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What could be causing the squealing coming from my computer?
I have a Dell Dimension 4600C that has been working great. The other day it wouldn't power up. I checked all connections. Came back to it the next day and it powered on just fine and has been up and running great since then. The difference now though is I have a very high pitched squealing coming from the machine.
I'm certain this is a capacitor as I've had this happen to other machines in the past. I checked and I don't see any visible leakage and physically touching all that are visible doesn't change the tone at all. All of these items lead me to believe the PS is my issue but I’m just looking for other options. Thanks in advance.
I'm certain this is a capacitor as I've had this happen to other machines in the past. I checked and I don't see any visible leakage and physically touching all that are visible doesn't change the tone at all. All of these items lead me to believe the PS is my issue but I’m just looking for other options. Thanks in advance.
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Yes, Dell has tool for it. Type your system service tag and start to find correct tool for your system from Dell. Also, third party software such as:
http://www.memtest.org for memory test
http://www.memtest.org for memory test
It its squeeling then its almist certainly one of the fans. The bearing has probably failed or is failing.
Open up the case and locate the fans and see if you can determine which one it is. If its a fan on the case on of the CPU then you can replace it quite easily. If its on the power supply or on the graphics card then its more of a problem.
Open up the case and locate the fans and see if you can determine which one it is. If its a fan on the case on of the CPU then you can replace it quite easily. If its on the power supply or on the graphics card then its more of a problem.
ASKER
Punky: Finished the HD test with flying colors minus the over temp error. I usually don't consider those to be valid if it finishes the test with no other errors. I'll dwnld Dells test and see.
KCTS: I've manually stopped all of the fans momentarily and the noise continues.
KCTS: I've manually stopped all of the fans momentarily and the noise continues.
Overtemp error?!? I would think the noise would be from either a fan or the HDD itself.
Capacitor failing, if in the filtering section of the PS, 60 cycle ripple in output of PS.
Capacitor failing, if in the filtering section of the PS, 60 cycle ripple in output of PS.
Try disconnecting the hard disk, it could be the bearing on the drive.
ASKER
Its the PS. I didn't have another Dell PS but I do have one that will work. Hooked it up and the sound is gone.
just a question : when you stopped all fans, did you stop the power supply fan as well? if this is the cause, you just need to replace the fan in the power supply
ASKER
Nobus - I did stop the power supply fan. Incuding this fan the only other fan is the CPU fan.
try only to connect the memmory and the video card (but make sure that you wont hear anything if you have a fan on the video card because they make a lot of noise) and disconnect the cd roms and hard drives and everything else
then start connecting one part and another till you get the noise
but if u disconnect everything and u hear something then its from the ps or from the cpu fan
then start connecting one part and another till you get the noise
but if u disconnect everything and u hear something then its from the ps or from the cpu fan
ASKER
PS was the culprit.
ASKER
Of course due to the nature of the PS I don't have an extra laying around. I'm going to let it run its test and if all goes well just discount it as a fluke.