Crackling Sound

[eLinux]

I am not sure how better to describe this. When the fans are completely off, and the system is nice and cool (not doing anything, and the hard drive isn't rotating), you can hear a high pitched sound.

The computer has been doing this (the high pitched sound, that is) since day one. But the problem I'm having is the "crackling" sound that's coming out of the system. You can hear it relatively easily (then again, I have sensitive ears) when the computer is on the desk in front of you. However, when you put your ear to the fan exhaust on the side of the system, you can *very* clearly hear this crackling sound. It's not extremely distinct, but it sounds like lots of little crackles (like when you first put cereal in a bowl of milk, lots of little crackling).

Does anyone know what the heck is causing this?

[vpn-user]

Disable Infrared in BIOS and it should be gone. You can look at the cover of the IR an see it flshing when this sound appears.

[ian]

As a general rule the people here seem to think the high pitched sound comes from the USB config - disable the ports? better still, search the forum - as an aside, you mention that even with the hard drive not spinning, the sound is still there - this is unlikely - if the hard drive isn't spinning, the machine must be off...

[JHEM]

Ian,

if the hard drive isn't spinning, the machine must be off...

Many people set the HD power settings so it turns off after a period of time, especially while on battery power.

Regards,

James

[ian]

Many people set the HD power settings so it turns off after a period of time, especially while on battery power.

Really?

[dvorak]

Many people set the HD power settings so it turns off after a period of time, especially while on battery power.

Really?

Or it simply stops because the machine was picked up and Active Protection kicks in :)

On the high-pitch sound subject, I hear it too, but only when I press my ear against the machine. Doesn't bother me, although it still is audible when the machine is in standby mode and I kind of doubt it's related to USB ports.