Clicking noise from inside my VGX-XL201

[ChalkyWhite71]

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.

[ChalkyWhite71]

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!! 😉

[Thalamus.]

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

[ChalkyWhite71]

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

[Thalamus.]

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

You have nothing to loose..

[metcaa1]

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.

[ChalkyWhite71]

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

[ChalkyWhite71]

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

[dazwan]

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

[ITTroll]

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