laptop is making unusal noise for 15-20 minutes!

Hi there,

Please help me out.

My laptop make unusal noise for 10-15 minutes and stops itself for a while (it looks like, it is reading something), noise can be heard from left hand side speaker of laptop. While having such error, internet connection gets slow and all other gets slow too.

Please click link http://forums.whatthetech.com/Dell_laptop_….html&st=15
to see the HJT log and detailed symptoms of the error.

Thank you,

matrixx

pls can anyone help me. thanks

Hi Matrixx I must admit, it doesn't sound like a software problem. It sounds like a hardware problem. The sound you describe, does it come from the speaker itself, or where the speaker are located? Is the HD placed in that side? If you mute your sound, does the sound occur? Could you provide the make and model of the laptop? Also, if you have made any upgrades / alterations to it, that info would be nice also. Regards

Hi Abydos, Thanks for your response. The make of laptop is Dell and Model is Inspiron 6400. Yeah, sound comes even speaker are in mute position. It is not a sound but sounds like sounds (it seems like laptop is reading something). It comes from the left hand side but not exactly from the speaker. I tried to find out the location of HD but could not have any clue how to find out? I have not upgraded or made any alterrations to my laptop. Looking forward to hearing from you. Thank you, matrix

Hi again Matrixx

From this Pic. I would say that the HD is located in the left side. Does that corresponds with
where the sound comes from?

Looking at the picture, you can see where the screws are. Are they firmly in place? (Not tight, but firm)


Regards

Hi Abydos again, Thanks for trying to assist me. As per your guidelines, I think HD is located in the middle back side of the laptop. It seems like ventilation (fan) is located to the left hand side (back of the laptop) and speaker are on the both side of the top of the laptop. Noise seems to be coming from ventiation (fan). While using laptop it can be noticed as coming from left hand side speaker but today I tried to flipped down the laptop and put my ear in ventilation and realise it's coming from there. I am sure you got the bit more picture by now. Waiting to hear from you. Thanks, matrix

Hi again Matrixx

Well, that info certainly shed some light on what is happening, Good finding.
Having looked around for noise and Dell Inspiron 6400, it does seems some people regard
it as a loud Laptop. Might or might not be relevant.

If it is the fan that is making noise, it might be time to a: Clean it b: Decrease the RPM without decreasing cooling or c: Replace the fan.
We'll wait a bit before jumping to c.

In order to clean fans on a laptop, a good thing to go buy, is canned "air" (Not actually air, but a sort of gas) or in case the housing needs to be remove, brushes with natural hair. Don't buy synthetic brushes, as they generate static electricity which can fry a motherboard. I tried see if I could find something on the Dell homepage about cleaning a Dell Inspiron 6400, but nothing on fans.
Heres what is says: http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/syst…x.htm#wp1058434

a: Cleaning the fan(s)

If uncomfortable doing this yourself, computer-shops usually charge a small fee for cleaning up a laptop.

Before any cleaning on a laptop, always remove the battery !! (And of course the power if using the adapter)

When using the compressed air, hold it 5-10 cm from the Fan vents, keep the fan in place with a pencil so it don't rotate, blow in the direction so that any dirt will be blown out the out-take vents. Do not touch the sprayed compressed air (gas) as some types can make freeze burns and always use the nostril that comes with it. Have a non-static cloth at hand if you need to collect dust blown out (to ensure it doesn't get back in) If it is not possible to blow the dust out through the vent(s), you need to take the housing off.

Before attempting the next step, be sure to touch bare metal to free any static buildup when operating inside the laptop.

If removing the housing to the fan, again use a pencil to hold the fan still. Use the non-static brush or cotton swaps to free any dust, and use a vacuum cleaner to suck it up. Don't put the vacuum cleaner all the way down, just close enough to suck it up. If there is some persistent dust or its in a tight spot you can't get at, use the compressed air, following the precautions above. This is also a good opportunity to clean the whole interior of the laptop.


b: Adjust RPM's for fan(s)

Dell usually ship their laptop with a hardware monitoring program, where you can fiddle with the fan settings etc. It comes on the resource disc (Drivers and Utility CD) I don't know the software in question, so it is for you to experiment with or wait for someone with a Dell laptop also.

or you could give this little program a try: http://www.pbus-167.com/


Another possibilty, might just be that your fan screws are a bit loose. So when it steps up in RPM it rattles a little. Maybe if you could describe the sound it gives, a little more detailed? Then it might be easier to pinpoint the exact problem. Like if it is whining, or the sound is more like when the HD is reading, etc.


Regards

Hi, I got the same problem… when my fan starts working the left side speaker sounds like a detuned radio… whith low volume. Do you know the reasons? could you solve this noise? Thanks

If you read the above, you will be aware that we would need additional information prior to offering informed recommendations. Please use the above as guidelines for what we would need. Include Brand, Model, and any upgrades. If it happens to be the exact same Dell 6400, you are in luck because it is a relatively easy laptop to disassemble (less than 30 screws and easy clips) That's if you plan to do the work yourself. The fan of the Dell Inspiron is on the back left corner. The ratiator fins of the CPU and Video Chip cooling assembly are also located in the back left. Unfortunately, there is no way to use compressed air from the outside of the machine to clear any clogged/matted dust/debris. Therefore, if it is a fan or air circulation matter (highly likely), then you are faced with disassembling the machine. Please get back to us with details of the machine and problem. Best Regards