Rattling noise at startup

[7Deadly$ins]

Lately when I turn on my computer there is a loud ticking noise for several minutes. This also happens when I wake it up out of sleep mode. My boyfriend thinks it sounds like a ratting fan, but I'm not sure if this can be fixed, and if so, how? I am open to other suggestions about what it could be. The noise usually goes away after a few minutes, but it is quite annoying and loud in the interim.

[imeem]

i'm thinking it could be the psu or the HDD.

[7Deadly$ins]

How should I go about determining that?

[borg_7_of_9]

my guess would be a fan with a bearing on there way out, my side fan is bad for this usually rattling for 2~20min depending on temp's..

In the end I put an extra spacer in to stop it hitting the case. Never had the problem when new..

Look for any fan's hitting anything.. Even check inside the psu...

[spartan0078]

Do you have a graphics card in your pc? If the noise goes away after a few minutes it could be a part that builds up enough heat to fill the gap that's been created. Check parts that build up a decent amount of heat. If you have a cheap Power supply it is most likely that, but it could also be your GPU fan rattling the cards plastic case to.

[dosbox]

How should I go about determining that?

Open the case up and listen closely. You should be able to identify where the clicking sound is coming from.

Some components may fire up the fan at 100% upon bootup until Windows loads, then settle down - which might explain why the ticking sound goes away (i.e. the fan speed is wound down due to fan control).

[wuliheron]

Just a quick guess, but your power supply is at the bottom with the fan facing upwards. Its not easy for fans to be perfectly balanced to prevent wobbling when they start up. The other likely candidate is a wire rubbing against a fan.