Well just when I started to get back into developing more story ideas, my computer has decided F you and isn't working properly anymore. Its making weird noises and keeps shutting itself off. I used to have the money to replace it but my account is all but empty now because life sucks. So just when things were FINALLY starting to look up for me, the universe is giving me the finger. :(
Computer on its last legs :(
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Symbolic Representation
This sounds like a symbolic representation of the 21st Century, something I won't attempt to discuss further.
As a practical matter, make sure your information is all backed up. That reminds me...
-- Daphne Xu
Strange noise
That might be your HD (if you're still running a mechanical) or at least one of the fans (case, CPU / GPU, mainboard). The fans are not too expensive ($10 - $100 on the top end (depending on brand / type)). GPU fans might be tricky. A HD goes for ~80 - $400 (if you have SATA, depending on brand / capacity).
I forgot: the PSU fan might
I forgot: the PSU fan might be defect, also. In this case: HANDS OFF, unless you have a degree in electrical engineering. Or you know someone who does and is willing to do the repair. If you try to repair the PSU without knowing what you're doing you're going to risk DEATH. If you're not qualified to repair the PSU (or know someone who is) get a replacement PSU (if you confirmed that it / its fan is faulty). Replacing the whole PSU yourself is easier (without hazard for yourself), but make sure that you ground yourself often while working in the computer (don't ground and touch the computer at the same time). The PSU power sockets TO the mainboard can sit quite tight. Use patience and bit of jiggling to loosen them. Brute force will probably crack your mainboard (meaning it'll go into mainbord nirvana). Also make sure the new PSU has at least the same watt output as the old one. And don't skimp on a new PSU (if it's necessary). Too cheap PSU => lots of trouble later (might be months or years).
Don't forget the dust!
A fan might be clogged up with dust.
In this case you can try blowing it out with a hand pump or a hose stuck in the wrong end of a vacuum cleaner. - To be done outside, if possible!
If it is a disk you are SOL but most other things can be fixed with a little persuasion and shouldn't cost you much at all.
This is where my box of spare old bits comes in useful. Everyone should have one of these. Now, get off my lawn!
Be very very cautious
blowing air thru a fan, withe DC fans it can burn them out if the fan is allowed to spin freely. The counter EMF will burn out the internal electronics. You could use a 5V fan on the output side of the PSU as a stopgap solution. And use the USB to power the fan.
This is incorrect. As an IT
This is incorrect. As an IT professional, I clean out machines all the time. I have never, in 28 years repairing/servicing machines, had a fan 'die' from reverse spin. Nor have they ever backfed power to damage anything.
Heck, with extremely filthy machines (coming out of warehouses), I use a leaf blower or shop vac on 'blow' outside before even putting it on the workbench.
I'll get a life when it's proven and substantiated to be better than what I'm currently experiencing.
Sounds like a CPU Cooling Issue to me...
Based on your description, I would assume a CPU Fan (if air-cooled) or possibly a PUMP (if water/AIO-cooled). The PSU could also be an issue, but normally, they won't fire up if toasted. The CPU cooling, however, if it's failing, will allow the CPU to heat before it throws a thermal event and shuts down.
If you can post more details or even a photo/video of what's going on, we might be able to help more.
-Piper
Agreed
If it's shutting itself off, it's probably overheating, which makes a fan problem likely. First, unplug the system, then open the case. Examine the several fans, but especially the one over the heat sink on the cpu. It might just be clogged with dust. I've seen a laptop so clogged with cat hair that it behaved as you describe. You can get a can of compressed air at Best Buy or Office Depot/Office Max and blow it out. Just be aware that you may get a cloud of dust, so don't breath it in. While you're at it, make sure the rest of the interior is as dust-free as possible. I have found that a soft paint brush about 1" wide works well to loosen the dust without dislodging the chips. When it's as clean as you can get it, put the case back together, plug it in and give it a try. If everything works, BACK IT UP! And remember to clean it every now and then.
Frayed Earphone Cord...
Laugh at me if you wish. Not too long ago, my all in one was just shutting off and I tried all sorts of remedies. As it turned out, I plugged in a new earphone set and the trouble was over. My theory is that the shorted audio cable was swamping the board voltage and causing a critical error. True story.
Gwen
Likely a fan.
