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I would like be able to make my PC quieter. Could you please tell me, what is the main culprit for noise? I know there are two fans inside the case. Is the noise caused by the power supply fan, the case fan or something else?

Noisy computers are fairly common, which makes them no less annoying. Most of the time the noise is harmless, but it is worth investigating to make sure there are no outstanding problems.  You’re on the right track with the fans - most of the time, computer noise is caused by the fans inside the case.

Possible Cooling Problems

It’s possible that your computer is overheating and that the fans are running constantly. Gaming, videos and graphics can put stress on the computer and cause it to run hot. First, take a look around the computer - is it sitting on a soft surface like a carpet or bedding? There needs to be some airflow on and around the unit.  It should be sitting on a hard surface or elevated just a little off the floor. Check the vents on the side and make sure they aren’t blocked by anything and that air can flow in and out of the unit.

Temperature Check

If you’re sure there is adequate airflow, you can monitor the PC’s internal temperature in BIOS or download a program that will let you easily see the information. There is a lot of controversy about what is a “safe” temperature, but you can find some temperature recommendations by CPU type and then looking at this chart on Technibble.

Keep it Cool

In addition to good airflow, there are other things you can do to cool down the computer. You will need to take the case off, so if you’re not comfortable rooting around in your computer, you might want to get some tech help. Take the case off and get a can of compressed air. Blow the dust off the fans, the heatsinks and the power supply. Make sure the vents are clear of dust and debris. You can also set up a desk fan outside the unit to pull hot air out, but then you have to deal with that fan noise as well.

Heatsinks

You may want to see if you have enough heatsinks.  There are two kinds of heatsinks. An active heatsink is a device that attaches to the processor for attracting and dissipating heat from the unit that it is attached to and into the air to be distributed with a fan. A passive heatsink works the same way, but does not have a fan attached to it. All heatsink devices need to have some sort of thermal compound on it. This compound creates a seal between the heatsink and the part of the unit that it is cooling. Most new heatsinks have a rubber thermal compound pad that is already attached while others will require that you use a thin layer of thermal paste. If you remove the heatsink from the unit, you need to put more thermal compound on it, even those that came with a pad. Make sure you apply only a thin layer - too much will stop the heatsink from working properly.

A noisy fan means that the computer is working as it should - make sure that the fans are clean and working properly and that you have all of the cooling measures in place that your computer can hold. Once your computer is cooled properly, the fans will probably not run as often and the noise should subside. 

The Geek Squad replaced both of my DVD players over a year ago. Since then I cannot use either of the DVD players/recorders. When I try to play a CD or DVD, the computer freezes up and then crashes. I’ve tried and tried to find the problem, but still no luck. What good is a computer without a DVD player? Not sure if it is a hardware or software program. A tech from my cable company said the DVD players were working correctly.

Troubleshooting DVD Drive

At this point, it’s probably too late to have the Geek Squad come back out and double-check their work. In fact, Best Buy’s Geek Squad’s warranty is 30 days. So unless you want to pay the Geek Squad again, you’re likely on your own. The problem could be as simple as a jumper setting needing to be set or you may need to update the DVD drives’ device drivers. Let’s explore the options.

The Device Manager

First, let’s see if your computer recognizes the DVD drive. The Device Manager is just the tool for our initial investigation. Go to the Control Panel and click on the Device Manager. Click the plus sign next to DVD / CD-ROM drives. Are your DVD drives showing up? Is there a yellow caution sign next to either drive?

Now, double-click on one of the drives to view more information. The first screen you will see is the status tab. Does the status message indicate a problem or is “the device working properly”? Write down the manufacturer and model number of the drive as later you may need to search for updated device drivers. Do the same for the other drive.

If the devices do not appear in Device Manager at all, you will need to open the computer case and make sure that the drives are properly connected. One should be set as a master and the other as a slave. These settings are typically set using jumpers on the drives. In addition, the drives should be physically connected to the motherboard. If you are comfortable opening your computer’s case, you can manually inspect the drives yourself. Make sure to take appropriate safety precautions including unplugging the computer and grounding yourself.

If the devices appear in Device Manager and error messages are present, follow the instructions provided by the Device Manager to troubleshoot the problem. If not, let’s try updating the device drivers.

