How can I tell if my mini computer is dying or it is just the fan?
I have a small Zotac mini computers, one of those computers that is in a small box like a book. Everything is crammed in there in a tight space.
The computer is making some scary noises. How can tell if it is just the fan going bad or the hard drive is dying?
fan desktop-computer
|
show 1 more comment
I have a small Zotac mini computers, one of those computers that is in a small box like a book. Everything is crammed in there in a tight space.
The computer is making some scary noises. How can tell if it is just the fan going bad or the hard drive is dying?
fan desktop-computer
Is your computer running slowly and/or freezing up?
– juniorRubyist
Jan 6 at 3:49
@juniorRubyist No, just a lot of bearing noise, but I don't know if its the bearings of the fan, or the bearings of the hard drive.
– Tyler Durden
Jan 6 at 3:54
4
You might be in luck. The fans are probably jammed with dust or whatnot, otherwise just going bad. Do check the S.M.A.R.T. status on the drive, though, just to be sure.
– juniorRubyist
Jan 6 at 4:15
1
You have backups, right? :)
– djsmiley2k
Jan 6 at 15:18
1
If you have an SSD in there, it's the case fans. If you don't have an SSD... consider one.
– Ian Kemp
Jan 6 at 21:29
|
show 1 more comment
I have a small Zotac mini computers, one of those computers that is in a small box like a book. Everything is crammed in there in a tight space.
The computer is making some scary noises. How can tell if it is just the fan going bad or the hard drive is dying?
fan desktop-computer
I have a small Zotac mini computers, one of those computers that is in a small box like a book. Everything is crammed in there in a tight space.
The computer is making some scary noises. How can tell if it is just the fan going bad or the hard drive is dying?
fan desktop-computer
fan desktop-computer
edited Jan 6 at 4:55
fixer1234
18.1k144681
18.1k144681
asked Jan 6 at 3:45
Tyler DurdenTyler Durden
2,40593164
2,40593164
Is your computer running slowly and/or freezing up?
– juniorRubyist
Jan 6 at 3:49
@juniorRubyist No, just a lot of bearing noise, but I don't know if its the bearings of the fan, or the bearings of the hard drive.
– Tyler Durden
Jan 6 at 3:54
4
You might be in luck. The fans are probably jammed with dust or whatnot, otherwise just going bad. Do check the S.M.A.R.T. status on the drive, though, just to be sure.
– juniorRubyist
Jan 6 at 4:15
1
You have backups, right? :)
– djsmiley2k
Jan 6 at 15:18
1
If you have an SSD in there, it's the case fans. If you don't have an SSD... consider one.
– Ian Kemp
Jan 6 at 21:29
|
show 1 more comment
Is your computer running slowly and/or freezing up?
– juniorRubyist
Jan 6 at 3:49
@juniorRubyist No, just a lot of bearing noise, but I don't know if its the bearings of the fan, or the bearings of the hard drive.
– Tyler Durden
Jan 6 at 3:54
4
You might be in luck. The fans are probably jammed with dust or whatnot, otherwise just going bad. Do check the S.M.A.R.T. status on the drive, though, just to be sure.
– juniorRubyist
Jan 6 at 4:15
1
You have backups, right? :)
– djsmiley2k
Jan 6 at 15:18
1
If you have an SSD in there, it's the case fans. If you don't have an SSD... consider one.
– Ian Kemp
Jan 6 at 21:29
Is your computer running slowly and/or freezing up?
– juniorRubyist
Jan 6 at 3:49
Is your computer running slowly and/or freezing up?
– juniorRubyist
Jan 6 at 3:49
@juniorRubyist No, just a lot of bearing noise, but I don't know if its the bearings of the fan, or the bearings of the hard drive.
– Tyler Durden
Jan 6 at 3:54
@juniorRubyist No, just a lot of bearing noise, but I don't know if its the bearings of the fan, or the bearings of the hard drive.
– Tyler Durden
Jan 6 at 3:54
4
4
You might be in luck. The fans are probably jammed with dust or whatnot, otherwise just going bad. Do check the S.M.A.R.T. status on the drive, though, just to be sure.
– juniorRubyist
Jan 6 at 4:15
You might be in luck. The fans are probably jammed with dust or whatnot, otherwise just going bad. Do check the S.M.A.R.T. status on the drive, though, just to be sure.
