to get
a sound card, rather than use the motherboard audio.
Motherboard designers don't typically care whether the
onboard sound is clean or not (they're more worried about
the computer working, than about sound quality).

The Mixer control panel for the sound, will have a record
and a playback section. You should check to see whether
the unused recording inputs are muted, and try and eliminate
any paths there that could inject noise.

On a motherboard Soundmax (Analog Devices) AC'97 chip,
I used to get random clicks every once in a while. I tried
several different drivers, and the latest drivers reduced
the clicking to about once every twenty minutes or so.
I put a cheap sound card in its place, and that one
works great. No more clicks.

Paul

 

[Bill in Co.]

I think the FIRST thing you have to do is determine if this is an internal
mechanical noise (like from a potentially failing hard drive, or a fan
noise), or some noise coming out of the speakers.

 

[Jo-Anne]

Thank you, Bill! As far as I can tell, it's not coming out of the speakers.
Also, I've noticed that the buzzing is constant when I'm in Google
Reader--but nowhere else.

Jo-Anne

 

[Jo-Anne]

The first thing I'd check, is whether there is an audio cable
stretching from the back of the CD player, to a four pin
header on the sound (whatever kind of sound the computer
uses, either motherboard or a sound card). You can play
CD audio without the sound cable, via digital audio
extraction (DAE) - that cable is no longer needed for
music playback.

Right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.
Click the Hardware tab, and then click Device Manager.
Locate the CD-ROM, and then click the plus sign (+) in front of the
device.
Right-click the CD-ROM drive, and then click Properties.
Click the Properties tab.
Look for "Enable digital CD-ROM audio for this CD-ROM device"

The old CD audio cable, works like an antenna and picks up
electrical noise inside the computer. So that is a good
reason to disconnect it, and switch to using DAE.

There are other options for making noises in the computer,
and there have been bad motherboard designs, where the
Ethernet wires are placed too close to some audio signals.
For something like that, the only solution is to get
a sound card, rather than use the motherboard audio.
Motherboard designers don't typically care whether the
onboard sound is clean or not (they're more worried about
the computer working, than about sound quality).

The Mixer control panel for the sound, will have a record
and a playback section. You should check to see whether
the unused recording inputs are muted, and try and eliminate
any paths there that could inject noise.

On a motherboard Soundmax (Analog Devices) AC'97 chip,
I used to get random clicks every once in a while. I tried
several different drivers, and the latest drivers reduced
the clicking to about once every twenty minutes or so.
I put a cheap sound card in its place, and that one
works great. No more clicks.

Paul

Thank you, Paul! I'll check this out this weekend if I can.

Jo-Anne

 

[Jo-Anne]

Identify the drive's maker and run the maker's hardware
diagnostic app. Drive noise often precedes a hard
drive's mechanical failure.

Thank you, Don! I checked System Information and didn't see a manufacturer;
it said something like "standard hard drive." I looked at my invoice, and it
says "60 GB Ultra ATA/100 Hard Drive.." I checked Google, but it looks like
several manufacturers make "ultra hard drives." The computer is a Dell
Dimension 8250. Any idea of where I could find diagnostic software for the
hard drive?

Jo-Anne

 

[DL]

This tool may help you identify the drive
http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

 

[Bill Ridgeway]

This tool may help you identify the drive
http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

There could be some damage to the surface of your hard disk drive. To check
this-
Start Windows Explorer
Right click on c:\
Click on <Properties><Tools><Check Now>
Tick the two boxes and click on <Start>
You will get a message that it will run on Starting up so resatrt the
computer. You will getb a bluish screen. Don't worry about it. Just let
it get on with it. If after running this check the noises persist I
wouldn't bother trying to breathe life into what is possibly a terminal hard
drive.

The best option would be (and you may need some help with this) to get a new
hard drive and cloning software (such as Acronis). Install the new hard
drive, clone your present hard drive, uninstall your original hard drive.
Job done!

Bill Ridgeway

 

[Jo-Anne]

There could be some damage to the surface of your hard disk drive. To
check this-
Start Windows Explorer
Right click on c:\
Click on <Properties><Tools><Check Now>
Tick the two boxes and click on <Start>
You will get a message that it will run on Starting up so resatrt the
computer. You will getb a bluish screen. Don't worry about it. Just let
it get on with it. If after running this check the noises persist I
wouldn't bother trying to breathe life into what is possibly a terminal
hard drive.

