Does the hard drive light flicker when the ticking sound occurs? If so, it may be the indexing service in WXP. This service can be turned off without any adverse effects if that's what it is. Go to My Computer, right click on your C drive, select properties, then de-select the checkbox for allow indexing service. Aside from the hard drive, I can't figure what would tick regularly like that.

Regards,

The harddrive doesnt appear to be doing anything. Remember, mind you, the ticking is 110% identical to a watch ticking only louder, and precisely 1 second intervals without inturruption forever and ever.

I disabled indexing for kicks and it still does it. i cant imagine what would cause a precise one second tick nonstop!

Does your IDE activity LED light up in synch?

yes. there is nothing abnormal about ide activity or the led. the led only illuminated when there is ide activity

Greg, that is just silly. Besides, I do not have any virus. No one has any real idea? Just another con to my dell experience to pass on to others?

Sounds like a virus to me! Update your AV definitions and scan.

Greg

 

Well it sounds to me like you're the expert!

In the nine years I've worked in IT, I've heard computers tick, cough and bark like a dog - All virus'. I would strongly suggest that if you post a problem here looking for support from a forum regular, you do so with an open mind. A great number of us work in the field and have the answers to the problems you post. Alienate us and your problems will go unsolved!

Greg

Message Edited by Greg Gaudreau on 06-11-2004 10:31 PM

You might also try disabling the Indexing Service on your hard drive. Sometimes "indexing" will make your HD click as it is doing its thing (it sounds like your HD is searching). It can make a constant ratcheting sound or various ticking or clicking sounds.

Greg

Message Edited by Greg Gaudreau on 06-11-2004 10:58 PM

Can you identify where this sound is coming from? Did you try to mute everything in your audio drivers? Does it also occur outside of Windows? (After rebooting, hit the F2 key to enter the BIOS setup, and sit there for a while.)

It looks like some driver is polling some hardware; possibly Ethernet, wireless or modem. You could check various settings in such drivers, or simply disable successive devices in Device Manager to identify the culprit.

I presume of course that you searched at least this forum extensively before submitting your message.

Greg I did not mean to offend anyone. My virus definitions are updated and scanned daily and have no viruses, as is adware regularly removed. I'm going to take a stethoscope  or similiar tools tomorrow and proceed to take my laptop tops off, I do not recall the sound being present before dell last had my machine!!

Just as a wild suggestion have you put your ear to the power brick. I've had power bricks in the past that after 6 months or so start to click and then die.

Hope it helps. dtkirk

I would recommend a complete reformat. That way, you can be sure the problem is not software related.

If the ticking still exists, it's probably a hardware problem then.

In which case, time for repairs or time for a new laptop!!

I have seen this behavior on two laptops, Inspiron 8200, then the Latitude D/600 (to replace to ailing Inspiron 8200).  In the Inspiron 8200, there was a very definite clicking coming from the battery charging circuit.  When the 8200 was docked and holding batteries, the clicking persisted.  When the 8200 was docked without batteries, there was no audible clicking.  The 8200 stopped charging batteries; thus, it was replaced.

Within two weeks of issuing the Latitude D/600, the user heard the clicking.  The D/600 was docked and plugged into the same power strip as the previous Inspiron 8200.  I replaced the power strip, and tested all the circuitry at the wall, and everything checked out okay.  So far, since replacing the power strip, there has been no further clicking.

It seems a relay fried on the battery charging daughterboard in the Inspiron 8200.  Still a nice laptop, but now relegated to not-so-portable...

Thanks for the help everyone. The ticking now makes two ticks per second - the ticking has changed.

I sat in the bios and didn't hear the clicking, only when windows starts does the ticking begin. I have no viruses. I took out the battery and switched wall outlets (as well as run off the battery only) and the ticking still persists.

I formatted a month or so ago and the ticking was there before the format and it is still here so I'm not sure if I should bother formatting again, the last format didn't remove the ticking.