"Weird noises" usually translates to a bad fan, especially if combined with keeping shutting itself off.
Furthermore, if shutting off is the result, that usually translates to a bad CPU, rarely GPU fan. A bad PSU fan would much more likely cause sudden reboots or turn-offs without shutting first.
Instructions for a desktop PC:
Open the PC lid. Turn it on - a few PCs might refuse to work if opened, but most should. Listen to where the noise comes from. The PSU fan is a part of the PSU, that is usually a cube-ish element bigger than a fist, attached in a corner of the case. The CPU fan is usually over the CPU, which in turn is on the biggest board with all kinds of electronics on it. The GPU fan is usually on a smaller board with electronics, inserted into a slot on the biggest board. You might or might not have such a board (and a GPU fan).
If the problem is the PSU fan, replace the entire PSU. Replacing the fan only is possible and cheaper, but usually takes a skill with soldering iron, plus good knowledge about what it usually is used on.
If the problem is the CPU or the GPU fan, they are also cheap and are usually replaceable without need for a soldering iron. You have to find a proper replacement. Take the PC, go to a cheap computer parts shop, show them which fan you want replaced. They might even put it in for you if you buy it from them, for computer shop personnel this is 10 secs of work if the PC is already opened. In very rare cases this might take using a soldering iron too.
Success!
What is the noise it is
What is the noise it is making?
If it is overheating, the easiest way is to blow out the dust. If it is a desktop, open it and use either a vacuum, leaf blower, can of air, or an air compressor to blow out as much dust as you can. you can also check to see if your fans have gone bad by trying to spin them by hand, if they stop really fast they have gone bad, you can also feel the resistance in the fan when they go bad. If it is a laptop and you don't want to open it, try and use a can of air or an air compressor to blow out the heatsinks from the outside of the laptop. If you are comfortable opening the laptop you can do a deep clean by really cleaning out the heatsinks, you can also then check the fan on the laptop by spinning it and see if it will free spin. If you smoke or vape there are many times Tar builds up on heatsinks and I have seen the tar build up so bad that the system can not get cool and it cooks itself to death.
Depending on what noise you are getting those can actually tell you what might be failing. Wine and Big clicks that come from a hard drive is a failing hard drive. A rubbing sound is normally a fan, and that could be a CPU, Case, or Power supply. A high pitch coil wine could be a power supply, video card or even the motherboard.
If the fan has gone out on the power supply you can strap an external fan to it and keep going, I have done that for several years, mine is a top fan so I just rested a 120mm fan on top that blew into the power supply. Do not open the power supply unless you know what you are doing, the capacitors in there can kill you if you short one.
If it seems to be the hard (mechanical/spinning) hard drive ...
... Stop. Don't touch it. Don't even boot.
Hoping you have recent back-ups.
Then call around to places that do data recovery. Sigh. Might be pricey.
I'd start at USA Best Buy/Geek Squad. Then look at Angie's/Angie's List. This is where customers rate and review service providers. (Think 'Yelp.')
Do not go to Best Buy and the
Do not go to Best Buy and the Geek Squad. I might be biased due to owning a PC repair and support business, but I do know the Geek Squad rarely does any of their own repairs, When I interviewed for them years ago they basically just plugged the PCs into a network and plugged in a thumb drive and had a guy who knows where login and do all the work requested. Plus we get tons of people who come into our shop saying that the Geek Squad didn't fix anything and they want their PC fixed. They also depending on the situation might have to send your computer off site and you may not have it for weeks. Your best bet is to use a phone book or Google PC repair in your area and start looking at the smaller shops. Many times you get one-on-one attention, with an actual tech who knows what is going on. Many times you can also get a faster turnaround. I know in our shop it depends on how busy we are and the complications we run into but we can turn a PC around in less than a day depending on when you bring it to us. A local shop may not be the cheapest, I know we are not, but they will generally give you an honest opinion on what it will take to repair it and how long it will take.
This is correct. I would
This is correct. I would call 'Geek Squad' 'Twit Squad', because they have no Geeks at all. I've repaired many things they supposedly 'fixed' (usually by upselling Norton, which then dragged the machine down even more).
For urgent customer systems, I usually end up with a 24 hour turnaround as well.
I'll get a life when it's proven and substantiated to be better than what I'm currently experiencing.