Updating Device Drivers

One easy way to quickly “freshen” up a malfunctioning drive is to uninstall it in Device Manager and reboot the system. This forces Windows to detect “new” hardware and install the latest device drivers. Simply right-click the drive in Device Manager and choose Uninstall. Reboot the computer and let Windows reinstall the software.

Windows uses drivers in its plug and play database. If you’d rather check with your drives’ manufacturers, you can do so by visiting the manufacturers’ Web sites. Use the information you wrote down earlier to search for updated device drivers for your drive. You’ll need to download and install these drivers according to each manufacturer’s instructions. Use extreme care to select the correct drivers for your model as well as for your operating system.

My laptop won’t start. I turn it on and it starts to start up and you can hear the fan and then it goes down and the power lights flashes off and on and the fan goes out. Can you help? I tried loading the recover disk and it acts like it is going to start running than just stops. Nothing comes up on screen.

Common Laptop Startup Issues

Unfortunately, a number of issues could be preventing your laptop from starting up ranging from power supply problems, bad connections, or failed hardware such as the motherboard, video card, or hard drive. The trick is to figure out what is causing the problem and then addressing that issue.

Power / Battery Problems

Let’s take a look at the power supply itself. Are all of the cords secure? Does the power light on the “brick” turn on? Have you tried using a different electrical outlet? You can also try powering on the computer with the battery fully removed. If the laptop powers on with the battery removed, then the battery may be bad or interfering with startup somehow.

You may want to do a “laptop reset” at this point as well. With the laptop off, its battery removed, and the power cord plugged in, press and hold the power button for a full 60 seconds. This “resets” the laptop by clearing any retained power within the computer that could be interfering with startup.

Bad Connections

Bad connections can also cause startup failures. For example, if the internal power connector is loose, then the laptop will have power problems. It could be a faulty switch or a connector that needs to be soldered to the motherboard. Similarly, connections to video cards or even the hard drive could be to blame. Inspecting the internal components of a laptop is trickier than opening up a desktop’s computer case. Inspection ports are usually located on the bottom of a laptop though these do little to address components hidden under the keyboard. This is best left to an experienced computer technician.

Failed Hardware

Another common cause of laptop startup errors is failed hardware including the motherboard, hard drive, or video card.

In short, if resetting the laptop doesn’t revive it, a trip to the computer repair shop is your best bet. Technicians can try a different AC adapter, check for loose connections, and test your hardware.

Why does my computer power up for like two seconds then shut off?

A number of potential causes could be to blame including excessive heat, hardware issues, a bad power switch, a reboot loop issue, or even a computer virus. Where to start? Let’s start with excessive heat.

Excessive Computer Heat

If a computer runs too hot, shutdown issues are common. It’s a form of self-preservation. Check to see if your computer’s fan whirs on when you power up the computer? Is it clogged with dust? Most likely. Fans can become so clogged with debris that they can no longer spin. For example, human or pet hair is notorious for stopping computer fans from running. Use a can of compressed air to blow out the debris or have your computer professionally cleaned. This is a good first step for overheated computers. Filetonic Tech Jock Kat DeLong discusses overheated computers in greater detail in this “Overheated Computers” post.

Malfunctioning Power Switch

The power switch could be the culprit as well. A loose connection or a mechanical issue may be powering down your computer. You can inspect the button yourself by first disconnecting the computer from its power source and opening the case. Are the connectors firmly in place? Any broken parts? Contact your computer’s manufacturer for a replacement switch. If you have a laptop, this is an extremely common problem. Your computer repair shop may be able to solder the wires back into position.

Reboot Loops

Does the computer try to reboot when it shuts down? If it’s in a continuous reboot loop, let us know as there are several known issues with reboot loops and different fixes available. For now, you can try resetting the CMOS. This involves opening the computer case and, depending on the type of CMOS you have, either removing the round CMOS battery or setting the “Clear CMOS” jumper on the motherboard from pins 2-3 to pins 1-2. In either case, wait about 30 seconds and then reinsert the battery or move the pins back to their original position.

Computer Viruses

Finally, computer viruses and Trojans can cause all kinds of trouble including power issues. Since your computer never fully turns on, it’s more likely a hardware or mechanical issue rather than a computer virus, but it doesn’t hurt to try booting up from a bootable virus scan CD. You’ll need to make one using a different computer. You can read how to do this by viewing this Filetonic article and scrolling down to the “Running a bootable antivirus product” section.

