Siren Noise!!

[Guest]

I have a computer thats only about 3 years old. It is a Windows XP
Professional. Lately when my computer is on it will just start making a very
loud siren noise and I have to shut it down immediately. Nothing appears on
the screen when this happens to let me know whats happening. It doesnt matter
which web site I am on it just seems to happen anytime.It started only
occuring once every month or so but now it happens everday. The noise is
coming from the hard drive, not the screen or speakers, it almost sounds like
a really loud alarm clock and wont stop until the computer is off. I need
some help with this, thanks!

 

[JS]

If you think it's the hard drive (take the cover off the PC case and wait
until the noise starts and verify for certain) it's time to replace it.
Backup any important data from the failing drive ASAP!
Verify you have a Windows XP install (OEM or Retail) disk and the key code.
Consider making an image backup of the drive before it fails.

It also could be a fan so it doesn't hurt to check for fan noise.

JS

 

[RJK]

HD click of death = Dead hard disk, buy another one and reinstall. Of
course all your important data was recently backed up ? !

....if you need to retrieve data, you are now at the mercy of specialist that
will take it apart, and get your data off !

regards, Richard

 

[Guest]

I have a computer thats only about 3 years old. It is a Windows XP
Professional. Lately when my computer is on it will just start making a very
loud siren noise and I have to shut it down immediately. Nothing appears on
the screen when this happens to let me know whats happening. It doesnt matter
which web site I am on it just seems to happen anytime.It started only
occuring once every month or so but now it happens everday. The noise is
coming from the hard drive, not the screen or speakers, it almost sounds like
a really loud alarm clock and wont stop until the computer is off. I need
some help with this, thanks!

If you are sure that the Noise source is the HDD, then it is either going
bad or not seated properly on the base or in its enclosure, so try to tighten
the screws a bit!.
Make sure you back up your data and performing a health check on this HDD by
downloading the Diagnostic tools from the HDD manufr website.
HTH.
nass

 

[Noozer]

I have a computer thats only about 3 years old. It is a Windows XP
Professional. Lately when my computer is on it will just start making a
very
loud siren noise and I have to shut it down immediately. Nothing appears
on
the screen when this happens to let me know whats happening. It doesnt
matter
which web site I am on it just seems to happen anytime.It started only
occuring once every month or so but now it happens everday. The noise is
coming from the hard drive, not the screen or speakers, it almost sounds
like
a really loud alarm clock and wont stop until the computer is off. I need
some help with this, thanks!

Take the side panel off the computer and use it like that. Once the noise
starts, get down there and figure out where it's coming from.

A failing fan can "whirrrr". Some video cards will also make a loud noise if
the power to them is not good enough.

It's safe to touch the fans in the center with your finger to see if the
noise goes away. You don't want to hold it still. Just touch it enough to
see if the noise is coming from there. The fan in the PSU can be trickier to
test, but the end of a pen should stick in far enough to stop the blade for
a moment.

 

[Guest]

I can't imagine any HD making this kind of noise, you need to be certain it's
the HD, to me it sounds more like the BIOS and USUALLY, that noise is telling
you the CPU is overheating , if this is so, you need to open the case and
inspect your CPU cooling fan for dustbunnies and or sticking, do not wait to
do this, you can fry your CPU if this is the case, and that means a new
puter, unless you can find just the CPU and replace it.

Personally I wouldn't wait, I would open the case anyway and closely inspect
the innards for dust and proper operation. Pc's need to be cleaned
periodically.

 

[dobey]

I have a computer thats only about 3 years old. It is a Windows XP
Professional. Lately when my computer is on it will just start making a
very
loud siren noise and I have to shut it down immediately. Nothing appears
on
the screen when this happens to let me know whats happening. It doesnt
matter
which web site I am on it just seems to happen anytime.It started only
occuring once every month or so but now it happens everday. The noise is
coming from the hard drive, not the screen or speakers, it almost sounds
like
a really loud alarm clock and wont stop until the computer is off. I need
some help with this, thanks!

I assume when you say "hard disk" you mean the box?

The siren noise will be coming from the internal speaker on the computer.
The one that goes beep once when you start the computer.

From your description It sounds like an overheat alarm. It's not a Windows
alarm it is a hardware alarm generated from the BIOS.

Your PC has been filling up with fluff over the years and it has reached the
stage where the heatsink and fan can't get rid of the heat fast enough.
It could also be your CPU fan is not working properly or has stopped working
completely.

For a start you will need to remove the side panel from the PC. Turn the PC
on and look to see if all of the fans are spinning. If the fan located on
the big chunk of metal isn't spinning it will need to be replaced. If you
give it a poke it may start spinning. In this instance you need to replace
the fan before you can use the PC again.

If all of the fans appear to be spinning, as a temp measure you could go
into the BIOS and adjust the temperature alarm by a few degrees to stop the
alarm for the moment. Leaving the side off the case and having a desktop fan
blow on the computer innards can work also but you need to fix the problem.
Something you should have addressed when it first began happening.

When your PC overheats it will freeze up and stop working completely, in
some cases it can destroy the CPU, but the heatsink would basically need to
fall off completely for this to happen.

HTH.

As others will tell you, this is not a Windows problem, so you might find
better help in a hardware group.

 

[bill]

I vote for a fan as choice #1. BUT please don't stick that pencil into
the fan blade. touch the center hub only with the eraser or whatever.

It is not always obvious where a noise like that is originating from
so try the fan testing. I have had a number of them go out with
squeals especially the small fast ones like on the chipset. But if you
are sure it is coming from your HD, best back it up quickly.

It may also be an alarm but That would be obvious by where it is
coming from.