I need two of me... and a new computer (MUSH/FFXI, RL)

[thistlechaser]

While I got lots of stuff done on FFXI (woodworking 78, alchemy 54), I feel really lonely for not having logged onto the MUSH since leaving work. Not just the lack of RP, but just talking to people OOCly. Tomorrow's going to be a bad day from work for RP, but maybe I'll log in there during the evening and try to get a scene.

I'm about to shoot, kick, or throw my computer out the window. It's making the most amazingly loud, annoying noise. I've used up two whole large cans of air on the fans, and last night I actually opened it up and poked at things (which I never ever do), but that didn't help at all. There are three fans in it, one in that power supply unit thingie and two others, and it seems like the noise isn't coming from the one in the PSU. (My plan last night was to open that up to try to directly clean the fan, but I couldn't get it open and knew you weren't supposed to, so I gave up.)

The noise is totally random. I now turn my computer off at night (UGH) because the noise keeps me awake. When I turn it on in the morning the noise can happen right away, and since the apartment goes down to about 60, it can't be heat-related. I have the side of the case open, and when the noise happens I put my finger on the two exposed fans to stop them from turning, but that doesn't stop the noise (which seems odd, so maybe it is the PSU one? But I put my head almost inside the case and it sounds like it's coming from one of the lower ones). It goes vrrrrVrrrrrVRRRRRRR, a whine that builds higher and higher until it finally stops. Sometimes it takes a couple minutes to stop, sometimes a halfhour. It's driving me insane.

Comments

[voidmagus.livejournal.com]

Be very, very, very, very careful if you're going to open your power supply. There are capacitors in there, that keep their charge long after everything is disconnected. The shock you can get from that is extremely unpleasant, if not health threatening.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Oh, heh, thanks for the warning! I'm glad I wasn't able to open it.

[doxxxicle.livejournal.com]

This sounds like a job for the computer repair dude. There are smaller fans on the CPU and motherboard which can die (like mine did). They might be able to replace just the fan, or they may have to replace the whole motherboard which will cost more.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

I was hoping to avoid that, but I might have to. :/

[firebyrd.livejournal.com]

Make sure you don't have any wires that might be within range of the fans, though since it eases off, I'm thinking that's probably not the case. Doesn't hurt to check, though, before taking it in to get fans replaced.

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

Oops, thought I replied to this aready! Yep, I checked that. :/

[firebyrd.livejournal.com]

Definitely time to get one or more fans replaced, then. Whichever is having problems will probably go out soon, and then you're going to start having overheating problems. Probably time to break out the PS2 or something for a few days or get the Opera browser cart for the DS, because you're going to need something to do!

[thistle-chaser.livejournal.com]

I think my previous computer still works. I can't recall why I replaced it... I hope it wasn't because it died. Oh well, bah! And I'm going to do backups more than once a month now, too.