Loud Noise at Startup

[theenigma87]

Hello,
I've searched in multiple locations but cant find a solution to my problem. Over the last couple of months my computer has been making a loud grinding noise at cold boot. The noise used to persist until I arrived at the Windows desktop and then would completely go away until I shutdown and rebooted several hours later. Lately though the noise has continued even once i reached the Windows desktop and I've had to shutdown and reboot. Once I did the noise would be completely gone.
Ive opened my case and dusted all the fans, once I did this i noticed the problem continued, so I preceded to check the fans by lightly tapping them while the computer was making the noise and seeing if the noise stopped or sounded different as a result of my tapping, to my surprise none of the fans were failing. I then checked the PSU to see if the noise was coming from it but it seemed silent. I traced the noise to the right side of the motherboard its almost a loud buzzing whirling noise and i cant seem to figure out what it is. The computer seems to be running fine ive played a few games on it or hours with no diminished performance or notable problems. Any suggestions on what to do next would help. I dont want to turn it on one day and have it break on me.

 

[jsc]

I know it sounds stupid, but do you have a disk in the optical drive?

 

[welshmousepk]

sounds like the disk drive for sure. eject the disk tray and see if the noise stops.

 

[theenigma87]

I did not have a disk in the optical drive when i booted so I didnt think that was the cause of the problem. I did although open the drive and the sound stopped. It seems the tray was making the noise somehow. Its weird that the problem didn't effect the disk i inserted when i tried to install software and the noise did not appear when there was a disk in the drive, only during bootup. Im going to call the drives manufacturer and see if i cant get it replaced before it starts messing up my disk. Thankyou for your quick replies and help.

 

[Shaun o]

Can also be a sign of a bad fan in the system, or should i say a worn fan sleeve, or bearing of the fan.
Check your fans inside the case.

 

[Paperdoc]

Yeah, the sound is bad during start-up only, comes from an optical drive, and does not happen when there is a disk inserted in the drive. This really sounds like a bad bearing in the drive that lets the shaft vibrate badly when it first spins up, but then it stops. With a much larger load (a disk) on it, the vibration does not happen, or at least not loudly.

You are right to have the unit replaced now before it gets really bad. This kind of problem never goes away and never fixes itself. It can only get worse.

Until you said you are sure the problem comes from the optical drive and disappears when a disk is inserted, I would have said that shaun o had the right answer. A fan with a worn bearing often behaves this way - it vibrates as it turns when first turned on, but the heat generated by friction in the bearing warms it up and causes enough expansion of metal parts that the clearance narrows down and the vibration stops. But it also will keep getting worse as the bearing continues to wear.

 

[reimerron]

My HP Pavillion is doing the same thing. It's gotta be the bearing in the DVD drive, but it seems to spin free using a finger to rotate the spindle. Maybe there is a way to lubricate the spindle. I also have some trouble sometimes getting a DVD to play. Maybe the spindle is binding and the disc is not spinning properly. Let me know if you find a solution to the problem. Thanks

reimerron

 

[theenigma87]

Best answer selected by theenigma87.

 

[bursty59]

had trouble with graphics card play a way the game crashed .thinking the worst .removed graphics card cleaned best I could replaced it since then every start up loud clicking noise totally peed off cause it 2 days past 1 years warranty . bingo message saying drivers for graphics card where faulty. so rolled back drivers ,still noise on start up .reinstalled latest only to find noise has gone ,so try that have you updated any drivers lately my be faulty hard part is finding them good luck

 

[Raaz Bajgain]

enter BIOS....disable boot from optical disk(cd/dvd).

 

[Oakley999]

I get this too, i know this thread is old, but it seems like the only one similar to what happens to me too. I've had this for about 2 weeks now, my pc rattles and makes a sound like when a disc is inserted into a 360, i havent tried putting in a disc myself to check it, but i only hear it when i sit on my chair above my pc, as soon as im below the disc drive listening to the fan below it, i cant hear it. It tends to stop and come back again every so often when I start up my pc, it can last up to 20 minutes before it goes away. It isnt too loud though. but I just dont want it to mess up and that, if it has a bad bearing or whatever, what harm could it cause exactly?

 

[bazza11]

this is bursty59 2weeks after posting this one of the hard drives packed up it was that making the noise

 

[Oakley999]

I checked using crystal disk info and it says both are good and my SSD is 100%

 

[Crypto6]

Sounds like this might be my problem too. At first I thought it was my HDD... but after hearing real defective HDD clicking noises (never heard them before)- definitely not my problem (thank god!). Best way I can describe the noise is "grinding" and it only happens when my Windows 7 is booting up. Won't happen again until I turn off my PC and boot up Windows again. I'll have to put a CD in the drive later and see if that fixes the problem. So glad I decided to Google this problem because I was having a real scare!

I'll also check my case fans. Case fans got like six fans inside. I know one fan is failing- but it is smaller and on the side. Guess it wouldn't hurt to check the front fan.

 

[Oakley999]

Sounds like this might be my problem too. At first I thought it was my HDD... but after hearing real defective HDD clicking noises (never heard them before)- definitely not my problem (thank god!). Best way I can describe the noise is "grinding" and it only happens when my Windows 7 is booting up. Won't happen again until I turn off my PC and boot up Windows again. I'll have to put a CD in the drive later and see if that fixes the problem. So glad I decided to Google this problem because I was having a real scare!

