Whirring noise

My G4Imac flat screen has started making a repetitive whirring noise that lasts a minute or two, during which time the computer does not respond, and there is a spinning colored ball. When it stops, it works fine. This happens several times a day.

The whirring noise may be the optical drive acting as though it is looking
for some data volume within it; but there likely isn't anything there. This
may mean there is an issue developing within the computer's optical drive.
Of course, a different kind of whirring noise may be a dangerously worn
or damaged internal hard disk drive; in which the whirling cursor busy icon
color-wheel deal may be telling you it is not productively getting results.
In either case, there may be something hardware on its way out in the iMac.
Not sure if the original and included Apple Hardware Test on the system disc
could help discover the actual item or tell the status of any suspect parts inside.
But that may be worth a try.
Also, if the internal hard disk drive is suspect, and not just the optical drive, an
external boot source (clone or second install on external enclosed hard disk)
would isolate and essentially by-pass the original hard disk drive when it is up
and running instead of the internal unit; so that noise would cease, if that's it.
Optical drives fail eventually; and in a few cases, system upgrades to later
versions appear to pressure this to happen. A failure may appear to take
place after a new full system is installed into an older computer. Rare but
not unheard of; perhaps a weak component gets the wakeup call to fail?
A good repair shop with qualified and familiar tech persons should be able
to diagnose the issue. A worst-case scenario may involve a logic board. If
you can get your hands on an original Apple Tech service manual for that
iMac model, the troubleshooting section may show viable steps to take to
see what may be the cause of the problem; these 'fixes' involve new parts.
The overall (otherwise) system health is another area of general question;
sometimes things start acting up if there has been a compromise or may-
be some corruption to the hard disk drive and the system software within.
This can lead to some kinds of hardware failure; but it may just be getting old.
Good luck & happy computing!

Similar Messages

New Intel Mini makes a slight whirring noise

Hi
I have just replaced my old G4 Mac Mini with a entry level Intel Mini.
I noticed the new one maked a slight whirring noise constantly.
Its only minor but noticable in the background
The old Mini just used to have a slight fan noise which was more tolerable.
Do all new Mini's make this noise?
Tc

Is the fan suppost to run at all times when the
machine is on?
The fan on all minis runs constantly - in normal operating conditions it turns at relatively low speed and thus creates little noise. Initially because the mini ran so quietly, many owners concluded that the fan wasn't running until the system required it, but that isn't and wasn't the case. It was only after a MacOS update had altered the fan behaviour and made it spin up earlier as temperature rose or CPU increased that many users became aware that there even was a fan inside!
Since the fan is controlled by the system in response to temperature and load, it's apparent behaviour isn't always consistent between systems since it'll depend a lot on which version of MacOS, what ambient air temperatures and what services are running. Thus a mini that appears to run louder than usual may actually be nothing more than the user's perception, or higher ambient air temperature, or heavier load caused by additional services run at startup, or a version of MacOS that was more prone to ramp the fan up earlier in the temperature cycle - or of course a fault!
But indeed, where they are audible at all, the fans in the PPC models make a sound of different character completely from those in Intel models.

How can i stop the whirring noise macbook pro

how can i stop the whirring noise macbook pro

Backup your personal data off the machine
Most commonly used backup methods
Run a #3 Hardware Test here
..Step by Step to fix your Mac
Take the machine in for a checkup, it might be something clogging inside

IMac 20" - whirring noise every few minutes

hi
since yesterday, every few minutes a whirring noise occurs. It builds up quite loudish like a crescendo and then resorts back to normal sound levels pretty much straight away once it has hit the highest noise level. Roughly happens every 4 mins and lasts approx 10 seconds. Also happens when im not using/running anything.
i better mention the night before it started i had to move the iMac off my desk for the first time and therefore pulled the mains out. checked other internet discussions that were based on fan noise and which suggested removing the mains lead again and waiting for 15 secs. i have done this but the whirring noise still occurs.
does anyone have suggestions what it might be?
thanks in advance
adam

thanks guys for the quick reply.
i shall have a go at resetting the SMC now and will let you know if it continues.
more information required; come to think of it, the noise sounds like when you put something in a fan and when the blades passes it, it makes that flipping noise. or even when you put a ruler on the end of the desk and 'flick' it it makes that same flipping noise.
hope you can try and work out from that what i mean. not the best at describing noises. just seems weird how its like a crescendo and then dies out straight away once its got to a high noise. it seems like its coming slightly to the NW of the middle of the screen. also seems to make a louder noise when ive got a few things open.
hope that helps.
will try the SMC and will report back.
thanks again

