An employee has contacted you because their desktop computer has suddenly started producing loud grinding noises during operation. The employee confirms there has been no physical damage to the machine or any recent hardware installations. What should be your initial theory of the probable cause for this noise?
The correct answer is 'Failing hard drive or fans,' because grinding noises are typically associated with mechanical moving parts such as hard drives and fans. A failing fan can make noise when its bearings wear out, and hard drives can produce grinding sounds when they are failing mechanically. 'Insufficient RAM' and 'Incompatible software installation' would not cause a grinding noise, as these are not mechanical issues.
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What causes a failing hard drive to produce grinding noises?
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How do failing fans produce grinding noises?
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How can a technician differentiate between a failing hard drive and a failing fan based on noise?