– juniorRubyist
Jan 6 at 4:15
1
1
You have backups, right? :)
– djsmiley2k
Jan 6 at 15:18
You have backups, right? :)
– djsmiley2k
Jan 6 at 15:18
1
1
If you have an SSD in there, it's the case fans. If you don't have an SSD... consider one.
– Ian Kemp
Jan 6 at 21:29
If you have an SSD in there, it's the case fans. If you don't have an SSD... consider one.
– Ian Kemp
Jan 6 at 21:29
|
show 1 more comment
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
If your hard drive is dying, you would hear repetitive clicking or buzzing noises and the computer may occasionally freeze up, getting worse as it dies. You can also tell that your hard drive is dying because of extremely slow transfer rates. You can try checking the S.M.A.R.T. status of your drive (almost like the "Check Engine" light on a car) by using the Command Prompt (or PowerShell) with the wmic
utility in Windows. Corrupt files can also be a warning sign of drive failure. Linus Tech Tips does a good job explaining all sorts of hard drive issues. If you determine that your hard drive is dying, stop using it immediately and go buy yourself an external drive (1 TB+) to backup your data ASAP. Try not to rock the computer or drive around to prevent further breakage of your drive.
If your fan is broken, no big deal; just replace it. You could try opening up the case and watching the fans spin up to watch for any issues. If you have a solid state drive, then any noises would be from the fan (but you said you have a hard drive, so...).
add a comment |
You can open it up and disconnect the fan (or otherwise stop it from spinning).
If the noise stops, the problem was the fan. Otherwise try disconnecting the power to the HDD to confirm that it's the hard drive.
3
And obviously, if the fan is already running because of the heat and you stop it, you might damage the rest of the computer.
– pipe
Jan 6 at 12:14
1
@pipe running the computer without a fan for a short period of time will not harm anything. But stopping it from spinning is not that good of an idea.
– Ilyas Deckers
Jan 6 at 18:25
@pipe Assuming it has an Intel CPU the CPU has overheat protection and running without a fan will not cause permanent damage to it -it will just slow down. Over very extended periods the additional heat would put stress on the components, but you are talking months or years.
– davidgo
Jan 6 at 18:40
Run your computer for as little time as possible without the fan; it's there for a reason, and doesn't just cool the CPU in many computers. Running your computer for even a relatively short time without the fan can destroy the machine.
– wizzwizz4
Jan 6 at 19:27
1
@wizzwizz4 - Care to evidence your assertion about it destroying the machine? What components (other then CPU - and presumably built-in gpu) do you assert are that heat sensitive, and why is there this built in time-bomb on the huge number of computers which do not detect the fan speed, and why do you get so many fanless mini PCs?
– davidgo
Jan 6 at 19:50
|
show 2 more comments
Your problem can easily be addressed referring to the computer behavior.
If you do not face any undesired halt or freeze and the computing speed is, less or more, that you are accustomed to, the problem is the fan, to be substituted.
In order to be more confident simply launch a detailed HD check or some defragmenting program.
You will be able both to understand more precisely the jerky sound origin and to find vaste amount of errors in the disk in case of hd failure.
If many many errors are not found, change the fan.
add a comment |
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3 Answers
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If your hard drive is dying, you would hear repetitive clicking or buzzing noises and the computer may occasionally freeze up, getting worse as it dies. You can also tell that your hard drive is dying because of extremely slow transfer rates. You can try checking the S.M.A.R.T. status of your drive (almost like the "Check Engine" light on a car) by using the Command Prompt (or PowerShell) with the wmic
utility in Windows. Corrupt files can also be a warning sign of drive failure. Linus Tech Tips does a good job explaining all sorts of hard drive issues. If you determine that your hard drive is dying, stop using it immediately and go buy yourself an external drive (1 TB+) to backup your data ASAP. Try not to rock the computer or drive around to prevent further breakage of your drive.
