I recently picked up two these units. They both make regular, but not
exact-spaced cicking sounds. I can clearly hear these clicks and they are
coming through the vents on the bootom of the computer.

As best as I can describe them, they are on the low pitch side and not sharp
clicks. They will sound for a longer period of time than a sharp click. It
almost has the sound the a web link being clicked, but again not as sharp.
They occur regularly but with no fixed sequence. And they are much louder on
one unit (oder build) than the other, but they clearly are the same sound.

These clicks wil occur not only in safe mode but even if I am in the BIOS.
So I don't think it has anything to do with loaded processes. I have loaded
no software on either machine. They run straight PC Tablet Edition 2005.

I have tried disabling all the devices I can, such as wireless switch,
microphone, etc. - all to no effect. And it does not appear to be the haard
drive itself as I can clealy hear that noise and it correlates perfecty with
the HD status light.

I talked to NEC and the tech suggested it was a bad hard drive. Maybe, but
it sure seems srange that both units are displaying the problem.

I am pretty well out of ideas at this point. I realize that this forum is
not hardware specific so don't really expect anything - but you never know
Maybe one of you here has this unit and can at least confirm that they hear
or don't hear what I am talking about. Thanks for listening!

On one of my machines I had something similar, and it did turn out to be the
built-in microphone being on. The way to disable that was to enable the
Line In, which turned off the microphones. 8-) Otherwise, I would let the
OEM handle the hard drive issue. There was one machine in which I would get
a "clicking" sound, but only if I gently rocked the unit side-to-side. It
was very, very subtle, but I ran tests on the hard drive and they came back
saying the drive was failing. You might ask NEC if they have a testing
program you could run to determine exactly if it is the hard drive.
--
Chris H.
Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
Tablet Creations - http://nicecreations.us/
Associate Expert
Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone


"2muchcomputer" <2muchcomputer@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:11E07C26-4E8F-4646-A0E4-9EB472A9F317@microsoft.com...
>I recently picked up two these units. They both make regular, but not
> exact-spaced cicking sounds. I can clearly hear these clicks and they are
> coming through the vents on the bootom of the computer.
>
> As best as I can describe them, they are on the low pitch side and not
> sharp
> clicks. They will sound for a longer period of time than a sharp click. It
> almost has the sound the a web link being clicked, but again not as sharp.
> They occur regularly but with no fixed sequence. And they are much louder
> on
> one unit (oder build) than the other, but they clearly are the same sound.
>
> These clicks wil occur not only in safe mode but even if I am in the BIOS.
> So I don't think it has anything to do with loaded processes. I have
> loaded
> no software on either machine. They run straight PC Tablet Edition 2005.
>
> I have tried disabling all the devices I can, such as wireless switch,
> microphone, etc. - all to no effect. And it does not appear to be the
> haard
> drive itself as I can clealy hear that noise and it correlates perfecty
> with
> the HD status light.
>
> I talked to NEC and the tech suggested it was a bad hard drive. Maybe, but
> it sure seems srange that both units are displaying the problem.
>
> I am pretty well out of ideas at this point. I realize that this forum is
> not hardware specific so don't really expect anything - but you never know
> Maybe one of you here has this unit and can at least confirm that they
> hear
> or don't hear what I am talking about. Thanks for listening!

> On one of my machines I had something similar, and it did turn out to be the
> built-in microphone being on. The way to disable that was to enable the
> Line In, which turned off the microphones. 8-) Otherwise, I would let the
> OEM handle the hard drive issue. There was one machine in which I would get
> a "clicking" sound, but only if I gently rocked the unit side-to-side. It
> was very, very subtle, but I ran tests on the hard drive and they came back
> saying the drive was failing. You might ask NEC if they have a testing
> program you could run to determine exactly if it is the hard drive.
> --
> Chris H.
> Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC

> "2muchcomputer" <2muchcomputer@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> >I recently picked up two these units. They both make regular, but not
> > exact-spaced cicking sounds. I can clearly hear these clicks and they are
> > coming through the vents on the bootom of the computer.
> >
> > As best as I can describe them, they are on the low pitch side and not
> > sharp
> > clicks. They will sound for a longer period of time than a sharp click. It
> > almost has the sound the a web link being clicked, but again not as sharp.
> > They occur regularly but with no fixed sequence. And they are much louder
> > on
> > one unit (oder build) than the other, but they clearly are the same sound.
> >
> > These clicks wil occur not only in safe mode but even if I am in the BIOS.
> > So I don't think it has anything to do with loaded processes. I have
> > loaded
> > no software on either machine. They run straight PC Tablet Edition 2005.
> >
> > I have tried disabling all the devices I can, such as wireless switch,
> > microphone, etc. - all to no effect. And it does not appear to be the
> > haard
> > drive itself as I can clealy hear that noise and it correlates perfecty
> > with
> > the HD status light.
> >
> > I talked to NEC and the tech suggested it was a bad hard drive. Maybe, but
> > it sure seems srange that both units are displaying the problem.
> >
> > I am pretty well out of ideas at this point. I realize that this forum is
> > not hardware specific so don't really expect anything - but you never know
> > Maybe one of you here has this unit and can at least confirm that they
> > hear
> > or don't hear what I am talking about. Thanks for listening!
>
Chris,

Thanks so much for your response. I did try enabling Line In - no help
there. So maybe it is a hard drive issue. NEC has no program that I can test
and I would have to send it to them and pay an initial fee for diagnosis,
then whatever the parts and labor would be for the hard drive.