The best option would be (and you may need some help with this) to get a
new hard drive and cloning software (such as Acronis). Install the new
hard drive, clone your present hard drive, uninstall your original hard
drive. Job done!

Bill Ridgeway

Thank you, Bill! I'll do that test ASAP and will report back. (Note: It
looks like I can only check for errors; Tools says there's no
defragmentation tool installed--which is odd, since I thought Windows XP
came with a defrag tool. I must admit, though, that I've never tried to
defrag this computer.) I've also never replaced a drive and am not sure what
I'd need to buy but will check into it. I currently use Acronis, so with
luck I'm covered on that level. (I'll do a full backup before anything
else!)

Jo-Anne

 

[Jo-Anne]

There could be some damage to the surface of your hard disk drive. To
check this-
Start Windows Explorer
Right click on c:\
Click on <Properties><Tools><Check Now>
Tick the two boxes and click on <Start>
You will get a message that it will run on Starting up so resatrt the
computer. You will getb a bluish screen. Don't worry about it. Just let
it get on with it. If after running this check the noises persist I
wouldn't bother trying to breathe life into what is possibly a terminal
hard drive.

The best option would be (and you may need some help with this) to get a
new hard drive and cloning software (such as Acronis). Install the new
hard drive, clone your present hard drive, uninstall your original hard
drive. Job done!

Bill Ridgeway

Hi, again, Bill. I ran CHKDSK as you indicated, and the noise is still
there...sigh.

Thank you!

Jo-Anne

 

[Jo-Anne]

There could be some damage to the surface of your hard disk drive. To
check this-
Start Windows Explorer
Right click on c:\
Click on <Properties><Tools><Check Now>
Tick the two boxes and click on <Start>
You will get a message that it will run on Starting up so resatrt the
computer. You will getb a bluish screen. Don't worry about it. Just let
it get on with it. If after running this check the noises persist I
wouldn't bother trying to breathe life into what is possibly a terminal
hard drive.

The best option would be (and you may need some help with this) to get a
new hard drive and cloning software (such as Acronis). Install the new
hard drive, clone your present hard drive, uninstall your original hard
drive. Job done!

Bill Ridgeway

Addendum next day: Today there is no more noise. After I ran CHKDSK last
night, it went straight into WinXP. I didn't think to restart the computer
after that. Today, when I turned it on, it was fine. So...should I still get
a new hard drive?

Thank you!

Jo-Anne

 

[Bill Ridgeway]

Addendum next day: Today there is no more noise. After I ran CHKDSK last
night, it went straight into WinXP. I didn't think to restart the computer
after that. Today, when I turned it on, it was fine. So...should I still
get a new hard drive?

Thank you!

Jo-Anne

It's difficult to give you a definitive answer. A noise is usually a sign
of a mechanical defect which will possibly turn into a failure. However, no
noise at all is not a guarantee that everything is OK. Consideration of
whether or not to change the hard disk drive also depends on the extent to
which you depend on the computer. At the extremes it may be essential to a
business or you may use it only for emailing. Your situation may lie at or
anywhere between these extremes.

I tend to work on the principal that if anything bad can happen it will,
eventually, and possible at the most inconvenient or embarrassing time. The
best way to hedge your bets may be to get another hard disk drive in a USB
caddy and use Acronis to clone your hard disk and to keep backing up (on
another media).
That way, when your hard disk drive fails it is a relatively simple task of
transferring the hard disk and copying all your backed files. You would
also need to update existing software and install any new software since the
clone was made.

Bill Ridgeway

 

[M.I.5¾]

On my 5-year-old WinXP SP3 desktop computer, I sometimes get a clicking
noise when files or folders are opening and a buzzing noise when I'm
scrolling. It used to happen occasionally and would go away after a day or
two, but now it's that way all the time--and is driving me crazy.

Any suggestions for getting rid of this noise? (I've tried setting the
volume to Mute, but it makes no difference at all.)

Is the PC made by HP perchance?

This problem is caused by a stange fault in the power converters on the PC's
motherboard. HP managed to deliver a whole batch of PCs to us that all
suffered this problem a couple of years ago. Replacement motherboards
solved the issue.

 

[Jo-Anne]

It's difficult to give you a definitive answer. A noise is usually a sign
of a mechanical defect which will possibly turn into a failure. However,
no
noise at all is not a guarantee that everything is OK. Consideration of
whether or not to change the hard disk drive also depends on the extent to
which you depend on the computer. At the extremes it may be essential to
a
business or you may use it only for emailing. Your situation may lie at
or
anywhere between these extremes.