If your fan is broken, no big deal; just replace it. You could try opening up the case and watching the fans spin up to watch for any issues. If you have a solid state drive, then any noises would be from the fan (but you said you have a hard drive, so...).
add a comment |
If your hard drive is dying, you would hear repetitive clicking or buzzing noises and the computer may occasionally freeze up, getting worse as it dies. You can also tell that your hard drive is dying because of extremely slow transfer rates. You can try checking the S.M.A.R.T. status of your drive (almost like the "Check Engine" light on a car) by using the Command Prompt (or PowerShell) with the wmic
utility in Windows. Corrupt files can also be a warning sign of drive failure. Linus Tech Tips does a good job explaining all sorts of hard drive issues. If you determine that your hard drive is dying, stop using it immediately and go buy yourself an external drive (1 TB+) to backup your data ASAP. Try not to rock the computer or drive around to prevent further breakage of your drive.
If your fan is broken, no big deal; just replace it. You could try opening up the case and watching the fans spin up to watch for any issues. If you have a solid state drive, then any noises would be from the fan (but you said you have a hard drive, so...).
add a comment |
If your hard drive is dying, you would hear repetitive clicking or buzzing noises and the computer may occasionally freeze up, getting worse as it dies. You can also tell that your hard drive is dying because of extremely slow transfer rates. You can try checking the S.M.A.R.T. status of your drive (almost like the "Check Engine" light on a car) by using the Command Prompt (or PowerShell) with the wmic
utility in Windows. Corrupt files can also be a warning sign of drive failure. Linus Tech Tips does a good job explaining all sorts of hard drive issues. If you determine that your hard drive is dying, stop using it immediately and go buy yourself an external drive (1 TB+) to backup your data ASAP. Try not to rock the computer or drive around to prevent further breakage of your drive.
If your fan is broken, no big deal; just replace it. You could try opening up the case and watching the fans spin up to watch for any issues. If you have a solid state drive, then any noises would be from the fan (but you said you have a hard drive, so...).
If your hard drive is dying, you would hear repetitive clicking or buzzing noises and the computer may occasionally freeze up, getting worse as it dies. You can also tell that your hard drive is dying because of extremely slow transfer rates. You can try checking the S.M.A.R.T. status of your drive (almost like the "Check Engine" light on a car) by using the Command Prompt (or PowerShell) with the wmic
utility in Windows. Corrupt files can also be a warning sign of drive failure. Linus Tech Tips does a good job explaining all sorts of hard drive issues. If you determine that your hard drive is dying, stop using it immediately and go buy yourself an external drive (1 TB+) to backup your data ASAP. Try not to rock the computer or drive around to prevent further breakage of your drive.
If your fan is broken, no big deal; just replace it. You could try opening up the case and watching the fans spin up to watch for any issues. If you have a solid state drive, then any noises would be from the fan (but you said you have a hard drive, so...).
edited Jan 6 at 10:02
DavidPostill♦
104k25225260
104k25225260
answered Jan 6 at 4:12
juniorRubyistjuniorRubyist
749928
749928
add a comment |
add a comment |
You can open it up and disconnect the fan (or otherwise stop it from spinning).
If the noise stops, the problem was the fan. Otherwise try disconnecting the power to the HDD to confirm that it's the hard drive.
3
And obviously, if the fan is already running because of the heat and you stop it, you might damage the rest of the computer.
– pipe
Jan 6 at 12:14
1
@pipe running the computer without a fan for a short period of time will not harm anything. But stopping it from spinning is not that good of an idea.
– Ilyas Deckers
Jan 6 at 18:25
@pipe Assuming it has an Intel CPU the CPU has overheat protection and running without a fan will not cause permanent damage to it -it will just slow down. Over very extended periods the additional heat would put stress on the components, but you are talking months or years.
– davidgo
Jan 6 at 18:40
Run your computer for as little time as possible without the fan; it's there for a reason, and doesn't just cool the CPU in many computers. Running your computer for even a relatively short time without the fan can destroy the machine.
– wizzwizz4
Jan 6 at 19:27
1
@wizzwizz4 - Care to evidence your assertion about it destroying the machine? What components (other then CPU - and presumably built-in gpu) do you assert are that heat sensitive, and why is there this built in time-bomb on the huge number of computers which do not detect the fan speed, and why do you get so many fanless mini PCs?
– davidgo
Jan 6 at 19:50
|
show 2 more comments
You can open it up and disconnect the fan (or otherwise stop it from spinning).
If the noise stops, the problem was the fan. Otherwise try disconnecting the power to the HDD to confirm that it's the hard drive.
3
And obviously, if the fan is already running because of the heat and you stop it, you might damage the rest of the computer.
