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  #21  
Old 05-12-2008, 06:48 PM
Pokerskatershark
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: Hard Drive On Last Leg?

On May 6, 12:29 pm, "Rod Speed" <rod.speed....@gmail.com> wrote:
> Rod Speed <rod.speed....@gmail.com> wrote:
> > Pokerskatershark <pokerskatersh...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> >> On May 6, 11:39 am, Pokerskatershark <pokerskatersh...@yahoo.com>
> >> wrote:
> >>> On May 5, 2:45 pm, "Rod Speed" <rod.speed....@gmail.com> wrote:

>
> >>>> Pokerskatershark <pokerskatersh...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> >>>>> On May 5, 11:39 am, "Rod Speed" <rod.speed....@gmail.com> wrote:
> >>>>>> code_wrong <t...@tac.co.uk> wrote:
> >>>>>>> "Pokerskatershark" <pokerskatersh...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> >>>>>>>news:e5be84ca-6792-4eef-b9b7-48b781878425@y18g2000pre.googlegroups.com...
> >>>>>>>> Hello All,

>
> >>>>>>>> I have a feeling my hard drive is on its last leg. When I turn
> >>>>>>>> it on, it makes a VERY loud grinding noise. I could be wrong,
> >>>>>>>> but it certainly doesn't sound like it's too happy! It is
> >>>>>>>> almost two years
> >>>>>>>> old and is a Dell XPS 400. (Not sure if that info is needed)

>
> >>>>>>>> I have backed up everything on an external hard drive. The
> >>>>>>>> problem I
> >>>>>>>> am having is, when and if the HD does crash, is it possible to
> >>>>>>>> just slap a new internal HD in my computer?

>
> >>>>>>>> I realize that I will have to have an OS on it. My computer
> >>>>>>>> did not
> >>>>>>>> come with any recovery CD's. I followed Dells' "recovery"
> >>>>>>>> process.... 1) Go to the Start menu 2) All Programs 3) Dell
> >>>>>>>> Accessories 4) Recovery. Problem is, there is no #4 option in
> >>>>>>>> my start menu. I called Dell and I am not joking when the tech
> >>>>>>>> said to me "It should be there" I purchased the computer via
> >>>>>>>> the Dell website and not
> >>>>>>>> through a retailer. After a long discussion (1.5 hours) the
> >>>>>>>> tech's final response was "I'm not sure what happened, but it
> >>>>>>>> should be there. I am not sure where it is" I told him that
> >>>>>>>> this was the very
> >>>>>>>> first time I had tried to do a recovery and where could "it"
> >>>>>>>> have gone. No answer.

>
> >>>>>>>> They are refusing to send me any recovery CD's and obviously I
> >>>>>>>> don't
> >>>>>>>> have an XP disc lying around. Is there anything I can do? I
> >>>>>>>> am VERY
> >>>>>>>> frustrated right now.

>
> >>>>>>>> Thanks so much for any help.

>
> >>>>>>> first thing to do is look inside the case and identify the
> >>>>>>> source of the noise ... maybe a wire is touching a fan .. maybe
> >>>>>>> a fan is worn .. you can certainly, by listening and observing
> >>>>>>> carefully, eliminate
> >>>>>>> these possibilities..
> >>>>>>> If your hard drive was about to fail I would think you would
> >>>>>>> experience problems using the computer .. slow system for
> >>>>>>> example, BSOD
> >>>>>> Not if its just bearing noise, that can go on for years just
> >>>>>> being noisy.
> >>>>> The noise has only been going on for a few days.
> >>>>> I haven't noticed in slowing of speed or any error
> >>>>> messages coming up. It's not noisy after it boots up either.

>
> >>>> Thats much more likely to be a fan than the hard drive.

>
> >>>>> I will open the case and see if I can figure out where the noise
> >>>>> is coming from.

>
> >>>> The simplest way to do that is to put something insulating thru the
> >>>> fan on the power supply, before turning it on. That stops that fan
> >>>> rotating, so you can see if the noise is coming from that fan.

>
> >>>> Dont leave that stopping the fan rotating for long, just long
> >>>> enough to check if the noise still happens as the system is turned
> >>>> on.

