Computer gurus...need help!

[ALago1]

Hopefully you can help me troubleshoot...

I have a Toshiba laptop, and lately I've been noticing a strange phenomenon.

Every so often (5 minutes or so) my computer sounds like it is "powering up" in some shape of form. It sounds like a vacuum or fan inside the console and can get somewhat loud and annoying.

I've only realized this recently. Any idea why it is doing this and any possibly remedy to stop it? Thanks!!

[scottcsmith]

1. Sounds like power mgmt.

Is this running from the battery or plugged in?

If it's a laptop with a mobile Pentium 4, it might just be the fan to keep the processor cool. P4s generate a lot of heat.

[ALago1]

2. it's plugged in

it does sound like some sort of "fanning" effect

anyway to stop it??

[ConcernedCanuk]

7. It's not the fan

.
.
.


It's the power setting for the Hard drive -

alot of them shut off the HD after X minutes

It's the Hard Drive starting up

There should be a setting somewhere - usually in the same properties window where you set your wallpaper and screensaver settings. The power settings are in the Advanced at the bottom of the screensaver setting screen

Never seen a fan yet that turns off and on, but I could be wrong ?

AND< we are are talking Windows ?

[JaySherman]

10. I had an old Gateway that was noisy

On hot summer days, or whenever I had it on my lap I could hear the fan working harder. Took me about a month to notice cause I always had music on. Then I got to like the noise cause it meant it was working right.

[4morewars]

14. Unless you are ...

reading from or writing to a hdd it spins down and the r/w heads return to the landing zone. I still think it's the fan.

[4morewars]

3. it could be any number of things...

Your Hard drive? Your CD ROM, they can be pretty noisy? So if it happens as you open a program , it's likely one of the above.
BUT, I strongly suspect it's the fan. All computers generate heat as they use electricity to do what they do. Are you running it on a pillow in your lap, or on the bed ?? This would hold in the heat. Can you feel the back of the machine next time it happens? There should be a small exhaust port that will be noticably warm as the fan blows. ok, that's all i got for now

[ALago1]

5. There is some warm air blowing when it happens

The port is on the side of the laptop, not the back however.

[4morewars]

8. That's OK

That sound is normal.Try to opetate it on a hard flat surface, and don't block the port. Over heating can shorten the life of the machine, if not kill it outright. But don't worry,as they usually crash if they get too hot.

[ALago1]

9. Thanks for all the help!

n/t

[JaySherman]

4. You're computer is probably running a bit hot

The sound you're hearing is the internal fan speeding up to cool it down. Computer parts generate a lot of heat, especially the processor, and a notebook has a lot of hardware packed in a very small area. You probably just never noticed the sound before. Nothing to worry about, unless you smell burning plastic :nuke:

[4morewars]

6. And then it's too late !!!! <eom>

[JaySherman]

11. LOL

http://www.planetdiablo.com/features/wackyequipment/wackyequipment_d.shtml

[4morewars]

12. that was good...

I've never actually seen one burst into flames, but i have seen melted memory, and a processor hot enough to give me a blister !!!!, I know, I know, I shouldn't have touched it, but I just couldn't resist. I wont do that again !!! lol
:smoke:

[burrowowl]

13. Back up everything NOW

I had a Toshiba laptop. It gave some funny sounds for a week and then: the fatal noise scrunch scrunch. The hard drive ate itself.