I'll also check my case fans. Case fans got like six fans inside. I know one fan is failing- but it is smaller and on the side. Guess it wouldn't hurt to check the front fan.

Got the same noise as you, its only a soft sounding grind, half rumble for me too. It definitely sounds like the optical drive though. I also get it randomly when im on my pc, it lasts for about 1-2 seconds, its quiet, but noticeable because I can hear it through my headphones, so its clearly vibrations. Anway, You might want to use chkdsk or a program you can download like crystal disk info or others, to check if its your hard drive. If it gets no bad sectors, then it's your optical drive.

Edit: The sound came back again when I was downloading an update to a game, coincidentally in my HDD, Could it actually be my HDD? chkdsk and disk info programs say its fine. Strange..

Edit 2: Did chkdsk twice with /r parameter, still 0kb in bad sectors.

Crypto6, when does the sound happen during startup, in the windows login or startup screen or when you're already on your desktop?

 

[Crypto6]

Sounds like this might be my problem too. At first I thought it was my HDD... but after hearing real defective HDD clicking noises (never heard them before)- definitely not my problem (thank god!). Best way I can describe the noise is "grinding" and it only happens when my Windows 7 is booting up. Won't happen again until I turn off my PC and boot up Windows again. I'll have to put a CD in the drive later and see if that fixes the problem. So glad I decided to Google this problem because I was having a real scare!

I'll also check my case fans. Case fans got like six fans inside. I know one fan is failing- but it is smaller and on the side. Guess it wouldn't hurt to check the front fan.

Got the same noise as you, its only a soft sounding grind, half rumble for me too. It definitely sounds like the optical drive though. I also get it randomly when im on my pc, it lasts for about 1-2 seconds, its quiet, but noticeable because I can hear it through my headphones, so its clearly vibrations. Anway, You might want to use chkdsk or a program you can download like crystal disk info or others, to check if its your hard drive. If it gets no bad sectors, then it's your optical drive.

Edit: The sound came back again when I was downloading an update to a game, coincidentally in my HDD, Could it actually be my HDD? chkdsk and disk info programs say its fine. Strange..

Edit 2: Did chkdsk twice with /r parameter, still 0kb in bad sectors.

Crypto6, when does the sound happen during startup, in the windows login or startup screen or when you're already on your desktop?

It only happens when booting Windows for me. Your HDD will make a clicking noise if it is failing- not grinding. I actually just barely fixed my issue with my grinding noise. I opened up my computer and one of the fans next to my disk drive was extremely close to my disk drive's cords. I moved the cords out of the way and I haven't heard the problem since.

A lot of people on this site suggested to open up your case and then power on your PC, and just keep an eye and a ear out on the side of your PC. It will be easier to determine where the noise is coming from.

 

[midgetDESTROYER]

i just want to thank the guys who recommended ejecting the disk tray, worked straight away I did have a disk in there,

strange thou because iv had a disk in there for ages the noise only started yesterday,

cheers guys

 

[Oakley999]

i've never had a disc in there and it still makes noises, it does it on startup and when i ever i do something new, like open a new program at times or whenever i do something, it only happens sometimes though. its either vibration or the disc drive is a bit loose, or something is making my disc drive try to read a disc.

 

[Oakley999]

I think mine might just be that its not too stable in the cage, i have been moving it around in the car back and forth to a pc repair shop on my lap, no physical trauma, but might need to be screwed in more. Crystaldiskinfo and HD TUNE show no errors.

 

[Asif_5]

I know it sounds stupid, but do you have a disk in the optical drive?

Yes, it was my Optical drive, you rock man !

 

[nrkolb]

First few guys got it right, I had the same problem after installing a new AC adapter. Had the toughest time (to no avail) trying to find out where my rattle was coming from and boom... disc drive. Thanks guys!

 

[Ming Yao Koh]

Well, my desktop computer got the same thing. Then, I found out the grinding sound was from the Power Supply Unit fan. And my brain came with a dangerous idea. I tried to stuck a pen to stop that fan and take the pen away again. And the noise went away. My solution might not be helpful for some. And FYI I stuck the pen in the fan on low RPM.

 

[cat1092]

I know that this Thread is an older one (7 years), yet still relevant in 2017.

There was a grinding like noise upon cold boots, if left off for more than an hour or longer. After fearing a bottom mount PSU that's still under warranty, turned out it was a optical drive, a 'no name' model produced by ASUS. Must have been those that didn't make the top quality batches, as I have one with the ASUS name on front, has been in at least 7 different PC & still running strong, with over 5,700 Newegg reviewers & over 30 Customer Choice trophies.

From here on out, I'll never skimp on a less than $25 optical drive, should had known that these for $12.99 & free shipping were too good to be true. I guess that the only reason why the other is still running is that it's been used only once, and that PC is under my desk sideways, so kind of inconvenient to pull out just to burn an ISO.

Thanks for for sparing me the trouble of pulling my PSU out for a manual test!;-)

Cat