>
> >>>>> Is it all right to have the case open when I turn it on?

>
> >>>> Yes, but you dont need to open the case to
> >>>> check the case fans, just do what I listed above.

>
> >>>> Dont to that with the cpu fan, even a short time stopped can kill
> >>>> the cpu on turnon.

>
> >>>> The best check for whether its the hard drive is to unplug the
> >>>> power to the hard drive and see if the noise still happens at
> >>>> startup. You should get no noise and an error message saying that
> >>>> no bootable drive is available if the noise is due to the hard
> >>>> drive.

>
> >>>>> Thanks again for all the help!

>
> >>>> No problem, thats what these technical newsgroups are for.

>
> >>> Well, it is definitely the hard drive. I just hope I can get a new
> >>> HD ordered and installed before the bomb goes off!

>
> >>> When I put the new drive in, will I still have all my old programs
> >>> or do I have to reinstall? The reason I ask is a few of my programs
> >>> require activation codes and I know that one program for sure (Final
> >>> Draft) does not have any activations left.

>
> >>> Keeping my fingers crossed that I can actually pull this off!!

>
> >>> Thanks again everyone!!
> >>> Justine

>
> >> One other quick question. I have narrowed down these three drives.
> >> How do I know which one I need for my system?

>
> >>http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...NE&N=103530113...

>
> > I prefer
> >http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822152100

>
> >> Thanks again for all the help!!

>
> The old drive should still have the warranty on it.


Well, it was not the hard drive. It is the fan and now I'm having to
start all over again to try to figure out what the heck to do. :-(

This might be beyond what I can manage.

Thanks again for all the advice and help!!!
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  #22  
Old 05-12-2008, 08:55 PM
Rod Speed
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: Hard Drive On Last Leg?

Pokerskatershark <pokerskatershark@yahoo.com> wrote
> Rod Speed <rod.speed....@gmail.com> wrote
>> Rod Speed <rod.speed....@gmail.com> wrote
>>> Pokerskatershark <pokerskatersh...@yahoo.com> wrote
>>>> Pokerskatershark <pokerskatersh...@yahoo.com> wrote
>>>>> Rod Speed <rod.speed....@gmail.com> wrote
>>>>>> Pokerskatershark <pokerskatersh...@yahoo.com> wrote
>>>>>>> Rod Speed <rod.speed....@gmail.com> wrote
>>>>>>>> code_wrong <t...@tac.co.uk> wrote
>>>>>>>>> Pokerskatershark <pokerskatersh...@yahoo.com> wrote


>>>>>>>>>> I have a feeling my hard drive is on its last leg. When I
>>>>>>>>>> turn it on, it makes a VERY loud grinding noise. I could be
>>>>>>>>>> wrong, but it certainly doesn't sound like it's too happy!
>>>>>>>>>> It is almost two years
>>>>>>>>>> old and is a Dell XPS 400. (Not sure if that info is needed)

>>
>>>>>>>>>> I have backed up everything on an external hard drive. The
>>>>>>>>>> problem I
>>>>>>>>>> am having is, when and if the HD does crash, is it possible
>>>>>>>>>> to just slap a new internal HD in my computer?

>>
>>>>>>>>>> I realize that I will have to have an OS on it. My computer
>>>>>>>>>> did not
>>>>>>>>>> come with any recovery CD's. I followed Dells' "recovery"
>>>>>>>>>> process.... 1) Go to the Start menu 2) All Programs 3) Dell
>>>>>>>>>> Accessories 4) Recovery. Problem is, there is no #4 option
>>>>>>>>>> in my start menu. I called Dell and I am not joking when the
>>>>>>>>>> tech said to me "It should be there" I purchased the
>>>>>>>>>> computer via the Dell website and not
>>>>>>>>>> through a retailer. After a long discussion (1.5 hours) the
>>>>>>>>>> tech's final response was "I'm not sure what happened, but it
>>>>>>>>>> should be there. I am not sure where it is" I told him that
>>>>>>>>>> this was the very
>>>>>>>>>> first time I had tried to do a recovery and where could "it"
>>>>>>>>>> have gone. No answer.

