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My in-law's computer is acting up. They say that it occasionally makes a screeching noise and the screen goes black before ending up at the desktop. Today my mother in law was playing a game and the computer screeched and the screen went black and then went to the desktop.

What would do that?

Sounds like the hardware acting up, most likely from cooling. Try opening the case and see whether the fans work when the computer is turned on.

Get rid of any static on your body and you could also look whether some of the components are heating up. It is also possible that one of the components are dying.

It could be the fans are clogged. My computer kept shutting off when I played games and it was because the video card's fan was stuck by a wad of dust. Cleaned the other fans just to be sure and it hasn't bitch since.

I'll do that. I use PC wizard 2009(or is it 2010?) and the temp it showed was well within tolerance. I'll check inside the computer.

Is it the actual computer that is screeching, or over the speakers?

Darth Mall wrote:Is it the actual computer that is screeching, or over the speakers?

It came from the computer and not the speakers. I've opened it up and while there was dust, it wasn't enough to choke the computer or even overheat it. I've also checked every fan (save for the PSU fan since I can't get into it.) and they are still good. I'll still be cleaning it and see if it helps.

I presume you could go and update all necessary drivers, see if that fixes anything.

But I suspect hardware failure, if the temps are OK.

Zixinus wrote:I presume you could go and update all necessary drivers, see if that fixes anything.

But I suspect hardware failure, if the temps are OK.

I used compressed air to clean the computer so now it is spotless.

I've also updated the motherboard drivers. The video card drivers are up to date so there's no need to update those.

Instead of returning the computer into it's alcove, I've placed it on top of the desk with the side open so if the noise happens again we can pin-point it.

One thing I almost forgot, it randomly locks up the computer. But with the cleaning and the driver update I'll see if it'll lock up again. Previously when it locked up it would do so soon after booting up but that was fixed by replacing the video card drivers but now it locks up after several hours.

Enigma wrote:

Darth Mall wrote:Is it the actual computer that is screeching, or over the speakers?

It came from the computer and not the speakers. I've opened it up and while there was dust, it wasn't enough to choke the computer or even overheat it. I've also checked every fan (save for the PSU fan since I can't get into it.) and they are still good. I'll still be cleaning it and see if it helps.

When she is playing the game is it off a cd? A computer shouldn't make a screeching noise from the inside unless something mechanically is wrong.

Since you say it is crashing to desktop, and not a bsod, my guess would be a cd drive issue, as if the harddrive was screeching I doubt it would crash just to desktop.

Darth Mall wrote:

Enigma wrote:

Darth Mall wrote:Is it the actual computer that is screeching, or over the speakers?

It came from the computer and not the speakers. I've opened it up and while there was dust, it wasn't enough to choke the computer or even overheat it. I've also checked every fan (save for the PSU fan since I can't get into it.) and they are still good. I'll still be cleaning it and see if it helps.

When she is playing the game is it off a cd? A computer shouldn't make a screeching noise from the inside unless something mechanically is wrong.

Since you say it is crashing to desktop, and not a bsod, my guess would be a cd drive issue, as if the harddrive was screeching I doubt it would crash just to desktop.

With and without dvd. The screen would go black and then crash to desktop. Then there's the daily lockups.

Either the motherboard is going, or more likely, the ball bearings on the hard drive are about to give up. I had to replace one hard drive a few years ago when the ball bearings gave out and it kept wailing like a banshee, seizing up and otherwise throwing fits.

You can't fix a mechanical failure like that without replacing the part. Back up files to external HD ASAP and then get a new HD.

Edi wrote:Either the motherboard is going, or more likely, the ball bearings on the hard drive are about to give up. I had to replace one hard drive a few years ago when the ball bearings gave out and it kept wailing like a banshee, seizing up and otherwise throwing fits.

You can't fix a mechanical failure like that without replacing the part. Back up files to external HD ASAP and then get a new HD.

Oh that'll go over well with my in-laws since it wasn't too long ago that they bought the hard drive.

Enigma wrote:

Edi wrote:Either the motherboard is going, or more likely, the ball bearings on the hard drive are about to give up. I had to replace one hard drive a few years ago when the ball bearings gave out and it kept wailing like a banshee, seizing up and otherwise throwing fits.

You can't fix a mechanical failure like that without replacing the part. Back up files to external HD ASAP and then get a new HD.

Oh that'll go over well with my in-laws since it wasn't too long ago that they bought the hard drive.

Thats why you dont help family with computers

Hopefully not too long ago means it's still under warranty.

JointStrikeFighter wrote: Thats why you dont help family with computers

Well, it was my old computer that I've given to them, which I later rebuilt it. But that was about two years ago. Since then they replaced the video card, had the hard drive replaced by sending it back to I think hitachi (I'm not sure) and my inlaws bought another harddrive. The new one is less than a year old. More like six months. If it does fail outright then I'll just get a RMA ticket and get a replacement from WD.