Might consider it but have a fair amount of doubts. I still find it strange
that the sound is there on 2 different machines. I am trying to get
confirmation either way that any other NEC user of this unit does or does not
get this clicking.

The problems is vastly compounded because this product was discontinued some
time ago. And I am leery of tech support from large companies and have other
notebooks "diagnosed" in the past - usually under warranty. And their record
of success is less than inspiring. Recently I had an experience with an IBM
notebook that was absolutely surreal. No need to explain the whole horror
story but it was my first experience dealing with them directly and I sure
hope it is my last.

I do have a warranty and support on one unit for a limited period of time
but I am not sure that this small company is up to solving anything other
than a routine problem. To their credit, they have made some attempts to get
more info - but what they have received so far has been dead wrong.

Well, I probably sound as if I complaining, and I really don't feel that
way. I hope that I am stating "facts" that are difficulties that I have no
right to complain about. I knew the situation when I got these machines and
was well aware that problems like this could very well happen - and often do.

However, I am also persistent and will keep trying until I hopefully get a
resolution that at least seems probable. And so, sending one of the units to
NEC remains on the table.

Thanks again for all your helpful suggestions - and don't be shy if anything
else occurs to you - even if it sounds "off the wall." I have no problems
experimenting - sometimes that way you stumble upon another path that leads
to the solution.

Sorry, I didn't realize you were pushing a warranty-less situation. It
sounded as if they'd just be received (like in a new shipment). 8-)

Off the wall, huh? Shut down the machine, remove external power and then
remove the battery. Let the machine sit for about 30 minutes. Insert
battery, attach external power and boot the machine. I have heard of this
actually fixing situations, like no-boot and (personal experience) the sound
going out. 8-)
--
Chris H.
Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
Tablet Creations - http://nicecreations.us/
Associate Expert
Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone


"2muchcomputer" <2muchcomputer@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:C42D1D76-2832-45A2-876F-FD3A2208F52A@microsoft.com...
> Chris,
>
> Thanks so much for your response. I did try enabling Line In - no help
> there. So maybe it is a hard drive issue. NEC has no program that I can
> test
> and I would have to send it to them and pay an initial fee for diagnosis,
> then whatever the parts and labor would be for the hard drive.
>
> Might consider it but have a fair amount of doubts. I still find it
> strange
> that the sound is there on 2 different machines. I am trying to get
> confirmation either way that any other NEC user of this unit does or does
> not
> get this clicking.
>
> The problems is vastly compounded because this product was discontinued
> some
> time ago. And I am leery of tech support from large companies and have
> other
> notebooks "diagnosed" in the past - usually under warranty. And their
> record
> of success is less than inspiring. Recently I had an experience with an
> IBM
> notebook that was absolutely surreal. No need to explain the whole horror
> story but it was my first experience dealing with them directly and I sure
> hope it is my last.
>
> I do have a warranty and support on one unit for a limited period of time
> but I am not sure that this small company is up to solving anything other
> than a routine problem. To their credit, they have made some attempts to
> get
> more info - but what they have received so far has been dead wrong.
>
> Well, I probably sound as if I complaining, and I really don't feel that
> way. I hope that I am stating "facts" that are difficulties that I have no
> right to complain about. I knew the situation when I got these machines
> and
> was well aware that problems like this could very well happen - and often
> do.
>
> However, I am also persistent and will keep trying until I hopefully get a
> resolution that at least seems probable. And so, sending one of the units
> to
> NEC remains on the table.
>
> Thanks again for all your helpful suggestions - and don't be shy if
> anything
> else occurs to you - even if it sounds "off the wall." I have no problems
> experimenting - sometimes that way you stumble upon another path that
> leads
> to the solution.

I don't think mine makes that noise. There is a little fan in the top
that turns on sometimes, but it makes a whirring sound.