>>
>>>>>>>>>> They are refusing to send me any recovery CD's and obviously
>>>>>>>>>> I don't
>>>>>>>>>> have an XP disc lying around. Is there anything I can do? I
>>>>>>>>>> am VERY
>>>>>>>>>> frustrated right now.

>>
>>>>>>>>>> Thanks so much for any help.

>>
>>>>>>>>> first thing to do is look inside the case and identify the
>>>>>>>>> source of the noise ... maybe a wire is touching a fan ..
>>>>>>>>> maybe a fan is worn .. you can certainly, by listening and
>>>>>>>>> observing carefully, eliminate
>>>>>>>>> these possibilities..
>>>>>>>>> If your hard drive was about to fail I would think you would
>>>>>>>>> experience problems using the computer .. slow system for
>>>>>>>>> example, BSOD
>>>>>>>> Not if its just bearing noise, that can go on for years just
>>>>>>>> being noisy.
>>>>>>> The noise has only been going on for a few days.
>>>>>>> I haven't noticed in slowing of speed or any error
>>>>>>> messages coming up. It's not noisy after it boots up either.

>>
>>>>>> Thats much more likely to be a fan than the hard drive.

>>
>>>>>>> I will open the case and see if I can figure out where the noise
>>>>>>> is coming from.

>>
>>>>>> The simplest way to do that is to put something insulating thru
>>>>>> the fan on the power supply, before turning it on. That stops
>>>>>> that fan rotating, so you can see if the noise is coming from
>>>>>> that fan.

>>
>>>>>> Dont leave that stopping the fan rotating for long, just long
>>>>>> enough to check if the noise still happens as the system is
>>>>>> turned on.

>>
>>>>>>> Is it all right to have the case open when I turn it on?

>>
>>>>>> Yes, but you dont need to open the case to
>>>>>> check the case fans, just do what I listed above.

>>
>>>>>> Dont to that with the cpu fan, even a short time stopped can kill
>>>>>> the cpu on turnon.

>>
>>>>>> The best check for whether its the hard drive is to unplug the
>>>>>> power to the hard drive and see if the noise still happens at
>>>>>> startup. You should get no noise and an error message saying that
>>>>>> no bootable drive is available if the noise is due to the hard
>>>>>> drive.

>>
>>>>>>> Thanks again for all the help!

>>
>>>>>> No problem, thats what these technical newsgroups are for.

>>
>>>>> Well, it is definitely the hard drive. I just hope I can get a
>>>>> new HD ordered and installed before the bomb goes off!

>>
>>>>> When I put the new drive in, will I still have all my old programs
>>>>> or do I have to reinstall? The reason I ask is a few of my
>>>>> programs require activation codes and I know that one program for
>>>>> sure (Final Draft) does not have any activations left.

>>
>>>>> Keeping my fingers crossed that I can actually pull this off!!

>>
>>>>> Thanks again everyone!!
>>>>> Justine

>>
>>>> One other quick question. I have narrowed down these three drives.
>>>> How do I know which one I need for my system?

>>
>>>> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...NE&N=103530113...

>>
>>> I prefer
>>> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822152100

>>
>>>> Thanks again for all the help!!

>>
>> The old drive should still have the warranty on it.


> Well, it was not the hard drive. It is the fan and now I'm having to
> start all over again to try to figure out what the heck to do. :-(


Just replace it.

> This might be beyond what I can manage.


In some ways its easier to replace a fan than a hard drive unless its the cpu fan.

> Thanks again for all the advice and help!!!



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  #23  
Old 05-12-2008, 10:36 PM
kony
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: Hard Drive On Last Leg?

On Mon, 12 May 2008 11:48:13 -0700 (PDT), Pokerskatershark
<pokerskatershark@yahoo.com> wrote:


>Well, it was not the hard drive. It is the fan and now I'm having to
>start all over again to try to figure out what the heck to do. :-(
>
>This might be beyond what I can manage.
>



Fans are easy... if it's a standard format then measure the
dimensions and order roughly same speed and same connector
type. If it's a proprietary you will need to decide between
replacing heatsink too, or an alternate method to fasten on
a standard fan such as nylon wire ties, screwing some new
holes into the 'sink for standard screws, or devise another
less common method.

