Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Strange Clicking Sounds

For Windows 9.xx to Windows XP/Vista & MAC Tip # 0015

Perhaps when you are tapping away on your keyboard you have heard strange clicking sounds emanating from your tower or laptop. Hopefully not, but if you are now hearing this clicking noise, then it is time to take some preventative measures. Why? Well, this particular noise usually indicates that your computer’s Hard Drive (HD) is about to fail.
Like human failure, you can always learn from it, and success is usually built on failure. In this case, you can learn without failing. Sort of a pre-emptive kind of success.
If you have never had a hard drive failure, I am pleased for you. If you have, you know what I am going to suggest. To wit, Back Up All your data, information and files onto another drive. I suggest you do it now.
The easiest way to do this is by transferring (backing up by another name) you data to either CD or DVD disks. If your machine has the capability to write on DVD (most late model Windows XP, Vista and Apple machines have DVD burners) then I suggest using this medium. If not, not to worry, your CD burner will do fine, it will just take you a bit longer and require more CD disks.
For windows users what I suggest is the following:
Click on your Windows Start button (that button on the left side of your window) it will open your Windows Menu. Unless you have a customised button, there will be on the right side of the menu a heading that says: “Computer”
Click on Computer and a pop-up screen will show you the various drives that you have on your machine. Most likely your hard drive will be labelled “C:”
Right click on the “C:” drive and choose “Properties”. You will see a display that provide you with a diagram and information on a pie chart which will tell you how much used space you have and how much free space you have. Write down this information on a piece of paper.
I am sure some of our loyal Bulldog readers may be wondering why the computer Guy is suggesting paper. Well, it is simple. When it comes to important or essential information, tech aficionados will tell you the two most essential pieces of equipment are a piece of paper and a pen or pencil. So, you will be sure to have this essential information in case of need.
Now depending on whether you will be ‘burning’ or ‘ripping’ (creating a copy on a CD or DVD of files) on CD or DVD will determine your next step.
For CD’s: divide the number you wrote down for ‘Used Space” and divide by 700. It should come out to about 14 disks per 10 Gb (gigabit).
For DVD’s: divide the number for “Used Space” by 4 (or if you have a dual burner 8).

Line up the required number of disks, for example 14 and write Disk 1, Disk 2, Disk 3 etc.
Then place disk 1 in your CD Burner or DVD Burner. In most case it will be the place where you put DVD’s or CD’s when you play them.
Return to the pop-up menu (“C: Properties) and chose the tools and choose the Back Up file and click where it says: “Now”.
Follow this procedure until the required numbers of disks are ‘written’ to (transferred) and that will be that.
Now even if your computer ‘dies’ ,‘crashes’ or a combination thereof you will have all you data, safe and sound.
What I suggest is that if you do not already have a backup set of your data, do this now even if you don’t hear anything clicking. It is always an essential part of digital hygiene to have a good and recent back-up of your information and data.
Label your disks (you can use a magic marker for this) “Full Backup” of my computer (or Jim’s machine –whatever you wish). Write this on each copy and then put these disks in a safe place.
Now when your hard drive ‘dies’ it will only be a minor inconvenience instead of a major disaster. I guarantee it.
In fact, let me suggest that even if you do not hear a clicking noise, and do not have a regular back-up system, either with a separate Hard Drive or disks, this is a good time to make a Full Back Up. Sooner or later you will be very glad you did. You can buy the disks for CD’s and DVD’s for about 10 bucks wherever electronics are sold. A separate external Hard Drive will set you back around $80 to $100 bucks.
Depending on your budget, it will be inexpensive and relatively easy. If you do not already have a back-up plan (say once a week on Sunday) I strongly recommend you make a plan now and stick to it.
You will be glad you did.
So, as always, should you have any questions or problems, feel free to eMail me @: guygriscom@gmail.com.