recently when i start my computer a loud vibrating or grinding noise can be heard. i cant tell if the noise is coming from the ps/ one of the hd's or the cpu. ive tried unplugging the hard drives to see if it would still make the noise or not, still got the noise. i tried unplugging the cpu fan from the power and sometimes i still get the noise even though the fan is not spinning. if it helps: motherboard: intel vc820 processor: intel pIII 850mhz (factory heatsink/fan attached) memory: 128 mb rdram If i hit the computer case the noise will stop but come back in a little while. The noise kind of sounds like its coming from the processor but im not sure. anyone know what this can be?

It could be your cd-rom or zip drive, if you have one. It could also be the power supply fan (not the cpu fan--look in the back of your computer where you plug in the power. There is a fan vent there. See if the sound is coming from there).

Yeah, my first guess would be the power supply fan. Try poking a screwdriver blade just inside the power supply case to block the fan from spinning. Then turn the computer on and see if you get the noise. Don't put the screwdriver in while the fan is spinning or you could break one of the fins off. And of course don't put it in too far so it touches any of the electronics.

i tried stickin a screw driver in the ps fan, still get the noise sometimes, tried cuttin off power to the heatsink fan, still get the nosie, cut off the power to both hard drives, still get the noise. ...BUT, i found out where the noise is coming from. Its the fan on my video card. the card is a nvidia e-tnt2 w/tv out m64 32mb agp 4x i actually took the whole system apart today and blew the dust off everything, i still get the noise, im going to buy compressed air tomorrow since that didnt do the trick and i can still see dust. other than dust is there something else that can be wrong with it, like is there a setting to slow down the rpm of the fan (im just assuming its making the noise becuase its working too hard) also, the blades of the fan dont appear to be hitting the protection grill

If further cleaning doesn't stop it then it is probably a bearing going out.