[SOLVED] Whirring noise in recording via mic - will HW mixing help?

I'm getting whirring noise in mic recording (adjustng mic and mic-boost does not help) it also happens on ubuntu 11.04; so I guess it is a hardware issue. Strangely, I hear no noise in Windows XP in recording (sound recorder). Whereas in Archlinux, skype, audacity, arecord, gnome-sound-recorder all are having whirring noise.
I guess, it might have something to do with Intel Audio, so I'm planning to buy Creative Sound Blaster Live 5.1 (emu10k1), which has Hardware Mixing feature supported by Alsa.
Do you know any way to "suppress noise" and "echo cancellation" in arch for microphone recording?
Please advise.
We can hear the noise (unamplified/no mic boost) test-mic.wav recorded
arecord -f cd -d 5 test-mic.wav
http://www.mediafire.com/?e6n9t2sr6vwpv73
lspci wrote:00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation 82G33/G31/P35/P31 Express DRAM Controller (rev 10)
00:01.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82G33/G31/P35/P31 Express PCI Express Root Port (rev 10)
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation N10/ICH 7 Family High Definition Audio Controller (rev 01)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation N10/ICH 7 Family PCI Express Port 1 (rev 01)
00:1c.1 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation N10/ICH 7 Family PCI Express Port 2 (rev 01)
00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation N10/ICH 7 Family USB UHCI Controller #1 (rev 01)
00:1d.1 USB Controller: Intel Corporation N10/ICH 7 Family USB UHCI Controller #2 (rev 01)
00:1d.2 USB Controller: Intel Corporation N10/ICH 7 Family USB UHCI Controller #3 (rev 01)
00:1d.3 USB Controller: Intel Corporation N10/ICH 7 Family USB UHCI Controller #4 (rev 01)
00:1d.7 USB Controller: Intel Corporation N10/ICH 7 Family USB2 EHCI Controller (rev 01)
00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 PCI Bridge (rev e1)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation 82801GB/GR (ICH7 Family) LPC Interface Bridge (rev 01)
00:1f.1 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) IDE Controller (rev 01)
00:1f.2 IDE interface: Intel Corporation N10/ICH7 Family SATA IDE Controller (rev 01)
00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation N10/ICH 7 Family SMBus Controller (rev 01)
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation G92 [GeForce 9800 GT] (rev a2)
03:00.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8111/8168B PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet controller (rev 01)
Last edited by fast_rizwaan (2011-09-08 00:29:10)

