New computer help

[JamesC]

I know there are some techie types out there so maybe someone could put my mind at rest.

I've just bought a new laptop in the sales - an HP Pavilion G6. It works fine and is very quick compared to my old knackered machine that I was using. The only thing is it keeps making a clicking sound. It's not a sound coming from the speakers but sounds like something mechanical going on inside the machine under the keyboard. It isn't particularly loud but it's enough to be a bit irritating especially as I don't know if it's something I should be worrying about. It isn't a regular sound like a wonky fan or whatever but every so often it will make a faint ker-click noise.

Any ideas?

[Banners]

Clicking is usually a sign that your HDD is on its way out. If your new PC is recent, it's likely the hard drive has something called "SMART" which provides diagnostic info. Google a SMART utility, download and run it, and see what it says.

If this doesn't help, your PC is new - so rather than any haphazard DIY approach I could suggest, just get it checked out under warranty.

[SpetsnaZ99]

my 10 pence worth.

Is it possibly overheating?

does it make the sound regularly or does it does it just happen a couple of times shortly after booting up?

[JamesC]

Thanks for the replies.
It doesn't seem to be doing it today, although I haven't touched it since yesterday so I don't know why not.
I don't think it could be overheating as it's just sitting on a flat desk.

I'll wait and see what happens - if it starts up again I'll do the SMART thing and if it looks like there's a problem I'll take it back to the shop.

[Rog69]

As Banners said it could indicate a problem with the HD, but do you have a CD/DVD in the drive when it is making the noise?

[SmallBlueThing]

It could be the clicking is the dairy chunk connector signalling that it's empty. Have you tried pushing a small amount of cheese into one of the ports?

SBT

[Noisybast]

Wild stab: does the machine have a floppy disk drive? Floppy drives periodically make a clicking noise as they check whether there's a disk inserted.

[SpetsnaZ99]

Wild stab: does the machine have a floppy disk drive? Floppy drives periodically make a clicking noise as they check whether there's a disk inserted.

Do laptops still have floppy drives 

[Woolly]

Hopefully, it's nothing more than a bit of wire hitting the CPU fan.

If you're within your first 21 days of purchase you should be fine returning the item to the point of sale for an instant replacement.
If you're outside of that 21 day window, you may need to book a repair (certainly if it's a Hard Drive issue), but this would be free of charge under the manufacturer's warranty.

Hope that helps 

[Noisybast]

Do laptops still have floppy drives 

Yeah, alright - fair point. In my defence, I skim-read the original post during a hairy journey down the M62 to take my mind off my girlfriend's attempts to not drive under a lorry. I may have been a tad distracted...

[Trout]

Six posts before the first mention of cheese?

This board isn't as good as it used to be. 

- Trout

[SpetsnaZ99]

Cheese slices are about the size of a floppy disk...

[Davek]

I know there are some techie types out there so maybe someone could put my mind at rest.

I've just bought a new laptop in the sales - an HP Pavilion G6. It works fine and is very quick compared to my old knackered machine that I was using. The only thing is it keeps making a clicking sound. It's not a sound coming from the speakers but sounds like something mechanical going on inside the machine under the keyboard. It isn't particularly loud but it's enough to be a bit irritating especially as I don't know if it's something I should be worrying about. It isn't a regular sound like a wonky fan or whatever but every so often it will make a faint ker-click noise.

Any ideas?

Hi James - how have you got on with this laptop.  I am thinking of buying the same model (I5) this week from PC World.

[vzzbux]

PC World. GAHHHH. Your better of with a cheese board.





V

[JamesC]

I'm getting on well with it thanks - seems very quick and responsive. Still the odd click here and there (I haven't gotten round to taking it back to the shop as I'm back at work again).