Why is it after every so often a noise comes up on my computer from the hard-drive like a loud siren which is obviously telling me to shut down. About every hour or so it comes and there's nothing i can do about it. The only way it stops is if i shut the comp down.
Now the comp is quite old (2002) but has broadband and can deal with most things. But the siren seems to happen when on the internet but when im not doing work or whatever it doesnt seem to bother me . I'm just wondering if the comps on it's last legs and is dying out lol

If anyone has had problems with this would you post here and if you solved it could you please tell me how? ( it's a piercing loud noise that bugs you after a few secs)
Help appreciated thank-you very much!

Run a disc check immediately!

(right click the drive in my compter, and select the tools tab)

If you have any bad sectors, the its new HD time i'm afraid m8.

It could also, since its a relatively ne machine, be the cooling system busted, if you re-boot and enter the BIOS you can see if anything is near cut-off point temp wise..

i had the same problem with mine and it was only 7 months old and it needed a new cpu fan cos it somehow got screwed.

i feel ur pain my friend lol

the dude.

btw as spinner said go to BIOS and if ur CPU is shown as above recommended temp (75 degrees centrigrade usually) then its probably that its overheating.

Thanks guys! Can i just point out another thing ( dunno of relevant but) it says my active desktop isnt recovered and when i click to get it back up it says document error e.t.c.. really screwed isnt it? As i am hardly good with comps what exactly is BIOS and how do i get there

Can't click anything on "my computer" that says drive to find the tools tab.
The tools tab is at the top of the screen of my computer but then what do i click from there?

If only we could use remote assistance?

Ok, the fact the desktop isn't recovering is quite a hint at an HD failure.

Sorry to say that dude but the sooner you get your files backed up the better.

right well i'm unsure on the error messages i'll get back to u on them in a bit unless spinner jumps in like usual with his wealth of knowledge.

to get to ur BIOS usually as soon as u restart press one of these depending on ur computer:

Acer - Ctrl-Alt-Esc

Compaq - F10 ( when the cursor is blinking in the top right corner of the screen)

Dell - F1 or Del or Ctrl-Alt-Enter (Some require pressing reset twice )

Hewlett Packard - F1

IBM - F1

Packard Bell - F1 or F2

Sony F3 while you are starting the PC, then F2 or F1

Toshiba Laptops Toshiba Utility

Toshiba Esc or F1


if shud give you a little message when you start up instructing you what to press. but press it quickly otherwise u might miss it.

thanx the dude

Open "My computer"

Right-click the C: drive and select PROPERTIES at the bottom.

Now select the TOOLS tab at the top and disk Check will be in there.

Takes a while but may be worth it!

Soz for not making that clearer before.

lol yeah i see now its not gonna be overheating...

unlucky on the screwed HD mate

I clicked the search for bad sectors and defragment of volume but it says it will try next time i restart.. Fingers crossed it doesnt come up with anything bad but whats the odds?

I have 50% free space left does that count for anything?

And how much do hard - drives cost these days?

You can pick up a decent (80Gb) HD now for around £30 - £40.

Dont defrag, that can cause more probs if there are bad sectors (wont go in to it now!)

I'd say you're about 50-50 for bad sectors, therefore only a 25% chance of losing data..

If you have a CD/DVD writer or any form of backup device, backup your important documents ASAP!

Edited at 21:19 Thu 18/01/07 (GMT)

I reckon you've got a bust fan, either way leaving the computer on can only cause more damage, back-up, turn off, call the pro's.

I remember now ( family brought in HD about 4-5 years ago) to a comp shop on a diff comp and they fixed it but i lost nearly everything.. So your saying it could happen again. One last thing ( i think) When will it tell me abou the sectors and how will i know when its done?

And who exactly are the pro's magic :P

Seriously though im gonna have to see whether bad sectors and then give it a long rest ;-)

Edited at 21:25 Thu 18/01/07 (GMT)

Ok it will chug away for up to an hour, maybe more (depending how big it is) and the tell you how many bad sectors you have (if any).

no matter how few you have, replace the disk if you possibly can.

And yes, if you have a lot you may lose data, hence the need for speed!

i think it may be a combination of a bust fan causing the CPU to overheat and affecting ur HD.

whatever it is i suggest u take it to some little computer shop near you (not PCWORLD or any junk like that cos they dont have the same knowledge and will rip u off). Then they can run diagnostics and finally you can decide wot to do.

Right, i restarted the comp allowing it to check the bad sectors and left it , came back and it just went to the normal screen as per usual? So i didn't see how many sectors i had. Is there a way of seein it other than restarting and waiting?

Also, i think i've mentioned, I turned this comp on at 4:15 and it's now 18:02 (more than an hour) without using i.e and there hasnt been the siren noise..

But anyway i'll check to replace the disk i think is the best way.


Edit : Entered internet after 15mins sire noise comes on... had it ;-( gonna have to do something about it ( now using brothers laptop)

Edited at 18:20 Fri 19/01/07 (GMT)

I think it's your cpu not hard drive, you need to take it to the pro's.

Ok, where does this noise come from m8?

Does it come through your speakers?

No . not from the speakers mate.. comes from the direct hard-drive. No way of turning it down or off.. Also quite worrying it's starting to smell ;-S

Do you think it is the fan bust then and is this as bad as having the HD screwed?

Edited at 19:44 Sat 20/01/07 (GMT)

If its the fan thats broke its a simple replacement. Wouldn't recommend using the computer at all if it is the fan thats gone, high temps could cause components to melt and/or malfunction.