– pipe
Jan 6 at 12:14
1
@pipe running the computer without a fan for a short period of time will not harm anything. But stopping it from spinning is not that good of an idea.
– Ilyas Deckers
Jan 6 at 18:25
@pipe Assuming it has an Intel CPU the CPU has overheat protection and running without a fan will not cause permanent damage to it -it will just slow down. Over very extended periods the additional heat would put stress on the components, but you are talking months or years.
– davidgo
Jan 6 at 18:40
Run your computer for as little time as possible without the fan; it's there for a reason, and doesn't just cool the CPU in many computers. Running your computer for even a relatively short time without the fan can destroy the machine.
– wizzwizz4
Jan 6 at 19:27
1
@wizzwizz4 - Care to evidence your assertion about it destroying the machine? What components (other then CPU - and presumably built-in gpu) do you assert are that heat sensitive, and why is there this built in time-bomb on the huge number of computers which do not detect the fan speed, and why do you get so many fanless mini PCs?
– davidgo
Jan 6 at 19:50
|
show 2 more comments
You can open it up and disconnect the fan (or otherwise stop it from spinning).
If the noise stops, the problem was the fan. Otherwise try disconnecting the power to the HDD to confirm that it's the hard drive.
You can open it up and disconnect the fan (or otherwise stop it from spinning).
If the noise stops, the problem was the fan. Otherwise try disconnecting the power to the HDD to confirm that it's the hard drive.
edited Jan 6 at 6:13
Οurous
1055
1055
answered Jan 6 at 5:22
davidgodavidgo
43.2k75291
43.2k75291
3
And obviously, if the fan is already running because of the heat and you stop it, you might damage the rest of the computer.
– pipe
Jan 6 at 12:14
1
@pipe running the computer without a fan for a short period of time will not harm anything. But stopping it from spinning is not that good of an idea.
– Ilyas Deckers
Jan 6 at 18:25
@pipe Assuming it has an Intel CPU the CPU has overheat protection and running without a fan will not cause permanent damage to it -it will just slow down. Over very extended periods the additional heat would put stress on the components, but you are talking months or years.
– davidgo
Jan 6 at 18:40
Run your computer for as little time as possible without the fan; it's there for a reason, and doesn't just cool the CPU in many computers. Running your computer for even a relatively short time without the fan can destroy the machine.
– wizzwizz4
Jan 6 at 19:27
1
@wizzwizz4 - Care to evidence your assertion about it destroying the machine? What components (other then CPU - and presumably built-in gpu) do you assert are that heat sensitive, and why is there this built in time-bomb on the huge number of computers which do not detect the fan speed, and why do you get so many fanless mini PCs?
– davidgo
Jan 6 at 19:50
|
show 2 more comments
3
And obviously, if the fan is already running because of the heat and you stop it, you might damage the rest of the computer.
– pipe
Jan 6 at 12:14
1
@pipe running the computer without a fan for a short period of time will not harm anything. But stopping it from spinning is not that good of an idea.
– Ilyas Deckers
Jan 6 at 18:25
@pipe Assuming it has an Intel CPU the CPU has overheat protection and running without a fan will not cause permanent damage to it -it will just slow down. Over very extended periods the additional heat would put stress on the components, but you are talking months or years.
– davidgo
Jan 6 at 18:40
Run your computer for as little time as possible without the fan; it's there for a reason, and doesn't just cool the CPU in many computers. Running your computer for even a relatively short time without the fan can destroy the machine.
– wizzwizz4
Jan 6 at 19:27
1
@wizzwizz4 - Care to evidence your assertion about it destroying the machine? What components (other then CPU - and presumably built-in gpu) do you assert are that heat sensitive, and why is there this built in time-bomb on the huge number of computers which do not detect the fan speed, and why do you get so many fanless mini PCs?
– davidgo
Jan 6 at 19:50
3
3
And obviously, if the fan is already running because of the heat and you stop it, you might damage the rest of the computer.
– pipe
Jan 6 at 12:14
And obviously, if the fan is already running because of the heat and you stop it, you might damage the rest of the computer.
– pipe
Jan 6 at 12:14
1
1
@pipe running the computer without a fan for a short period of time will not harm anything. But stopping it from spinning is not that good of an idea.