hi archers,
I went to the computre hardware market today to buy 'Creative Sound Blaster Live 5.1 with emu10k1 chipset'.
I thought that having hardware mixing (HWMIX) will fix noise, as the sound card is shielded from interference.
But, unfortunately or fortunately, the SBS 5.1 is not available in the market. only SBS 5.1VX model which has a different chipset is available.
So, I retured a bit disappointed thinking that the evil microsoft has caused the soundcard manufactureres to stop support to non MS OS, oh my poor linux hardware!
Based on the following, http://www.voxforge.org/home/docs/faq/f … pling-rate
I tried fiddling with sample rate, and you know what, the whirring noise is gone. It's like Windows (without fan noise suppression and echo cancellation but no static noise)
HURRAY I FOUND THE SOLUTION: setting the sound-card sampling-rate to 96000 (for my intel sound card) fixes the noise!
Here's HOWTO fix microphone noise problem in linux which was bugging me for many years!
1. Determine soundcards in the system
$ arecord --list-devices
output wrote:**** List of CAPTURE Hardware Devices ****
card 0: Intel [HDA Intel], device 0: ALC888 Analog [ALC888 Analog]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 0: Intel [HDA Intel], device 2: ALC888 Analog [ALC888 Analog]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
soudcar is hw:0,0
2. Determine Sound card's sampling-rate of the sound card
arecord -f dat -r 60000 -D hw:0,0 -d 5 test.wav
output wrote:"Recording WAVE 'test.wav' : Signed 16 bit Little Endian, Rate 60000 Hz, Stereo
Warning: rate is not accurate (requested = 60000Hz, got = 96000Hz)
please, try the plug plugin
Now that we got the max-sampling-rate to 96000, we should set this in pulseaudio's configuration file /etc/pulse/daemon.conf. So first test it:
Just a quick test
arecord -f dat -r 96000 -D hw:0,0 -d 5 test.wav
And surprise, surprise, no whirring static noise in the mic recording in linux. Hurray again!
3. Setting the soundcard's sampling rate into pulse audio configuration
the default sample-rate in pulseaudio is
cat /etc/pulse/daemon.conf|grep sample-rate
output wrote:; default-sample-rate = 44100
we got 44100 and which is disabled
Let's set that to our hardware specific settings:
su -c "sed 's/; default-sample-rate = 44100/default-sample-rate = 96000/g' -i /etc/pulse/daemon.conf"
let's verify the changes to deamon.conf
cat /etc/pulse/daemon.conf|grep sample-rate
output wrote:default-sample-rate = 96000
It's done
4. Restart pulseaudio to apply the new settings
pulseaudio --kill
pulseaudio --start
That's it, now Skype, and all microphone related application will have neat audio! Thanks Archers. hope it helps.
Is there a way to suppress fan noise in pulseaudio, cause the fan noise is bothering me now at forvo.com
I also updated the pulseaudio wiki https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Pu … _Recording
Last edited by fast_rizwaan (2011-09-08 00:27:53)

Unusual heat and whirring noise

Starting this summer, every so often, my computer will start making a strange sort of whirring noise. It sounds kind of like the noise the hard drive makes when it's spinning, except it's continuous and it doesn't stop or change until I close my computer. Whenever this happens, the computer also gets unusually hot - particularly in the back left corner, around where the AirPort and RAM slots are. I can smell a sort of hot-metal smell if I get close to the computer.
I usually resolve the problem by closing the computer and letting it sit for a while. Generally it cools down in a few minutes and is fine again when I open it.
Thus far, the problem has happened several times while I was playing Snood (a version that's not optimized for Mac and uses a lot of memory), and once while I was watching a video on the New York Times website. I've wondered if the problem was caused by me using too much memory - but the computer doesn't seem to have a problem when I'm using Adobe InDesign, NeoOffice, Microsoft Word, and Mail all at the same time, which I would think would take up much more memory than one video playing on Safari.
Is this just my computer overheating (and if so, how can I fix it/prevent it from happening)? Is something wrong with my hard drive? Or is it something else altogether? Should I be worried?
Note: I bought my computer in the summer of 2004, but the hard drive died in the summer of 2005 and had to be replaced. So my hard drive is a year younger than the rest of my computer.

Welcome to  Discussions,
They can get hot in Summer, but if it ever gets to the point of overheating it will go into a coma until it cools down again.
Having multiple applications open is no great stress, more having one processor intensive game can really heat things up. I remember playing SimCity over a few hot days and my little iBook was the hottest it has ever been. But it still kept running.
The whirring sounds like your fan spinning into high speed. They can be quite noisy compared to normal fan speed.
One tip, if you don't already know it, is to operate the iBook on a flat surface for heat dispersal, and not cradle it in your lap. On a table or a hard floor or surface will absorb some of that heat.
On really hot days, which to me means over 40 degrees C in Australia, I have a fan blowing over the computer. Not practical for a laptop outdoors, but I don't try and push them too hard on those really hot days.

