Ok then, its likely the Video card. First troubleshooting step is very easy. Disconnect all power (including battery) from the system, and wait 30 secs.

Now hold down the power button to dissipate any left over power. Pry up the Power strip above the keyboard going from left to right. When you get to the end, pull on the tab connecting it to the laptop and pull it comletely free.

Unscrew the two screws holding the keyboard down and lift it up. You now should be able to see and access a cable that snakes from the video card directly under the keyboard up to and into the screen. Unplug this from the card, and then plug it back in firmly, making sure its seated tight. While you are in here, make sure that the video card is also setaed in tight, if its not tighten the screws a little (but not too much!).

Now reverse the process by screwing the keyboard back in, pluging the power stip back in and snaping it back in place from right to left (make sure each tab goes in along the way).

See if the process eliminated the sound.

stu

Localising where the sound is coming from is the first step, see if you can do that and post back here.

stu

As CSmith said, it won't void the warrenty anyway, and they will never know.

I believe you are thinking of it too much in mechanical terms, with moving parts (as if you think a loose part will make rattling noises or something). These are eletrical components with no moving parts (with the exception of the Hard Drive and CD-ROM), and often an indication of a loose connection is a buzzing or humming sound. Give this remedy a try, you have nothing to loose.

stu

Of late Dell has started to let the customers handle part of the repairs. The parts are modular and all you need is a phillips screw driver. There are clear instructions on how to open the system on the website. So go ahead and open it up. If this is your first time, be careful with the plastic beading.....

I had same problem with my new 8100.  Sent it back to dell and they had changed the motherboard, no beating around the bush.  Still quet as a mouse.  Noise was coming from CPU.  And the fan with heatsink would make it hard to tell.