Grinding noise on iMac, computer freezes

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Phil Stripling - 07 Jul 2007 19:36 GMT

Is this a known issue with iMacs? My wife has a relatively new G5 iMac
running 10.4.9, but this has persisted through several upgrades to the
OS. Randomly, there is a grinding noise that we're guessing is the
fixed disk going crazy, and the computer freezes - no input or output -
until she turns it off by pressing the power button. When she turns it
back on, it boots up fine. It happens maybe once a month, maybe a
little more often, maybe less. It's aggravating because nothing can be
saved and you never know when you'll lose work.

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J.J. O'Shea - 07 Jul 2007 19:57 GMT

> Is this a known issue with iMacs? My wife has a relatively new G5 iMac
> running 10.4.9, but this has persisted through several upgrades to the
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> little more often, maybe less. It's aggravating because nothing can be
> saved and you never know when you'll lose work.

There are really only three things which can cause a 'grinding noise' in a
Mac.

1 the optical drive. If there is a disc in the drive, and the drive is
misaligned, it can make noise. Replace the drive, it will damage/destroy
discs.

2 the fans. If one or more fan(s) is misaligned or if an internal wire or
other component is in the wrong place, there will be noise. Have it looked
at, as if you don't sooner or later the fan will either fail due to the
problem or will eat through whatever is causing it, causing something else to
fail.

3 the hard drive. A grinding noise in the hard drive usually means a hard
drive which will fail sooner rather than later. Back everything up.

I'd take the machine in so someone can have a look at the insides.

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Mac Forum / General / Hardware / July 2007

Grinding noise on iMac, computer freezes