T500 SSD Whirring Noise When Booting Up

I have only had this T500 since July 2009 and last week it started making a whirring noise when I turn it on. Before last week it was so quiet and it booted up very fast. Now it's making this noise and slower. I thought solid state hard drives were supposed to be quiet. Any suggestions?

They have no moving parts. Are you sure it wasn't the cooling fan?

HT201250 Time machine makes whirring noise 24 hours a day. Orange light often flashes. Does not appear to be overheating. Can you help? Thank you.

Time machine makes whirring noise 24 hours a day. Orange light often flashes. Does not appear to be overheating. Can you help?

First: Are you wearing/regularly checking your radiation badge?
Second: What does the little Time Machine icon (in the menubar) say when you click on it? Alternatively, what does Time Machine Preferences (in System Preferences) tell you is going on?
Third: http://pondini.org/TM/Troubleshooting.html

Sudden, loud whirring noise...Fan or Hardrive?

I've had this intel iMac since around february and I've had no problems with it whatsoever. However, just today as I was using it, there was a sudden, loud whirring noise from what I believe to be the fan. It's never done that before and its never been quite that loud to the point where I could hear it through music-ridden headphones.
The whirring was a bit loud and then gradually got lower and lower to the point where it couldn't be heard...
I know it's probably nothing, but I've been really paranoid lately after my previous pc had a serious hardrive failure. I hope that isn't the potential case here...
This normal?

Welcome to the Apple Discussions!
Yes, most likely a fan, there are three. Others have reported the same random incident. No known explanation.
If it worries you, reset the System Management Controller, which among other things, controls the fans.

Whirring noise followed by clicking

When I try to turn on my iPod, it makes a whirring noise and a clicking noise as if the hard drive is trying to start up. The problem is that it doesnt start up and I get the folder icon with the iPod support website below it. I have already used my computer to restore the factory settings and tried to get into diagnostic mode but neither of these fixes worked. I have one of the older models, a 3rd generation one i believe, and the warranty is long expired. Can anyone help?
Dell Windows XP 3rd generation iPod