I have a Windows XP computer with an unknown optical mouse. The folders are supposed to be opened by double left-clicking the mouse. But when I single-click the mouse, the folder opens. Also, when I’m not using the mouse, its pointer parks itself on the bottom right corner of the screen. How do I adjust the mouse?

Even though we don’t know the brand of the mouse, Windows XP (and other versions as well) comes with a useful utility for configuring the mouse. It sounds like the mouse has been set up with different configurations than you’re used to. For example, if your old computer was set up to open folders by double-clicking but this one is set up to open the folders by single-clicking, you should be able to change your current mouse settings to meet your preferences.

Setting Folder Options

Windows comes with a Control Panel containing a variety of utilities that you can use to customize your computer and its various components and settings. Within the Control Panel are two areas that we will want to explore as we attempt to configure your mouse: Folder Options and Mouse. Open the Control Panel by clicking Start > Control Panel. Now, click on the Folder Options icon. This is where you will tell Windows to open folders by double-clicking rather than single-clicking. The General tab of Folder Options has an area labeled “Click items as follows.” Make your selection and click OK.

The Mouse Properties Dialog Box

Within the Control Panel, you will also find an icon for configuring your mouse, aptly labeled “Mouse.” Click on Start, click Control Panel, and click the Mouse icon. The Mouse Properties dialog box opens, allowing you to change the basic mouse and pointer features. Explore each of the tabs in search of an option that parks your mouse. This dialog box does not contain a section that controls parking the mouse, but it does have a few neat features that you might want to adjust for a better mouse experience. Depending on the brand of mouse, an extra tab may appear that offers additional configuration options for your specific mouse. If so, explore that tab in search of a park feature.

Mouse Configuration Software

The next thing to check is to see if you can find any mouse configuration software on your computer. Obviously, it helps to know the brand so that you can look for Intellipoint or Microsoft folders. You may be able to identify the brand by going into Device Manager (also in your Control Panel usually after clicking System) and looking under the Mouse category. If your computer has software related to your mouse, it may have a setting for parking the mouse. If not, check the System Tray area for an icon that represents the pointer. If you find such an icon, try right-clicking it to see if an option exists for stopping the pointer from parking itself there.

My sound device works when it chooses. Sometimes when I turn on my computer there is no problem, other times I turn it on and there is no sound. When I look into sound and audio devices properties it tells me “No Audio Device”. I know there is an audio device and it works (sometimes), so why does the Audio Device exist sometimes but not other times?

This is actually a pretty common problem that has several possible causes and several possible solutions. You will need to do a little troubleshooting in order to find the one that works for your situation.

Before you start, make sure that you have checked the obvious - check any connections for speakers or other sound devices and make sure that everything is plugged in properly. If you are using speakers, try another set if you can to rule out any hardware issues.

Soundcard

My best guess is that you are having an issue with your soundcard. I don’t know if you are running Vista, but this is a particularly popular issue for Vista users, especially those who are experiencing the problem after installing a Service Pack for Vista. The first thing to try is uninstall your driver and then let Vista reload it. The process is basically the same for XP, but I’m going to give you Vista instructions here.

Go to Start and type in Device Manager in the box. In the Device Manager box, expand the Sound, Video and game controllers. Find the audio device and right click it, choosing Properties. Click on the Driver tab and choose Uninstall. Clear any check marks by “Delete the driver software for this device” and click OK.

Go back to the Device Manager box and click on Action, then choose “Scan for hardware changes”.  You should now see the sound card device being reinstalled automatically.

Check Defaults

After you install a service pack or an update, the default sound device may have changed, so you should make sure that it is set correctly.  Go to Start and type in Sound in the search box. In the results, choose Sound. Click on the Playback tab. Usually, the default device is Speakers - see if there is a check mark by the device you want as the default. Select the device and choose Properties. Click on Advanced and make sure that the Default Format is set to what you expect.

Update BIOS

If neither of the above solutions works, you can update the BIOS for your particular computer. Get the make and model of your laptop or PC, go to the manufacturer’s website and see if there is an update for the BIOS for you to download.

I think that reinstalling the sound card will solve your problem, but if you are still having issues with your sound, please let us know.