I tend to work on the principal that if anything bad can happen it will,
eventually, and possible at the most inconvenient or embarrassing time.
The best way to hedge your bets may be to get another hard disk drive in a
USB caddy and use Acronis to clone your hard disk and to keep backing up
(on another media).
That way, when your hard disk drive fails it is a relatively simple task
of transferring the hard disk and copying all your backed files. You
would also need to update existing software and install any new software
since the clone was made.

Bill Ridgeway

Thank you, Bill! I'll keep cloning, probably more often than before.

Jo-Anne

 

[Jo-Anne]

Is the PC made by HP perchance?

This problem is caused by a stange fault in the power converters on the
PC's motherboard. HP managed to deliver a whole batch of PCs to us that
all suffered this problem a couple of years ago. Replacement motherboards
solved the issue.

Thank you for the suggestion, M.I.5¾! Mine is an almost 6-year-old Dell
Dimension, and it's been happening for at least a couple years--maybe more.
This time, though, it lasted far longer than usual. At Bill's suggestion, I
ran CHKDSK. CHKDSK went straight into Windows on finishing, and the noise
was still there; that night I turned off the computer completely, and the
next time I turned it on, no noise. I don't know what that means...

Jo-Anne

 

[M.I.5¾]

Thank you for the suggestion, M.I.5¾! Mine is an almost 6-year-old Dell
Dimension, and it's been happening for at least a couple years--maybe
more. This time, though, it lasted far longer than usual. At Bill's
suggestion, I ran CHKDSK. CHKDSK went straight into Windows on finishing,
and the noise was still there; that night I turned off the computer
completely, and the next time I turned it on, no noise. I don't know what
that means...

Neither do I, but a fix is a fix.

 

[smlunatick]

Thank you for the suggestion, M.I.5¾! Mine is an almost 6-year-old Dell
Dimension, and it's been happening for at least a couple years--maybe more.
This time, though, it lasted far longer than usual. At Bill's suggestion,I
ran CHKDSK. CHKDSK went straight into Windows on finishing, and the noise
was still there; that night I turned off the computer completely, and the
next time I turned it on, no noise. I don't know what that means...

Jo-Anne

I have another possible location of the buzzing clicking noise. When
I still had my CRT monitor, I would be get some buzzing during the
scrolling of web pages. It seemed that some type of "noise" was sent
out and picked up by my speakers. Now with my LCD, all quite.

 

[Jo-Anne]

Thank you for the suggestion, M.I.5¾! Mine is an almost 6-year-old Dell
Dimension, and it's been happening for at least a couple years--maybe
more.
This time, though, it lasted far longer than usual. At Bill's suggestion,
I
ran CHKDSK. CHKDSK went straight into Windows on finishing, and the noise
was still there; that night I turned off the computer completely, and the
next time I turned it on, no noise. I don't know what that means...

Jo-Anne

I have another possible location of the buzzing clicking noise. When
I still had my CRT monitor, I would be get some buzzing during the
scrolling of web pages. It seemed that some type of "noise" was sent
out and picked up by my speakers. Now with my LCD, all quite.

Thank you! Mine is an LCD monitor, but I wonder if it could be something
similar. If it comes back, I might try unplugging the speakers to see if
that stops it. Someone else pointed out that it could be a CD audio cable or
ethernet wires too close together. Whatever it is, I'm just glad that for
the moment it has stopped. And of course, I'm backing up regularly, just in
case.

Jo-Anne

 

[smlunatick]

I have another possible location of the buzzing clicking noise.  When
I still had my CRT monitor, I would be get some buzzing during the
scrolling of web pages.  It seemed that some type of "noise" was sent
out and picked up by my speakers.  Now with my LCD, all quite.

Thank you! Mine is an LCD monitor, but I wonder if it could be something
similar. If it comes back, I might try unplugging the speakers to see if
that stops it. Someone else pointed out that it could be a CD audio cableor
ethernet wires too close together. Whatever it is, I'm just glad that for
the moment it has stopped. And of course, I'm backing up regularly, just in
case.

Jo-Anne

Could be. Most newer optical drives do not required an audio cables.
Most now play the audio over the drive's interface cable as it is
usually digital. Those audio cables only send the "analog" style
audio. They do act like antennas. The cables can pick up the noise
from the "lower" end power supplies also.