Hello,
If a sad iPod icon or an exclamation point and folder icon appears on your iPod’s screen, or with sounds of clicking or HD whirring, it is usually the sign of a hard drive problem and you have the power to do something about it now. Your silver bullet of resolving your iPod issue – is to restore your iPod to factory settings.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=60983
If you're having trouble, try these steps at different levels one at a time until the issue is resolved. These steps will often whip your iPod back into shape.
Make sure you do all the following “TRYs”
A. Try to wait 30 minutes while iPod is charging.
B. Try another FireWire or USB through Dock Connector cable.
C. Try another FireWire or USB port on your computer .
D. Try to disconnect all devices from your computer's FireWire and USB ports.
E. Try to download and install the latest version of iPod software and iTunes
http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/
For old and other versions of iPod updater for window you can get here
http://www.ipodwizard.net/showthread.php?t=7369
F. Try these five steps (known as the five Rs) and it would conquer most iPod issues.
http://www.apple.com/support/ipod/five_rs/
G. Try to put the iPod into Disk Mode if it fails to appear on the desktop
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93651
If none of these steps address the issue, you may need to go to Intermediate level listed below in logical order. Check from the top of the lists to see if that is what keeping iPod from appearing on your computer in order for doing the Restore.
Intermediate Level
A. Try to connect your iPod with another computer with the iPod updater pre-installed.
B. Still can’t see your iPod, put it in Disk Mode and connect with a computer, instead of doing a Restore on iPod Updater. Go and format the iPod instead.
For Mac computer
1. Open the disk utility, hope your iPod appears there (left hand side), highlight it
2. Go to Tab “Partition”, click either “Delete” or “Partition”, if fails, skip this step and go to 3
3. Go to Tab “Erase” , choose Volume Format as “MAC OS Extended (Journaled), and click Erase, again if fails, skip it and go to 4
4. Same as step 3, but open the “Security Options....” and choose “Zero Out Data” before click Erase. It will take 1 to 2 hours to complete.
5. Eject your iPod and do a Reset
6. Open the iTunes 7 and click “Restore”
For Window computer
Go to folder “My Computer”
Hope you can see your iPod there and right click on the iPod
Choose “Format”. Ensure the settings are at “Default” and that “Quick Format” is not checked
Now select “Format”
Eject your iPod and do a Reset
Open the iTunes 7 and click “Restore”
In case you do not manage to do a “Format” on a window computer, try to use some 3rd party disk utility software, e.g.“HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool”.
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=501330&tstart=0
C. Windows users having trouble with their iPods should locate a Mac user. In many cases when an iPod won't show up on a PC that it will show up on the Mac. Then it can be restored. When the PC user returns to his computer the iPod will be recognized by the PC, reformatted for the PC, and usable again. By the way, it works in reverse too. A Mac user often can get his iPod back by connecting it to a PC and restoring it.
Tips
a. It does not matter whether the format is completed or not, the key is to erase (or partly) the corrupted firmware files on the Hard Drive of the iPod. After that, when the iPod re-connected with a computer, it will be recognized as an fresh external hard drive, it will show up on the iTunes 7.
b. It is not a difficult issue for a Mac user to find a window base computer, for a PC user, if they can’t find any Mac user, they can go to a nearest Apple Shop for a favor.
c. You may need to switch around the PC and Mac, try to do several attempts between “Format” and “Restore”
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2364921&#2364921
Advance Level
A. Diagnostic mode solution
If you have tried trouble shooting your iPod to no avail after all the steps above, chances are your iPod has a hardware problem. The iPod's built-in Diagnostic Mode is a quick and easy way to determine if you have a "bad" iPod.
You need to restart your iPod before putting it into Diagnostic Mode. Check that your hold switch is off by sliding the switch away from the headphone jack. Toggle it on and off to be safe.
Press and hold the following combination of buttons simultaneously for approximately 10 seconds to reset the iPod.
iPod 1G to 3G: "Menu" and "Play/Pause"
iPod 4G+ (includes Photo, Nano, Video, and Mini): "Menu" and "Select"
The Apple logo will appear and you should feel the hard drive spinning up. Press and hold the following sequence of buttons:
iPod 1G to 3G: "REW", "FFW" and "Select"
iPod 4G+ (includes Photo, Nano, Video, and Mini): "Back" and "Select"
You will hear an audible chirp sound (3G models and higher) and the Apple logo should appear backwards. You are now in Diagnostic Mode. Navigate the list of tests using "REW" and "FFW". The scroll wheel will not function while in diagnostic mode. For further details on Diagnostic mode can be found at http://www.methodshop.com/mp3/ipodsupport/diagnosticmode/
Try to do the 5in1, HDD R/W and HDD scan tests. Some successful cases have been reported after the running the few tests under the Diagnostic mode. In case it does not work in your case, and the scan tests reports show some errors then it proves your iPod has a hardware problem and it needs a repairing service.
B. Format your iPod with a start disk
