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
edited 1 hour ago
fixer1234
17.9k144681
asked 2 hours ago
Tyler Durden
2,37793063
add a 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
edited 1 hour ago
fixer1234
17.9k144681
asked 2 hours ago
Tyler Durden
2,37793063
Is your computer running slowly and/or freezing up?
– juniorRubyist
2 hours ago
@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
2 hours ago
1
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
2 hours ago
add a 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
edited 1 hour ago
fixer1234
17.9k144681
asked 2 hours ago
Tyler Durden
2,37793063
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 1 hour ago
fixer1234
17.9k144681
asked 2 hours ago
Tyler Durden
2,37793063
edited 1 hour ago
fixer1234
17.9k144681
asked 2 hours ago
Tyler Durden
2,37793063
edited 1 hour ago
fixer1234
17.9k144681
edited 1 hour ago
fixer1234
17.9k144681
edited 1 hour ago
fixer1234
17.9k144681
17.9k144681
asked 2 hours ago
Tyler Durden
2,37793063
asked 2 hours ago
Tyler Durden
2,37793063
asked 2 hours ago
Tyler Durden
2,37793063
2,37793063
Is your computer running slowly and/or freezing up?
– juniorRubyist
2 hours ago
@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
2 hours ago
1
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
2 hours ago
add a comment |
Is your computer running slowly and/or freezing up?
– juniorRubyist
2 hours ago
@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
2 hours ago
1
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
2 hours ago
Is your computer running slowly and/or freezing up?
– juniorRubyist
2 hours ago
Is your computer running slowly and/or freezing up?
– juniorRubyist
2 hours ago
@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
2 hours ago
@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
2 hours ago
1
1
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
2 hours ago
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
2 hours ago
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
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 wimc 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...).
answered 2 hours ago
juniorRubyist
656928
Minor typo:wimc->wmic
– wjandrea
23 mins ago
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.
edited 9 mins ago
Οurous
1055
answered 1 hour ago
davidgo
42.8k75289
add a comment |
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2 Answers
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2 Answers
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oldest
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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 wimc 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...).
answered 2 hours ago
juniorRubyist
656928
Minor typo:wimc->wmic
– wjandrea
23 mins ago
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 wimc 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...).
answered 2 hours ago
juniorRubyist
656928
Minor typo:wimc->wmic
– wjandrea
23 mins ago
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 wimc 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...).
answered 2 hours ago
juniorRubyist
656928
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 wimc 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...).
answered 2 hours ago
juniorRubyist
656928
answered 2 hours ago
juniorRubyist
656928
answered 2 hours ago
juniorRubyist
656928
answered 2 hours ago
juniorRubyist
656928
656928
Minor typo:wimc->wmic
– wjandrea
23 mins ago
add a comment |
Minor typo:wimc->wmic
– wjandrea
23 mins ago
Minor typo:
wimc -> wmic– wjandrea
23 mins ago
Minor typo:
wimc -> wmic– wjandrea
23 mins ago
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.
edited 9 mins ago
Οurous
1055
answered 1 hour ago
davidgo
42.8k75289
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.
edited 9 mins ago
Οurous
1055
answered 1 hour ago
davidgo
42.8k75289
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.
edited 9 mins ago
Οurous
1055
answered 1 hour ago
davidgo
42.8k75289
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 9 mins ago
Οurous
1055
answered 1 hour ago
davidgo
42.8k75289
edited 9 mins ago
Οurous
1055
edited 9 mins ago
Οurous
1055
edited 9 mins ago
Οurous
1055
1055
answered 1 hour ago
davidgo
42.8k75289
answered 1 hour ago
davidgo
42.8k75289
answered 1 hour ago
davidgo
42.8k75289
42.8k75289
add a comment |
add a comment |
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Is your computer running slowly and/or freezing up?
– juniorRubyist
2 hours ago
@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
2 hours ago
1
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
2 hours ago