NOISE

CdePizen.

See if this article from Dell, can help you locate the noise.
http://support.dell.com/us/en/kb/document_print.asp?DN=HO1033989

Bev.

How do I access that article?

The Dell page comes up,   but what do you do to find the document?

 

 

hello, just got my dell and at the rate i'm going i like my gateway, but any way does any body out there have the dimension 2300. If so does there tower make a loud electrical screeching noise that is so loud it hurts the ears? please help b4 this dell is out window. mine is from the time i turn her on till i shut down and when shutting down the noise is worse. it is annoying to where i can sit at this computer i go to my gateway for peace and quiet this dell is less then a month old and it stinks

Hi cdepizan,

When you call tech support with this sort of problem, the steps that they'd usually ask you to do would be:

1. Unplug the power cable behind the hard drive - boot your computer and if the noise is still present, then it's not hard drive - next step would be to

2. Unseat the video card - if your video card comes with a fan. If the noise is still there, then it's not the video card, next step would be to

3. Unplug the power cables behind your IDE devices - CDROMs, DVDROMs, Zipdrives as well as your floppy drive. If the noise is still there, then it's not one of them. Next step would be

4. Unplug the processor fan - just cut the power to the processor fan. If the noise is still present, then it's highly likely that it's your power supply fan that's causing the problem. Call tech support with your findings and they will replace it if you are still under warranty.

During your t/s, if the humming noise stops after you disconnected a certain device, then it's that device that is causing the problem. Have tech support replace that.

In the event that it's your hard drive that's causing the problem -  run a 90/90 diagnostics on your hard drive (if your computer has it) - just wait for the dell logo and then hit ctrl + alt + d. If you see an error message, backup your documents and then call tech support for a replacement. If 90/90 is not available, you can always do a 32 bit dell diagnostics. Article number FA1060629 (search for the article number in support.dell.com or premiersupport.dell.com) and follow the steps on how to run diagnostics on your hard drive (it's listed as IDE devices - IDE disk 0)

This should minimize the time you spend on the phone with the tech because you've done all the t/s steps.

Hope this helps! :)

Jollyjoyjoy,

Thanks for your detailed instructions.    I just found your reply from almost a month ago and the noise is still happening.

This kind of procedure is rather advanced for me to do,  so I will have to get tech support on the phone to do it anyway....   and yes,  the machine is still under warranty.

Please tell me---how do I do these separate tests without putting myself in danger of electric shock.   Do I unplug the computer,   do one of the things you describe,  then plug it in again and turn it on?   Or do I do this list of tests with the machine running?    Open? 

Even if it's unplugged,  don't I have to ground myself in some way to work inside?  

I think it's a good idea to do as much as I can on my own,  just want to make sure I'm not getting into an unsafe situation.    Thanks very much.  

 

Message Edited by CdePizan on 02-05-2003 09:14 PM

*Please tell me---how do I do these separate tests without putting myself in danger of electric shock.   Do I unplug the computer,   do one of the things you describe,  then plug it in again and turn it on?   Or do I do this list of tests with the machine running?    Open? *

Yes, turn it off and unplug it before you try each thing, and continue to leave it open each time you start it back up. When you find or solve your problem turn it off one last time to close it. You probably could tinker while it's on, but some components get really hot after a while or will not be recognized as plugged back in unless you reboot. And do not touch the processor if the system's been on at all in the past few hours.

*Even if it's unplugged,  don't I have to ground myself in some way to work inside? *

Should have a metal framework inside that everything is bolted to/sitting on. Leave the power cable and all other external cables off it, and tapping this frame should ground you.

*I think it's a good idea to do as much as I can on my own,  just want to make sure I'm not getting into an unsafe situation.    Thanks very much. * 

Yes, I know what you mean. :P

Message Edited by Logan Firex on 02-05-2003 10:30 PM

A loud, whirring electrical buzz, or a clanking noise may indicate a faulty, or at the very least, a loud harddrive. You may want to have your HD checked out and don't forget to do a backup in case it is a drive.

I have had my Dell Dimension since 11/02 and the noise has been slowly progressing to the point that it is horrible. The sound is a high pitched whining sound and seems to have a slight sine wave undulation to it. Real disappointed with this outfit. So many post here and they sell them with the same problem nevertheless

Yes I too have been experiencing noise problems with my (new) 8250. It was pretty quiet when I bought it but the noise has increased to slightly unbearable levels; it is like a continuous hum. I would like to know why there is such a problem; I expected much better quality from my 8250.

Perhaps some Dell people would care to comment?

Thank you very much.

Regards

I had a prob with the RDRAM on my 8100 for the last week and the Dell technician came out to my place today and replaced the motherboard and ram under warranty. While i am happy with that I know get another noise from the CPU fan. I have cut the noise down to this fan pulling the case off and listening to the noise.

 

I get a constant ticking noise like a wristwatch noise and then when the processor works harder (even a scroll of the mouse wheel) i get a scratching type noise from the same spot. THis wasn't doing this yesterday so i doubt the fan would have been damaged by unplugging it and plugging it back in. Is there any way to fix a noisy fan like this. I don't want to sound like a whinger and ring dell twice in the one week.

Had my dimension 8200 since 12/01 and the whine of the fans keeps getting worse.

I just received the "troubleshooting" list from Dell, and it is beyond my tech knowhow.  I am not even sure how to open the case!  What happens if I break something while trying to perform the tests?  Bet that's on me.

Will Dell send someone out to try and fix this thing?

 damage anything as long as you take precautions and do what the instructions say. If you are not comfortable doing it then ring them up and tell them you want a technician to do it. They are pretty good like that.

 

i have know found out that it is not my fan that is making the noise but my hard drive. I can't understand how it starts the same day a dell technician is at my house. now i am annoyed.

I had two Dimension 8200 series Dells with very noisy fans.  Turned out most of the noise was from the green plastic fan shroud vibrating.  Used a little electrical tape to secure the shroud and both conputers are now reasonably quiet.  It's still a big fan though and still makes more noise than my P3 machine at work. 

 

Hope this helps.

 

GW