In some situations I've even drilled a few holes sideways
into sink fins then used some leftover bell wire as
twisty-ties, though these methods make it a little less
convenient to take the fan off later to clean out dust but
it's not as though all stock fan mounts are necessarily
convenient either.
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  #24  
Old 05-13-2008, 04:12 PM
Pokerskatershark
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: Hard Drive On Last Leg?


> Just replace it.
>
> > This might be beyond what I can manage.

>
> In some ways its easier to replace a fan than a hard drive unless its the cpu fan.
>

Which one is the CPU fan? Sorry, I know, bad question, but I am just
learning about computers. I cloned and put in a new hard drive. This
morning, the noise at the start up was there. It sounded like it was
rev-ving up or something. Now nothing. However, yesterday it was a
constant loud noise.

Much thanks!

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  #25  
Old 05-13-2008, 07:40 PM
Rod Speed
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: Hard Drive On Last Leg?

Pokerskatershark <pokerskatershark@yahoo.com> wrote:

>> Just replace it.


>>> This might be beyond what I can manage.


>> In some ways its easier to replace a fan than a hard drive unless its the cpu fan.


> Which one is the CPU fan?


The one thats mounted on the cpu.

> Sorry, I know, bad question, but I am just learning about computers.


The fans that arent the cpu fan are normally mounted on the case in some way.

The cpu fan is mounted on the motherboard.

There may be more than one fan mounted on the motherboard. There can be a
chipset fan mounted on the motherboard as well. The cpu fan is the biggest fan.

> I cloned and put in a new hard drive. This morning, the noise at the start up was there.


Yeah, that sort of startup noise is hardly ever due to the hard drive.

> It sounded like it was rev-ving up or something. Now nothing.
> However, yesterday it was a constant loud noise.


Its almost certainly one of the case fans. Like I said previously, you can work
out which fan is making the noise by putting something insulating thru the fan
blades with the system turned off and turning the system on. You wont get
any noise when you turn the system on when you have stopped the noisy fan.

Dont do that with the cpu fan tho, even a very short time stopped can kill the cpu.

> Much thanks!



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  #26  
Old 05-15-2008, 04:17 PM
Pokerskatershark
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: Hard Drive On Last Leg?

On May 13, 12:40 pm, "Rod Speed" <rod.speed....@gmail.com> wrote:
> Pokerskatershark <pokerskatersh...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> >> Just replace it.
> >>> This might be beyond what I can manage.
> >> In some ways its easier to replace a fan than a hard drive unless its the cpu fan.

> > Which one is the CPU fan?

>
> The one thats mounted on the cpu.
>
> > Sorry, I know, bad question, but I am just learning about computers.

>
> The fans that arent the cpu fan are normally mounted on the case in some way.
>
> The cpu fan is mounted on the motherboard.
>
> There may be more than one fan mounted on the motherboard. There can be a
> chipset fan mounted on the motherboard as well. The cpu fan is the biggest fan.
>
> > I cloned and put in a new hard drive. This morning, the noise at the start up was there.

>
> Yeah, that sort of startup noise is hardly ever due to the hard drive.
>
> > It sounded like it was rev-ving up or something. Now nothing.
> > However, yesterday it was a constant loud noise.

>
> Its almost certainly one of the case fans. Like I said previously, you can work
> out which fan is making the noise by putting something insulating thru the fan
> blades with the system turned off and turning the system on. You wont get
> any noise when you turn the system on when you have stopped the noisy fan.
>
> Dont do that with the cpu fan tho, even a very short time stopped can kill the cpu.
>
> > Much thanks!


The noise is coming from the fan that is under a black hood type
thing. There is a fan and then a tower directly across from it. That
is the fan that is making the noise.
It says "Nidec TA450DC" I see rubber type screws holding it in place
and have no idea how to remove that without breaking those off. So, I
left it alone for now until I can research how to remove it safely.
Or, am I not supposed to remove that one?

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  #27  
Old 05-15-2008, 09:31 PM
Rod Speed
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: Hard Drive On Last Leg?

Pokerskatershark <pokerskatershark@yahoo.com> wrote
> Rod Speed <rod.speed....@gmail.com> wrote
>> Pokerskatershark <pokerskatersh...@yahoo.com> wrote


>>>> Just replace it.


