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Strange laptop hardware noise

W

wxjunkie

Senior member
The strangest noise is coming from my laptop.

I arrive home tonight, grab my laptop that had been leaning against a wall all day, opened it up and noticed what sounds like a ping pong ball tapping around inside. I couldn't tell if it's the fan spazzing out or the hard drive, but I have noticed some system slowing and brief locking associated with this sound.

The sound is intermittent.

I have never seen such a hardware problem and especially never one where a sound is associated with visible software lockups.

Barring someone placing a miniature ping pong ball inside my laptop, what the heck is going on?
 
Could very easily be a harddrive issue unfortunately. HDs usually make alot of noise when they are going bad and the lockups are another effect from that =(
 
Do you think it has anything to do with it being on an up on its side (and running) all day? Sounds dumb, I know but ...
 
Well XP crashed while I was trying to burn backups to a DVD. Rebooted and burnt successfully this time around. I don't know what will happen to this hdd but at least my junk is safe for the time being.
 
It it a loose piece, or does it just sound like something rolling around in it?

I would back up your HDD (especially if you have important/sensitive data) and call the manufacturer. Is it still in warranty?
 
Hi, I have seen several laptop hard drives that indeed sounded like a ping pong ball when you shake them. Some have still been working. I assume that the head locking mechanism is screwed up and the head is flopping around. In any event, if the noise is coming from the drive, the drive may soon give up the ghost. Jim
 
Originally posted by: wxjunkie
Do you think it has anything to do with it being on an up on its side (and running) all day? Sounds dumb, I know but ...
Click to expand...

Yes it could. Why leave a laptop running all day? Leaning up against a wall? Wierd!

Laptops are designed to run in a horizontal position - that is how their cooling is designed to function. And , it is possible that running in a prolonged odd position could have an impact on several things, i.e., the HDD and cooling fans.

If it is still under warranty, call H-P/Compaq and get a replacement HDD. If not under warranty, replace the HDD anyway.

 
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