Loud clunk noise when I start up my PC?

[DFBHDTS]

Hi all, The past few weeks I have noticed that whenever I turn on my PC it makes a rather loud clunk noise (just the once). It sometimes happens within a few seconds of turning it on, and other times it has happened just after logging into windows.

There are two things it could be....

1. My hard drive is on the way out
2. I have a loose fan at the front of my PC which when turned on, is hitting the plastic due sucking the air in.

Has anyone had this issue? It only happens once every time I turn my pc on and 80% of the time happens within the first 5 seconds of boot. And less often it will happen about a minute in. I'm hoping it's not my HDD but for it to only make the noise once makes me think it isn't that and could just be the fan. Anyone have any other idea what it could be? I'll open it up over the weekend and see if I can hear where it is coming from. Just wanted to get any ideas from you guys before I have a proper look.

 

[R_1]

unplug the fan and see if the sound persists. unplug the hard drive and boot to a Linux thumb drive or a bootable CD and await the sound.
test the Hard drive with the diagnostics that the manufacturer provides on their website.

 

[DFBHDTS]

unplug the fan and see if the sound persists. unplug the hard drive and boot to a Linux thumb drive or a bootable CD and await the sound.
test the Hard drive with the diagnostics that the manufacturer provides on their website.

Ahh good shout. Well I had a SSD that is running just the windows, and everything else (games, data) is on my HDD. Would an SSD make a noise like this?

I could unplug the HDD and still boot into windows.

 

[synphul]

My guess would be to do just what you plan to, try and listen a bit closer. Unplug the fan(s) in the front and when you turn it on listen for the sound. If it still happens and it's coming near the front of the case where I assume your hdd is, then it's the drive. If not then something odd is happening with the fan.

Do you have a cd/dvd drive in your case? If so that could be the culprit, especially if it's part of the boot order in your bios. Usually an optical drive won't make any noise unless there's a disc inside and it initiates but when they go out they can start doing odd things regarding the tray position. Trying to partially eject the tray and pull it back in, try and retract it even when it's not open. Those sorts of things can cause a thump or clunking sound.

Edit: In terms of the ssd, no it doesn't make any noise. It has no moving parts, it's like a stick of ram.

 

[DT523]

An SSD has no moving parts, so no. I would unplug the HDD and boot up your system. If you don't hear the sound, then it is your HDD. It may also be your ODD, if you have one.

 

[DFBHDTS]

My guess would be to do just what you plan to, try and listen a bit closer. Unplug the fan(s) in the front and when you turn it on listen for the sound. If it still happens and it's coming near the front of the case where I assume your hdd is, then it's the drive. If not then something odd is happening with the fan.

Do you have a cd/dvd drive in your case? If so that could be the culprit, especially if it's part of the boot order in your bios. Usually an optical drive won't make any noise unless there's a disc inside and it initiates but when they go out they can start doing odd things regarding the tray position. Trying to partially eject the tray and pull it back in, try and retract it even when it's not open. Those sorts of things can cause a thump or clunking sound.

Edit: In terms of the ssd, no it doesn't make any noise. It has no moving parts, it's like a stick of ram.

Ahh I completely forgot about by ODD. I think I opened it like once like 3 years ago when I first bought it and haven't since. So that could be the culprit too.

Thanks for the help everyone I shall have a proper look inside, and disconnect the HDD/fan/ODD and go from there.

 

[DFBHDTS]

Looks like it is my Disc drive. Phew! I couldn't quite feel the clunk noise when I pressed my hand against it but it's definitely coming from it as the noise is coming from the top of the case right where the ODD is located, and my HDD is at the very bottom.

Thanks for the tips chaps. I never use it so I'm probably not going to bother replacing it. Unless it starts getting more frequent.

CHeers

 

[DT523]

Glad to hear it!

 

[R_1]

if it works and if you use it that little I would suggest unplugging the power and data from the back until the device is needed.