>>>>> This might be beyond what I can manage.


>>>> In some ways its easier to replace a fan than a hard drive unless its the cpu fan.


>>> Which one is the CPU fan?


>> The one thats mounted on the cpu.


>>> Sorry, I know, bad question, but I am just learning about computers.


>> The fans that arent the cpu fan are normally mounted on the case in some way.


>> The cpu fan is mounted on the motherboard.


>> There may be more than one fan mounted on the motherboard. There can be a
>> chipset fan mounted on the motherboard as well. The cpu fan is the biggest fan.


>>> I cloned and put in a new hard drive. This morning, the noise at the start up was there.


>> Yeah, that sort of startup noise is hardly ever due to the hard drive.


>>> It sounded like it was rev-ving up or something. Now nothing.
>>> However, yesterday it was a constant loud noise.


>> Its almost certainly one of the case fans. Like I said previously,
>> you can work out which fan is making the noise by putting something
>> insulating thru the fan blades with the system turned off and
>> turning the system on. You wont get any noise when you
>> turn the system on when you have stopped the noisy fan.


>> Dont do that with the cpu fan tho, even a very short time stopped can kill the cpu.


>>> Much thanks!


> The noise is coming from the fan that is under a black
> hood type thing. There is a fan and then a tower directly
> across from it. That is the fan that is making the noise.


> It says "Nidec TA450DC"


Thats definitely a case fan,
http://www.nidec.com/ta450dc/ta450dc.htm

> I see rubber type screws holding it in place and have no idea
> how to remove that without breaking those off. So, I left it
> alone for now until I can research how to remove it safely.


You should get new ones with the replacement fan.

> Or, am I not supposed to remove that one?


No, they can certainly be replaced.


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  #28  
Old 05-16-2008, 04:51 AM
Pokerskatershark
 
Posts: n/a
Default Re: Hard Drive On Last Leg?

On May 15, 2:31 pm, "Rod Speed" <rod.speed....@gmail.com> wrote:
> Pokerskatershark <pokerskatersh...@yahoo.com> wrote
>
>
>
> > Rod Speed <rod.speed....@gmail.com> wrote
> >> Pokerskatershark <pokerskatersh...@yahoo.com> wrote
> >>>> Just replace it.
> >>>>> This might be beyond what I can manage.
> >>>> In some ways its easier to replace a fan than a hard drive unless its the cpu fan.
> >>> Which one is the CPU fan?
> >> The one thats mounted on the cpu.
> >>> Sorry, I know, bad question, but I am just learning about computers.
> >> The fans that arent the cpu fan are normally mounted on the case in some way.
> >> The cpu fan is mounted on the motherboard.
> >> There may be more than one fan mounted on the motherboard. There can be a
> >> chipset fan mounted on the motherboard as well. The cpu fan is the biggest fan.
> >>> I cloned and put in a new hard drive. This morning, the noise at the start up was there.
> >> Yeah, that sort of startup noise is hardly ever due to the hard drive.
> >>> It sounded like it was rev-ving up or something. Now nothing.
> >>> However, yesterday it was a constant loud noise.
> >> Its almost certainly one of the case fans. Like I said previously,
> >> you can work out which fan is making the noise by putting something
> >> insulating thru the fan blades with the system turned off and
> >> turning the system on. You wont get any noise when you
> >> turn the system on when you have stopped the noisy fan.
> >> Dont do that with the cpu fan tho, even a very short time stopped can kill the cpu.
> >>> Much thanks!

> > The noise is coming from the fan that is under a black
> > hood type thing. There is a fan and then a tower directly
> > across from it. That is the fan that is making the noise.
> > It says "Nidec TA450DC"

>
> Thats definitely a case fan,http://www.nidec.com/ta450dc/ta450dc.htm
>
> > I see rubber type screws holding it in place and have no idea
> > how to remove that without breaking those off. So, I left it
> > alone for now until I can research how to remove it safely.

>
> You should get new ones with the replacement fan.
>
> > Or, am I not supposed to remove that one?

>
> No, they can certainly be replaced.


Excellent! I will order one ASAP.

Thanks again for all the help!!!
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