Help! my computer has started making weird loud clicking noises...

vizcacha

... then the screen goes blank except for 'operator system not found ' appearing.

I switch it off and on again but it keeps doing this.

Any ideas? Am hoping to sort it out before it does it again :eek:

am currently running antivirus and antispyware just in case;)

amcluesent

Disk is dying, hardware fault most likely. Copy everything of value to an external USB disk before it goes kaput. Might last a few more reboots or could have total failure at any moment (I've been there...)

GoofyGAT

Hard disk failure by the sounds of it. How are you able to run antivirus & antispyware when you cannot even switch it on?!

If you have data on it that you cannot afford to lose, try connecting the hard disk as slave in another PC & retrieve it that way. Good luck, G

Browntoa

3rd vote for hard disk failure...get all your important stuff off quickly

italiastar

GoofyGAT wrote:

Hard disk failure by the sounds of it. How are you able to run antivirus & antispyware when you cannot even switch it on?!

If you have data on it that you cannot afford to lose, try connecting the hard disk as slave in another PC & retrieve it that way. Good luck, G

As the others have said - if it's running copy the data off immediately before you do anything else. If it's not running, then try to connect the drive to another PC as a slave - if this is advanced gobblydigook to you, please ask for further advice.

vizcacha

GoofyGAT wrote:

Hard disk failure by the sounds of it. How are you able to run antivirus & antispyware when you cannot even switch it on?!

If you have data on it that you cannot afford to lose, try connecting the hard disk as slave in another PC & retrieve it that way. Good luck, G

I can sometimes get it to switch on again for a few minutes if I switch off the computer completely. wait a while, then switch it on again but then it usually switches itself off again withink a few minutes (I'm having quite a good run - here so typing fast before it does it again!)

thanks everyone :T

looks like I'll be need ing a new computer.... :rolleyes:

GoofyGAT

vizcacha wrote:

I can sometimes get it to switch on again for a few minutes if I switch off the computer completely. wait a while, then switch it on again but then it usually switches itself off again withink a few minutes (I'm having quite a good run - here so typing fast before it does it again!)

Don't stress it any further by repeatedly switching on/off - get the data off first (then smash it to smithereens for all I care!)

vizcacha wrote:

looks like I'll be need ing a new computer.... :rolleyes:

In these circumstances, it's usually just a new hard disk for the majority of us. Or have you made your mind up already? Or even used it as an excuse to kid the Mrs into getting a new one? G

ragriches

Hi
It does sound like a failing hard drive, but it could be a dodgy power unit (PSU) especially if PC is switching off completly and then not switching on for a couple of minutes.
Rags