Click noise and then resets. Whats going wrong ?

Halcyon · 16-06-2004, 11:06

Ok can anyone help me with this.
For the past week my PC has been restarting randomely.
Unlike other resets, here there is a click noise, as if someone flicked a switch, everything goes black, and the PC reboots.

Its been hot a few weeks ago but it certainly not hot now so I doubt heat has anything to do with it.
The click also seems to come from the case, not from the hard drive, though I'm not too sure. Its a bizarre click that I've never heard before.

Sometimes it does the click noise and does not reset whilst other times it restarts.

The system (Win98SE, 248mb ram, AMD processor) has had nothing touched or removed from it and everything is firmly connected to where it was.

So, does anyone know wha could be the problem ?

Thanks for any help you can offer.

Tim.

**Chris** · 16-06-2004, 11:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Halcyon

Ok can anyone help me with this.
For the past week my PC has been restarting randomely.
Unlike other resets, here there is a click noise, as if someone flicked a switch, everything goes black, and the PC reboots.

Its been hot a few weeks ago but it certainly not hot now so I doubt heat has anything to do with it.
The click also seems to come from the case, not from the hard drive, though I'm not too sure. Its a bizarre click that I've never heard before.

Sometimes it does the click noise and does not reset whilst other times it restarts.

The system (Win98SE, 248mb ram, AMD processor) has had nothing touched or removed from it and everything is firmly connected to where it was.

So, does anyone know wha could be the problem ?

Thanks for any help you can offer.

Tim.

Did you spill tea down it?

/gets coat

16-06-2004, 11:08

Are you sure the click is not coming from the monitor ?

Jon M · 16-06-2004, 11:13

Sounds like it's either your power switch on the front of the case shorting .. or the power supply itself.

Halcyon · 16-06-2004, 11:16

LOL @ towny.
I'm pretty sure tea didnt come into contact. I'l keep that theory in mind though.

Nope doesnt seem to be the monitor as the little light stays lit.
And it does come from the box, Im sure of it.

16-06-2004, 11:18

Hmmm. Is the click very loud ? It could be a short in the power suply or even the pc speaker making a noise. There are not normaly any relays in a modern power supply.

Try pressing reset when the pc is powered on and see if you get the same click.

Halcyon · 16-06-2004, 11:45

Ok well the click is loud enough to hear it. Like if you flicked a light switch and it went click.

I dont think it could be the power supply as it has always used the same power supply with no problem.
If you are on about the actual power supply unit inside the case, maybe it could beon its way out ?

Its not coming from the PC speaker or any other speakers. Its a mechanical sound.

I have just pressed reset and there is no click when i press the button so still trying to work it out.
Thanks for the replies so far.

Steve H · 16-06-2004, 12:02

Smells like your HDDs on the way out...

One of mine used to click, did so periodically for about 3 monthes... restarting sometimes after a click, one day it clicked no more.

I'd probably back stuff up if I was you.

Bifta · 16-06-2004, 12:06

Is it an IBM drive?

Halcyon · 16-06-2004, 12:33

Nope I think Its a Fujitsu drive.
I'm going to attempt to make a backup tonight.
But with my CD Writer also on the brink refusing to write to blank CD's I think I'd be better to chuck the Pc out on to the scrap pile at this rate.

TheBlueRaja · 16-06-2004, 12:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Halcyon

always used the same power supply with no problem.
If you are on about the actual power supply unit inside the case, maybe it could beon its way out ?

Dosent mean that there isnt a problem, if your sure that its not coming from the Hard Drive, then the power supply is the first place i would look next.

No doubts.

Bifta · 16-06-2004, 12:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by Halcyon

Nope I think Its a Fujitsu drive.
I'm going to attempt to make a backup tonight.
But with my CD Writer also on the brink refusing to write to blank CD's I think I'd be better to chuck the Pc out on to the scrap pile at this rate.

Buy a new drive (which you'll need as a replacement anyway) stick it in as a slave, partition it, back everything up to 1 partition, install your OS, either keep both partitions or whack everything on to 1 and use partition magic to merge them back, throw the old drive it, rejumper the new one, stick it on the primary IDE channel and bob's your aunties live in shagpiece.

zoombini · 16-06-2004, 12:55

If its a Fujitsu then make as many backups as you can real fast!
We have a big pile of Fujitsu drives that have failed.

Even if it turns out to be something different then at least you have made a good backup..lol
(Don't forget your email folders).

It could be the PSU, although you say its a mechanical click, so I take it that its not like the sound of a spark.
In the past some PSU's have had relays in although I'm not sure the current ATX range have?

I too would suspect an imminent HDD failure.

Halcyon · 16-06-2004, 13:20

Mine is AT, not ATX

I'm still in the ancient world.

zoombini · 16-06-2004, 13:43

AHA! then they did have a relay in.

So it may be your PSU after all.

Which makes things harder as they are harder to get, you ned to search around IT depts at work etc