– Ilyas Deckers
Jan 6 at 18:25
@pipe running the computer without a fan for a short period of time will not harm anything. But stopping it from spinning is not that good of an idea.
– Ilyas Deckers
Jan 6 at 18:25
@pipe Assuming it has an Intel CPU the CPU has overheat protection and running without a fan will not cause permanent damage to it -it will just slow down. Over very extended periods the additional heat would put stress on the components, but you are talking months or years.
– davidgo
Jan 6 at 18:40
@pipe Assuming it has an Intel CPU the CPU has overheat protection and running without a fan will not cause permanent damage to it -it will just slow down. Over very extended periods the additional heat would put stress on the components, but you are talking months or years.
– davidgo
Jan 6 at 18:40
Run your computer for as little time as possible without the fan; it's there for a reason, and doesn't just cool the CPU in many computers. Running your computer for even a relatively short time without the fan can destroy the machine.
– wizzwizz4
Jan 6 at 19:27
Run your computer for as little time as possible without the fan; it's there for a reason, and doesn't just cool the CPU in many computers. Running your computer for even a relatively short time without the fan can destroy the machine.
– wizzwizz4
Jan 6 at 19:27
1
1
@wizzwizz4 - Care to evidence your assertion about it destroying the machine? What components (other then CPU - and presumably built-in gpu) do you assert are that heat sensitive, and why is there this built in time-bomb on the huge number of computers which do not detect the fan speed, and why do you get so many fanless mini PCs?
– davidgo
Jan 6 at 19:50
@wizzwizz4 - Care to evidence your assertion about it destroying the machine? What components (other then CPU - and presumably built-in gpu) do you assert are that heat sensitive, and why is there this built in time-bomb on the huge number of computers which do not detect the fan speed, and why do you get so many fanless mini PCs?
– davidgo
Jan 6 at 19:50
|
show 2 more comments
Your problem can easily be addressed referring to the computer behavior.
If you do not face any undesired halt or freeze and the computing speed is, less or more, that you are accustomed to, the problem is the fan, to be substituted.
In order to be more confident simply launch a detailed HD check or some defragmenting program.
You will be able both to understand more precisely the jerky sound origin and to find vaste amount of errors in the disk in case of hd failure.
If many many errors are not found, change the fan.
add a comment |
Your problem can easily be addressed referring to the computer behavior.
If you do not face any undesired halt or freeze and the computing speed is, less or more, that you are accustomed to, the problem is the fan, to be substituted.
In order to be more confident simply launch a detailed HD check or some defragmenting program.
You will be able both to understand more precisely the jerky sound origin and to find vaste amount of errors in the disk in case of hd failure.
If many many errors are not found, change the fan.
add a comment |
Your problem can easily be addressed referring to the computer behavior.
If you do not face any undesired halt or freeze and the computing speed is, less or more, that you are accustomed to, the problem is the fan, to be substituted.
In order to be more confident simply launch a detailed HD check or some defragmenting program.
You will be able both to understand more precisely the jerky sound origin and to find vaste amount of errors in the disk in case of hd failure.
If many many errors are not found, change the fan.
Your problem can easily be addressed referring to the computer behavior.
If you do not face any undesired halt or freeze and the computing speed is, less or more, that you are accustomed to, the problem is the fan, to be substituted.
In order to be more confident simply launch a detailed HD check or some defragmenting program.
You will be able both to understand more precisely the jerky sound origin and to find vaste amount of errors in the disk in case of hd failure.
If many many errors are not found, change the fan.
answered Jan 8 at 6:30
Rick ParkRick Park
1011
1011
add a comment |
add a comment |
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Is your computer running slowly and/or freezing up?
– juniorRubyist
Jan 6 at 3:49
@juniorRubyist No, just a lot of bearing noise, but I don't know if its the bearings of the fan, or the bearings of the hard drive.
– Tyler Durden
Jan 6 at 3:54
4
You might be in luck. The fans are probably jammed with dust or whatnot, otherwise just going bad. Do check the S.M.A.R.T. status on the drive, though, just to be sure.
– juniorRubyist
Jan 6 at 4:15
1
You have backups, right? :)
– djsmiley2k
Jan 6 at 15:18
1
If you have an SSD in there, it's the case fans. If you don't have an SSD... consider one.
– Ian Kemp
Jan 6 at 21:29