[dwharton]

I am having trouble with computer hanging up and it happens after start up...things can be running for a while but then a noise...sort of a soft grinding, but not really abrasive grinding if you get my drift, comes from the power supply. The fan is running smothly and doesn't change during the noise. i have isolated the noise to the supply. Hav e stoped the CPU cooling fan for example. Am I in need of a new power supply. Seems a weird thing to fail. No? could there be any relation to hard drive problems or is the noise a pretty determining factor that something is a miss with the power supply?

 

[JSanguancheu]

I am having trouble with computer hanging up and it happens after start up...things can be running for a while but then a noise...sort of a soft grinding, but not really abrasive grinding if you get my drift, comes from the power supply. The fan is running smothly and doesn't change during the noise. i have isolated the noise to the supply. Hav e stoped the CPU cooling fan for example. Am I in need of a new power supply. Seems a weird thing to fail. No? could there be any relation to hard drive problems or is the noise a pretty determining factor that something is a miss with the power supply?

If it's a generic power supply that came with your computer case, then it's definitely possible that it's dying a slow death and causing your other problems.

Aside from the typical whrrr sound coming from an exhaust fan, a power supply should not be making any sounds.

Can you open up the computer and tell us what make, model, specs are for the current power supply? (There should be a label on the side of the power supply.)

Also, what is the make and model of the computer?

 

[dwharton]

Gateway desktop running Win XPHome
AMD CPu, plenty of memory
Power supply is the one that arrived with
ASTEC model ATX 250-3505 250w

Have recently re-formatted and re-installed op sys due to all these hang probs. Also was not (and will not) boot up first time each time. Just fails and get blank screen. Have to manually shut down and restart sometimes two or three times before boot.

 

[~Candy~]

Are you sure the noise is coming from the power supply and not the hard drive?

 

[dwharton]

I've had the case open for a while and get my ear in there as much as i can. I am sure it's not the drive that is producing the noise I am describing. But....just now i am listening again and trying to hear if it might be coming from one of the pci cards (network, sound, video) just cannot seem to tell.
i am attempting to defrag the drive and know it's sounds as it works away. It's a different noise i am hearing from somewhere else.

 

[JSanguancheu]

EDIT: TO be sure of where the noise is coming from, get a 1 or 2 foot or so length of tubing. garden hose, car hose, whatever.. Put one end to your ear, and the other to each part in the PC as it's making the noise. Check all the fans first. Video card fans tend to die quickly and make lots of noise doing it.

Now, if it's definitely the power supply:

Hmm..I definitely think you should replace the power supply.

The only thing I'm not sure of is if a regular ATX power supply will fit in your case. The big name makers tend to make their cases proprietary so an aftermarket P/S may not fit.

Do you have a CompUSA or BestBuy nearby? If so, you can go get a PS and see if it fits. (This way you can return it if it doesn't.)

If possible, stick with a good name brand like Antec or Enermax. ( I suggest an Antec True 330w or 380w.) You want around 350watts so you have room to add more things to your PC later on if you want. (fans, DVD, harddrives, etc.)

 

[~Candy~]

Does the video card have its own fan attached? Most add in cards won't produce any noises like you are describing.

 

[dwharton]

no, no other fans running besides the power supply and the CPU cooling fan.
the video card is a Geforce Mx 440

 

[dwharton]

OK i'm going to do two things;
Re-format completely the HD since I just backed eveything up a couple of days ago, re-install XP and I'll also give a tighter listen to where the noise is coming from. i'll let the forum know the outcome.

 

[pronute]

Do you have an internal FAX Modem installed? Most of them have a little speaker on them so you can hear the Hand shaking routine (Buzzing, clicking, whistling noises) when you dial up and connect, sometimes when the modem is ready to burn out it will feed back voltage to the speaker making a faint grinding noise almost like velcro coming apart, and a failing Modem will make the computer unstable and hard to boot finally ending in total boot failure. Remove the failing device before any thing serious happens.

 

[dwharton]

Well after spending a day off and on between working at home...i re-formated the HD, re-installed op sys, and the whole problem remains. result is the system just freezes and i have to keep re-starting until i get it to start up. then somewhere in the middle of doing anything, the noise starts up again. It is definitely coming from the top of the case...so i disconnected the Cd drive just to isolate things and sure enough it is coming from the power supply. runs fine for an indeterminate amount of time and then a bit of a soft grinding and the sys. freezes up. tomorrow a new PS is coming for a visit. thanks for all who replied.