I have not tried this solution myself, I heard that there were few successful cases that the users managed to get their iPod (you must put your iPod in disk mode before connecting with a computer) mounted by the computer, which was booted by a system startup disk. For Mac, you can use the Disk Utility (on the Tiger OS system disk), for PC user, you can use the window OS system disk. Try to find a way to reformat your iPod, again it does not matter which format (FAT32, NTFS or HFS+) you choose, the key is to erase the corrupted system files on the iPod. Then eject your iPod and do a Reset to switch out from Disk Mode. Reboot your computer at the normal way, connect your iPod back with it, open the iPod updater, and hopefully your iPod will appear there for the Restore.
If none of these steps address the issue, your iPod may need to be repaired.
Consider setting up a mail-in repair for your iPod http://depot.info.apple.com/ipod/
Or visit your local Apple Retail Store http://www.apple.com/retail/
In case your iPod is no longer covered by the warranty and you want to find a second repairing company, you can try iPodResQ at your own risk
http://www.ipodresq.com/index.php
Just in case that you are at the following situation
Your iPod warranty is expired
You don’t want to pay any service charges
You are prepared to buy a new one
You can’t accept the re-sell value of your broken iPod
Rather than leave your iPod as paper-weight or throw it away.
You can try the following, but again, only do it as your last resort and at your own risk.
Warning !!!! – It may or may not manage to solve your problem, and with a risk that you may further damage your iPod, which end up as an expensive paper weight or you need to pay more higher repairing cost. Therefore, please re-consider again whether you want to try the next level
Last Resort Level
1. . Disconnecting the Hard Drive and battery inside the iPod – Warning !! Your iPod warranty will be waived once you open the iPod.
In Hong Kong there are some electronic shops offering an iPod service for Sad iPod, the first thing they do is to open up the iPod’s case and disconnecting the battery and the Hard Drive from the main board of the iPod. Wait for 5-10 minutes and reconnecting them back. The reason behind which I can think of is to do a fully reset of a processor of the iPod. In case you want do it itself and you believe that you are good on fixing the electronics devices and have experience to deal with small bits of electronic parts, then you can read the following of how to open the iPod case for battery and HDD replacement (with Quicktimes)
http://eshop.macsales.com/tech_center/index.cfm?page=Video/directory.html
2.Press the reset button on the Hard Drive inside the iPod – Suggestion from Kill8joy
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2438774#2438774
Have I tried these myself? No, I am afraid to do it myself as I am squeamish about tinkering inside electronic devices, I have few experiences that either I broke the parts (which are normally tiny or fragile) or failed to put the parts back to the main case. Therefore, I agree with suggestion to have it fixed by a Pro.
2. Do a search on Google and some topics on this discussion forum about “Sad iPod”
Exclamation point and folder and nothing else
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2831962#2831962
What should I do with my iPod? Send it or keep it?
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=469080&tstart=0
Strange error on iPod (probably death)
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=435160&start=0&tstart=0
Sad Face on iPod for no apparent reason
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=336342&start=0&tstart=0
Meeting the Sad iPod icon
http://askpang.typepad.com/relevanthistory/2004/11/meeting_thesad.html#comment-10519524
Sad faced iPod, but my computer won’t recognize it?
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2236095#2236095
iPod Photo: unhappy icon + warranty question
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2233746#2233746
4th Gen iPod Users - are we all having the same problem?
http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=2235623#2235623
Low Battery, and clicking sounds
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2237714#2237714
Sad faced iPod, but my computer won’t recognize it
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2242018#2242018
Sad iPod solution
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=412033&tstart=0
Re: try to restore ipod and it says "can't mount ipod"
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=443659&tstart=30
iPod making clicking noise and is frozen
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=2420150#2420150
I am not suggesting that you should follow as well, but just read them as your reference. You are the person to make the call.
Finally, I read a fair comments from dwb, regarding of slapping the back of the iPod multiple times
Quote “This has been discussed numerous times as a 'fix'. It does work, at least for a while. In fact I remember using the same basic trick to revive Seagate and Quantam drives back in the mid to late 1980's. Why these tiny hard drives go bad I don't know - could be the actuator gets stuck in place or misaligned. Could be the platter gets stuck or the motor gets stuck. 'Stiction' was a problem for drives back in the 80's. Unfortunately the fix can cause damage to the platter so we temporarily fix one problem by creating another. But I know of two instances where a little slap onto the table revived the iPods and they are still worked a year or more later.”UnQuote

