topic Re: Clicking noise from inside my VGX-XL201 in PCs & Accessories

Clicking noise from inside my VGX-XL201

ChalkyWhite71 — Mon, 12 May 2008 10:34:28 GMT

Hi, stupid me only investigating this issue out of warranty (by three weeks!) 😞

For sometime now*, my XL201 has been making tick noises (like a really noisy clock tick) every now and then. I now find it is distracting and much more frequent, every 5 seconds or so.

It appears to coincide with disc activity and eminate from front-left of chassis (i haven't opened box yet), so i ran the disc surface scans within System Tools which revealed no bad sectors on either C or D partitions.

I wonder whether it's the noise of the harddisk head parking, so my HD may be on it's way out??

Anyone else suffer from this?

Cheers

* i think it's done it since new, but very irregular back then.

Re: Clicking noise from inside my VGX-XL201

ChalkyWhite71 — Mon, 12 May 2008 21:01:30 GMT

Me again, now I'm home and can put my ear to the machine, it appears to be coming from the PSU at the back left of the case. Is it perhaps a shorting-out noise? Should i be concerned, or perhaps order a spare PSU to prevent loss of continued service one evening when we have loads to watch!! 😉

Re: Clicking noise from inside my VGX-XL201

Thalamus. — Mon, 12 May 2008 21:28:23 GMT

Hi ChalkyWhite71,

As you are just at the end of warranty I suggest you contact Sony Vaio support ASAP, you can do this either by phone or via e-Support, use the following link to find the contact details: Sony Vaio Support

Re: Clicking noise from inside my VGX-XL201

ChalkyWhite71 — Tue, 13 May 2008 06:03:30 GMT

Hi Thalamus, the unit was a year old mid April 2008. Did you still think it worthwhile contacting Support?

Re: Clicking noise from inside my VGX-XL201

Thalamus. — Tue, 13 May 2008 08:26:53 GMT

Hi Thalamus, the unit was a year old mid April 2008. Did you still think it worthwhile contacting Support?

You have nothing to loose..

Re: Clicking noise from inside my VGX-XL201

metcaa1 — Fri, 16 May 2008 13:07:07 GMT

Hi ChalkyWhite71,

Sounds like the Fan on the PSU might be the issue. If you are confident taking the lid of a PC you could try hoovering the fan to get the dust out, but it may be a bearing, in which case you would need to replace the FAN. However in most PSUs the fan is soldered to the PSU, so not that straightforward, and getting a fan that fits exactly can also be an issue.

I'm not sure it would be easy to get a replacement PSU as these are usually custom made for the chassis. Mine is made by Delta.

If its being doing it since its new, you should go back to the original supplier, especially as its only just out of warranty, as consumer law might still be on your side at this point.

Good Luck.

Re: Clicking noise from inside my VGX-XL201

ChalkyWhite71 — Tue, 20 May 2008 10:15:16 GMT

Many thanks Metcaa1,

I will have time to take the lid off tonight (have already removed lid to add the dual tuner Hauppauge card). I have the local number for Vaio spares etc, but will try the shop first (Sony of Basingstoke) to see if they will oblige a replacement PSU.

You say yours is made by Delta, do you own a VGX-XL201 or similar chassis?

Cheers, Tony

Re: Clicking noise from inside my VGX-XL201

ChalkyWhite71 — Sun, 25 May 2008 12:09:05 GMT

Having at last taken the lid off, i can confirm that it is the harddisk, that makes quite a click noise in amongst all the normal chatter.

The spec of the disc is as follows for anyone else's reference:
Seagate Barracuda 7200.9 250Gb, S/N 9nd05wbz, ST3250824AS, p/n 9bd133-150, firmware 3.AAd, date code 07116, Site Code TK, SATA

When the shops open again after the bank holiday, I'll chance my luck getting a replacement, one month out of warranty. Fingers crossed!

Cheers, Tony

Re: Clicking noise from inside my VGX-XL201

dazwan — Sun, 25 May 2008 12:12:54 GMT

Hi, stupid me only investigating this issue out of warranty (by three weeks!)  😞

For sometime now*, my XL201 has been making tick noises (like a really noisy clock tick) every now and then. I now find it is distracting and much more frequent, every 5 seconds or so.

It appears to coincide with disc activity and eminate from front-left of chassis (i haven't opened box yet), so i ran the disc surface scans within System Tools which revealed no bad sectors on either C or D partitions.

I wonder whether it's the noise of the harddisk head parking, so my HD may be on it's way out??

Anyone else suffer from this?

Cheers

* i think it's done it since new, but very irregular back then.

my most recent dell XPS m1510 does this lol!, i have no idea and it doesnt sound faulty :S

Re: Clicking noise from inside my VGX-XL201

ITTroll — Tue, 27 May 2008 09:12:00 GMT

I think most 250GB+ hard drives have more than a year warranty. So if you have no joy with Sony go direct to Seagate.

Re: Clicking noise from inside my VGX-XL201

ChalkyWhite71 — Thu, 29 May 2008 08:03:54 GMT

Thanks IT Troll, i tried this but as the drive is part of an OEM machine this option does not work. I'm getting it sorted anyhow, so no worries.

Re: Clicking noise from inside my VGX-XL201

Thalamus. — Thu, 29 May 2008 12:50:08 GMT

I'm getting it sorted anyhow, so no worries

hope all goes well..

Re: Clicking noise from inside my VGX-XL201

ChalkyWhite71 — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 06:44:44 GMT

Got my 201 back from Sony on Friday and all looks/sounds v good so far. They provided a superb service, the machine went to France by DHL and Dean in Ireland kept me posted very frequently as to its progress.

I received a machine back with replaced harddrive, and although i've had to remove Norton and get it all service-packed etc, the hdd seems to be making normal sounds now.

Cheers Sony!