On Wed, 3 Aug 2005 01:29:02 -0700, "2muchcomputer"
<2muchcomputer@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>I recently picked up two these units. They both make regular, but not
>exact-spaced cicking sounds. I can clearly hear these clicks and they are
>coming through the vents on the bootom of the computer.
>
>As best as I can describe them, they are on the low pitch side and not sharp
>clicks. They will sound for a longer period of time than a sharp click. It
>almost has the sound the a web link being clicked, but again not as sharp.
>They occur regularly but with no fixed sequence. And they are much louder on
>one unit (oder build) than the other, but they clearly are the same sound.
>
>These clicks wil occur not only in safe mode but even if I am in the BIOS.
>So I don't think it has anything to do with loaded processes. I have loaded
>no software on either machine. They run straight PC Tablet Edition 2005.
>
>I have tried disabling all the devices I can, such as wireless switch,
>microphone, etc. - all to no effect. And it does not appear to be the haard
>drive itself as I can clealy hear that noise and it correlates perfecty with
>the HD status light.
>
>I talked to NEC and the tech suggested it was a bad hard drive. Maybe, but
>it sure seems srange that both units are displaying the problem.
>
>I am pretty well out of ideas at this point. I realize that this forum is
>not hardware specific so don't really expect anything - but you never know
>Maybe one of you here has this unit and can at least confirm that they hear
>or don't hear what I am talking about. Thanks for listening!

"The Ghost of Thomas Jefferson" wrote:

> I don't think mine makes that noise. There is a little fan in the top
> that turns on sometimes, but it makes a whirring sound.
>
> On Wed, 3 Aug 2005 01:29:02 -0700, "2muchcomputer"
> <2muchcomputer@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>
> >I recently picked up two these units. They both make regular, but not
> >exact-spaced cicking sounds. I can clearly hear these clicks and they are
> >coming through the vents on the bootom of the computer.
> >
> >As best as I can describe them, they are on the low pitch side and not sharp
> >clicks. They will sound for a longer period of time than a sharp click. It
> >almost has the sound the a web link being clicked, but again not as sharp.
> >They occur regularly but with no fixed sequence. And they are much louder on
> >one unit (oder build) than the other, but they clearly are the same sound.
> >
> >These clicks wil occur not only in safe mode but even if I am in the BIOS.
> >So I don't think it has anything to do with loaded processes. I have loaded
> >no software on either machine. They run straight PC Tablet Edition 2005.
> >
> >I have tried disabling all the devices I can, such as wireless switch,
> >microphone, etc. - all to no effect. And it does not appear to be the haard
> >drive itself as I can clealy hear that noise and it correlates perfecty with
> >the HD status light.
> >
> >I talked to NEC and the tech suggested it was a bad hard drive. Maybe, but
> >it sure seems srange that both units are displaying the problem.
> >
> >I am pretty well out of ideas at this point. I realize that this forum is
> >not hardware specific so don't really expect anything - but you never know
> >Maybe one of you here has this unit and can at least confirm that they hear
> >or don't hear what I am talking about. Thanks for listening!
>
>

I have an Acer that makes a similar noise. I'm pretty sure it's the hard
drive, but not that it's a problem. Some drives are just naturally louder
than others. I had one drive that sounded like it was making popcorn, but it
ran fine.

To run a hard drive diagnostic, you need to get the software from the
manufacturer of the drive, not the laptop. There are also some generic
tools. I think Seagate's got an online scan at their website, or maybe it
was IBM.

BTW, the Acer's been clicking for years, and it's never been a problem.

There aren't that many moving parts on a laptop, so your choices are sort of
limited. You could take the hard drive out and see if the noise is still
there -- you can still get into the bios without the drive.

Or, if you have an adapter, fire up that hard drive outside the case, and
listen to it.

"2muchcomputer" <2muchcomputer@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:11E07C26-4E8F-4646-A0E4-9EB472A9F317@microsoft.com...
>I recently picked up two these units. They both make regular, but not
> exact-spaced cicking sounds. I can clearly hear these clicks and they are
> coming through the vents on the bootom of the computer.
>
> As best as I can describe them, they are on the low pitch side and not
> sharp
> clicks. They will sound for a longer period of time than a sharp click. It
> almost has the sound the a web link being clicked, but again not as sharp.
> They occur regularly but with no fixed sequence. And they are much louder
> on
> one unit (oder build) than the other, but they clearly are the same sound.
>
> These clicks wil occur not only in safe mode but even if I am in the BIOS.
> So I don't think it has anything to do with loaded processes. I have
> loaded
> no software on either machine. They run straight PC Tablet Edition 2005.
>
> I have tried disabling all the devices I can, such as wireless switch,
> microphone, etc. - all to no effect. And it does not appear to be the
> haard
> drive itself as I can clealy hear that noise and it correlates perfecty
> with
> the HD status light.
>
> I talked to NEC and the tech suggested it was a bad hard drive. Maybe, but
> it sure seems srange that both units are displaying the problem.
>
> I am pretty well out of ideas at this point. I realize that this forum is
> not hardware specific so don't really expect anything - but you never know
> Maybe one of you here has this unit and can at least confirm that they
> hear
> or don't hear what I am talking about. Thanks for listening!