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 yesterday
fixer1234
17.9k144681
asked yesterday
Tyler Durden
2,39593063
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 yesterday
fixer1234
17.9k144681
asked yesterday
Tyler Durden
2,39593063
Is your computer running slowly and/or freezing up?
– juniorRubyist
yesterday
@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
yesterday
3
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
yesterday
You have backups, right? :)
– djsmiley2k
21 hours ago
1
If you have an SSD in there, it's the case fans. If you don't have an SSD... consider one.
– Ian Kemp
15 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 yesterday
fixer1234
17.9k144681
asked yesterday
Tyler Durden
2,39593063
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 yesterday
fixer1234
17.9k144681
asked yesterday
Tyler Durden
2,39593063
edited yesterday
fixer1234
17.9k144681
asked yesterday
Tyler Durden
2,39593063
edited yesterday
fixer1234
17.9k144681
edited yesterday
fixer1234
17.9k144681
edited yesterday
fixer1234
17.9k144681
17.9k144681
asked yesterday
Tyler Durden
2,39593063
asked yesterday
Tyler Durden
2,39593063
asked yesterday
Tyler Durden
2,39593063
2,39593063
Is your computer running slowly and/or freezing up?
– juniorRubyist
yesterday
@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
yesterday
3
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
yesterday
You have backups, right? :)
– djsmiley2k
21 hours ago
1
If you have an SSD in there, it's the case fans. If you don't have an SSD... consider one.
– Ian Kemp
15 hours ago
add a comment |
Is your computer running slowly and/or freezing up?
– juniorRubyist
yesterday
@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
yesterday
3
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
yesterday
You have backups, right? :)
– djsmiley2k
21 hours ago
1
If you have an SSD in there, it's the case fans. If you don't have an SSD... consider one.
– Ian Kemp
15 hours ago
Is your computer running slowly and/or freezing up?
– juniorRubyist
yesterday
Is your computer running slowly and/or freezing up?
– juniorRubyist
yesterday
@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
yesterday
@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
yesterday
3
3
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
yesterday
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
yesterday
You have backups, right? :)
– djsmiley2k
21 hours ago
You have backups, right? :)
– djsmiley2k
21 hours ago
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
15 hours ago
If you have an SSD in there, it's the case fans. If you don't have an SSD... consider one.
– Ian Kemp
15 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 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 yesterday
DavidPostill♦
104k25224258
answered yesterday
juniorRubyist
729928
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 yesterday
Οurous
1055
answered yesterday
davidgo
42.8k75289
2
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
yesterday
@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
18 hours ago
@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
18 hours ago
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
17 hours ago
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
17 hours ago
|
show 2 more comments
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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...).
edited yesterday
DavidPostill♦
104k25224258
answered yesterday
juniorRubyist
729928
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...).
edited yesterday
DavidPostill♦
104k25224258
answered yesterday
juniorRubyist
729928
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...).
edited yesterday
DavidPostill♦
104k25224258
answered yesterday
juniorRubyist
729928
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 yesterday
DavidPostill♦
104k25224258
answered yesterday
juniorRubyist
729928
edited yesterday
DavidPostill♦
104k25224258
edited yesterday
DavidPostill♦
104k25224258
edited yesterday
DavidPostill♦
104k25224258
104k25224258
answered yesterday
juniorRubyist
729928
answered yesterday
juniorRubyist
729928
answered yesterday
juniorRubyist
729928
729928
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.
edited yesterday
Οurous
1055
answered yesterday
davidgo
42.8k75289
2
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
yesterday
@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
18 hours ago
@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
18 hours ago
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
17 hours ago
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
17 hours ago
|
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.
edited yesterday
Οurous
1055
answered yesterday
davidgo
42.8k75289
2
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
yesterday
@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
18 hours ago
@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
18 hours ago
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
17 hours ago
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
17 hours ago
|
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.
edited yesterday
Οurous
1055
answered yesterday
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 yesterday
Οurous
1055
answered yesterday
davidgo
42.8k75289
edited yesterday
Οurous
1055
edited yesterday
Οurous
1055
edited yesterday
Οurous
1055
1055
answered yesterday
davidgo
42.8k75289
answered yesterday
davidgo
42.8k75289
answered yesterday
davidgo
42.8k75289
42.8k75289
2
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
yesterday
@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
18 hours ago
@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
18 hours ago
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
17 hours ago
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
17 hours ago
|
show 2 more comments
2
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
yesterday
@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
18 hours ago
@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
18 hours ago
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
17 hours ago
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
17 hours ago
2
2
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
yesterday
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
yesterday
@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
18 hours ago
@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
18 hours ago
@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
18 hours ago
@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
18 hours ago
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
17 hours ago
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
17 hours ago
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
17 hours ago
@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
17 hours ago
|
show 2 more comments
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Is your computer running slowly and/or freezing up?
– juniorRubyist
yesterday
@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
yesterday
3
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
yesterday
You have backups, right? :)
– djsmiley2k
21 hours ago
1
If you have an SSD in there, it's the case fans. If you don't have an SSD... consider one.
– Ian Kemp
15 hours ago