Whirring noise when I attempt start up

Bought a MacBook Pro in September 2013 and have had no problems. However now when I try to start it up the screen remains black and it just makes a loud whirring noise. The battery is fine and the small white light on the front comes on to indicate it's turned on. Has anyone had this problem or know how to resolve it? Thanks

You have a one year warranty. Take advantage of it and take the system to an Apple store to be properly diagbnosed and fixed under the terms of the warranty.

Inserting disc into drive leads to whirring noises

Hello, this is my first time in the Apple Forums, and I have a problem concerning the SuperDrive. Yesterday, I wanted to re-install software to use my scanner. When I inserted it, the disc was spinning but there was a loud whirring noise. I quickly ejected it to check the disc. No scratches. Tried it again, the noise came back. Ejected the disc again, no scratches. However, upon closer inspection, I noticed scratches within the center of the disc. After that, I tried again, and the noise came back again, but this time I let the disc spin. After several seconds, it spun like normal. So then I figured that it was just a slight problem. I ejected the disc, and re-inserted it to check again. The noise came back, and this time, the disc was stuck. My girlfriend told me to leave it alone and take it to Apple Store. So, I put it away, and the next day at work, the disc ejected when booting up the OS. But, the problem of the whirring noise remains. In the meantime, I plan to take it to the Apple Store, but can anyone tell me what the problem could be and what can I do about it (that doesn't involve going to the Apple Store)? The warranty expires in August 2007.
Apple PowerBook G4 17" 1.5 GHz 80GB 512MB RAM Mac OS X (10.4.8)

If the whirring sound continues after ejecting the disc, I believe it is the sound of an extra cooling fan that turns on when a disc has been running for a while. Mine does this, but I have never found any problems with it beyond the very loud and disturbing noise.
I brought this to the Genius Bar's attention, but they didn't address it (because they were addressing a much more important repair issue) and then my warranty ran out.
I suggest you get them to address it before your warranty expires. Once the warranty is gone, there's no way to get any more free repair service. Until then, take advantage of their great support.

Optical Drive Random Whirring Noise

My MacBook Pro's optical drive has been making a random whirring noise for some time now. It's similar to the noise it makes when you insert a disc but there's no disc in it. It seems to be doing it more frequently lately and it's done it since before I installed 10.5. I think something may be wrong with the drive. Anyone know why it would do this? Should I bring it in to be repaired?

ah even more people having this issue.
we've got two threads now!
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1110915&tstart=0

Whirring noise started coming from my computer

Hello all,
Just recently a whirring noise has been emmited from my computer upon opening it up to use. I cannot figure out why, I rebooted and it is still there. Can anyone help with what it could be and how to fix it? Its almost like a fan motor but why would it start right off the bat when it hasnt been in use, just asleep?
Thank you in advance for any help you can give,
Michelle

So I have a bit of an update (again). I blocked the Flash ads as requested, which is nice because I don't have to look at them anymore, but otherwise does not seem to have helped.
Now, when I go into pretty much ANY website at all, the computer starts making the noise no matter what. As soon as I click a link or switch a page, it again makes the noise.
I'm beginning to despair of ever finding a cure for this, seeing as I took it to the very people who made the thing and they couldn't even identify the problem
Thanks for trying to help, though. If you've got any other suggestions, please do pass them along. Much obliged.

IBook making grinding/whirring noise

Recently, when moving my iBook around while it's on, it's making a grinding/whirring noise that it hasn't since I bought it last April. Sometimes the noise stops when I stop moving it, and sometimes it doesn't; right now for instance. Does that sound familiar to anyone, and if so, was it something to worry about? Thanks.
iBook G4 Mac OS X (10.4.5)

The term "moving" a laptop computer is rather vague. A very vigorous move is entirely different than walking calmly accross a room carrying it much as you might carry a cup of coffee. In the case of the latter, moving it will not harm it. I am speaking from extensive experience of taveling in a moving car with the laptop ON and running and also with carrying it about the house while it is running. Swinging it wildly while you are running is quite different. Apple is just trying to cover there own bases when they tell you to not move it. That keeps them from being liable if you toss your ibook accross the room onto a couch or bed or if you drop it onto a table much like you might drop a regular book.
You may note that many of Apple's adds show people sitting and working on their laptops "on their laps" and other adds show them working on their laptops in moving airplanes. Many people routinely work with their laptops on their laps in bed and have no hard drive problems. Consider the ipod, the Palm Life Drive etc., all have hard drives and they get moved quite vigorously.

Whirring noise

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for