General

[quote=PurplePickles]Okay thanks for the help! Also, can I replace the hard drive with any hard drive?[/quote]

Yes, what you have now is a standard SATA 3 1/2 inch hard drive.
You'd need to get one that stores at least as much as your current drive to be able to copy all your files onto it, but if the computer is old, you can probably get a much larger capacity drive than what you have now for pretty cheap, giving you a lot more disk space.

If you decide to do it yourself I can give you a quick rundown of how to do the software end of it.
In addition to physically replacing the old drive with a new one you'll need to copy your Windows and files onto the new one.

[quote=BobR]@PurplePickles That does sound like it might be the hard drive heads seeking, which can be a sign of "bad sectors" on the hard drive.
It would actually be better if you could take the side off the computer and when it starts making the noise, record the inside with your phone, getting as close to the hard drive (the part you pictured earlier) to try to pick up the sound from there, if that's where it's coming from.

If that's what it turns out to be, you could have the old hard drive replaced and hopefully all your files copied onto the new drive before there's any permanent damage done, or files lost.
But yes, if the computer is that old, it might be more economical in the long run to replace it. Depending on what you want, you could use some of the parts from the old computer to build a new one, or just start from scratch and build a completely new system.[/quote]

Okay thanks for the help! Also, can I replace the hard drive with any hard drive?

@PurplePickles That does sound like it might be the hard drive heads seeking, which can be a sign of "bad sectors" on the hard drive.
It would actually be better if you could take the side off the computer and when it starts making the noise, record the inside with your phone, getting as close to the hard drive (the part you pictured earlier) to try to pick up the sound from there, if that's where it's coming from.

If that's what it turns out to be, you could have the old hard drive replaced and hopefully all your files copied onto the new drive before there's any permanent damage done, or files lost.
But yes, if the computer is that old, it might be more economical in the long run to replace it. Depending on what you want, you could use some of the parts from the old computer to build a new one, or just start from scratch and build a completely new system.

[quote=BobR]@PurplePickles It might be worth taking to someone who knows about computers if you can find anyone near you... a friend or a friend's Dad or something. Maybe someone at school could help.
If it's an older computer the chances of a "new noise" being a problem are higher, but you'd have to decide whether it's worth the cost of taking it to a computer shop to have them check it out for you.

Another thing that just occurred to me is if you can use your phone to record the noise up close inside the computer when it happens and then upload the audio file so we could hear it here we might be able to help identify what it is making the noise.[/quote]

im trying to record the sound on my phone but my phone doesnt seem to be able to pick the sound up. Also do you think its just better to build a new computer? My current one is quite old.
EDIT [url=http://youtu.be/KYZWMxfijtc][/url]

@PurplePickles It might be worth taking to someone who knows about computers if you can find anyone near you... a friend or a friend's Dad or something. Maybe someone at school could help.
If it's an older computer the chances of a "new noise" being a problem are higher, but you'd have to decide whether it's worth the cost of taking it to a computer shop to have them check it out for you.

Another thing that just occurred to me is if you can use your phone to record the noise up close inside the computer when it happens and then upload the audio file so we could hear it here we might be able to help identify what it is making the noise.

[quote=BobR]@PurplePickles You really, really don't want it to be that (the picture you posted).
That's your hard drive and noises coming from it are usually a bad thing.

Make sure the screws holding the hard drive are tight (not nut-busting tight, just not loose, which could allow it to vibrate).
They're the 4 "hex-head" phillips screws on the right of the photo, screwed into the bottom of the hard drive.

Like the others said, leave the side open while you use the computer and when you hear the noise put your head down close to the computer and try to determine exactly where the noise is coming from.
Normally the source of buzzing sounds is the fans when they get dusty or when the bearings get old and start wearing out, but hard drives can make buzzing noises when they're starting to fail.

If the sound is coming from a fan, you can pretty easily clean it or replace it.
If the sound is coming from the hard drive, BACK IT UP immediately (save any files you absolutely don't want to lose) onto a flash drive or an external hard drive.

Have you noticed any problems with the way the computer is running?
Hard drive problems that make noise usually result in programs hanging or running and loading really slowly[/quote]

i haven't really noticed any problems, its been the same before this started happening. Maybe there was a problem because i checked my task manager last night and it said the memory RAM was at 1.72 (i have 2 gigs of ram, quite an old computer) when i only had a youtube video playing in the background which i thought was strange. An incident like this occurred before but the computer was just dusty. The fans arent dusty nor dirty bc I just cleaned them the other night. I dont know too much about computers so this problem is kind of making me paranoid.

@PurplePickles You really, really don't want it to be that (the picture you posted).
That's your hard drive and noises coming from it are usually a bad thing.

Make sure the screws holding the hard drive are tight (not nut-busting tight, just not loose, which could allow it to vibrate).
They're the 4 "hex-head" phillips screws on the right of the photo, screwed into the bottom of the hard drive.

Like the others said, leave the side open while you use the computer and when you hear the noise put your head down close to the computer and try to determine exactly where the noise is coming from.
Normally the source of buzzing sounds is the fans when they get dusty or when the bearings get old and start wearing out, but hard drives can make buzzing noises when they're starting to fail.

If the sound is coming from a fan, you can pretty easily clean it or replace it.
If the sound is coming from the hard drive, BACK IT UP immediately (save any files you absolutely don't want to lose) onto a flash drive or an external hard drive.

Have you noticed any problems with the way the computer is running?
Hard drive problems that make noise usually result in programs hanging or running and loading really slowly

[quote=PurplePickles]dont think its the fan it might be this though [url=http://imgur.com/4l6gl2S][/url][/quote]

When the PC is making that sound.
Put your hand on the side of the case, feel where the sound vibrations are coming from.
Once figured out, open the panel DO NOT TOUCH ANYTHING,
Just look and see what is making the sound.
After you find out. Power of PC and switch of the power supply.
And if you built that PC which seems like you did according to that cable management.
Unplug that part, clean it and plug it back in.
if it still occurs i dont recommend you fix it your self.

[quote=AbsymalTorment]Figure out where the noise is coming from. If its coming from a fan than it might be a small cable touching it.[/quote]

dont think its the fan it might be this though [url=http://imgur.com/4l6gl2S][/url]

[quote=PurplePickles]i did that last night and there was barely any dust.[/quote]

Figure out where the noise is coming from. If its coming from a fan than it might be a small cable touching it.

[quote=AbsymalTorment]Open it up and clean it.[/quote]

i did that last night and there was barely any dust.

Open it up and clean it.