Computer Growls

[Michaela]

I had originally removed the hard drive as I thought that was what was making the growling noises.  

No, I didn't remove the heat sink.  

The error I'm getting is "please insert a valid system disk".  

[Michaela]

Well, I've finally gotten it to recognize the hard drive.  Strange thing is, it won't recognize it unless the CD ROM is also connected.  Anyway, the problem is now that it will only boot to safe mode.  Hard drive works fine in another computer.  Any ideas what it could be now?  Thanks for any assistance provided.

[Computer_Commando]

Jumper settings on hard drive may be configured to require CDROM to be connected.  If hard drive has jumper set to Slave and there is no Master, it won't be seen.
http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000415.htm
See sections about jumpers and cables.

What version of Windows?

[Michaela]

I checked the BIOS settings and the Hard Drive is the Master and the CDROM is the Slave.  

I guess that doesn't really matter any more as the growling returned.  If I stop the processor fan, the growling stops.  I believe that the motherboard and/or processor are just shot.

[Michaela]

Also, it's got Windows 98se on the hard drive.

[Computer_Commando]

...If I stop the processor fan, the growling stops.  I believe that the motherboard and/or processor are just shot.

Your belief is wrong.  It's only the fan.  Buy a new fan.

[Michaela]

While it may be just the fan causing the growling, that doesn't have much to do with the fact that the system won't boot.  The HD is fine as it boots in another computer.  In this system, it will only boot to Safe Mode.  When I attempt to force it to boot to Normal Mode, I just get a blank black screen (no cursor or anything).  Wouldn't that indicate that the MB has additional issues?

[merlin_2]

How many drives have you got?? your psu........power supply  fan maybe the cause of the growling....are you trying to boot with two hardrives....more info on system,ram etc......ibm what? more info>http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000597.htm

[Michaela]

It's an IBM system.  I think right now it's only got 128 ram.  But it had 256 before.  Only one HD.  I determined that the fan on the processor was causing the growling.  But the darn thing just refuses to boot normally.  When powered on, the system goes to the menu of choices to boot (safe mode, normal mode, etc).  But Normal Mode doesn't work (just gives blank screen without a cursor).  Safe Mode actually says "Safe Mode" in the corners so I know that it's really safe mode.