Burning Smell when the computer is turned on

[Linda in NY]

Hi everyone,

My husbands old computer was put away because it kept crashing. Couldnt find any viruses or spyware. So he went out and bought a new computer in the spring. Its a piece of crap, no extra programs or anything extra on it, and its slower than molasses with Windows Vista.

Anyways he was thinking the old computer out of mothballs. It was making a squeeking type noise before and someone told him it could just be dust on the belts and to blow out the computer to clear the dust.

He took it out the other day, and said it smelled like something was burning when he turned it on, so he shut it down and unplugged it.

Could it just be dusty dirty belts making the smell or does it sound like something more. He's ready to trash the new computer already too.

Help, he has no luck with any of his computers. My is older than his and I have a billion or few dozen games and software editing programs, the scanner and camera and other stuff on mine, and it flies compared to his.

Thanks,
Linda

[Dan Williamson]

Originally Posted by Linda in NY

Hi everyone,

My husbands old computer was put away because it kept crashing. Couldnt find any viruses or spyware. So he went out and bought a new computer in the spring. Its a piece of crap, no extra programs or anything extra on it, and its slower than molasses with Windows Vista.

Anyways he was thinking the old computer out of mothballs. It was making a squeeking type noise before and someone told him it could just be dust on the belts and to blow out the computer to clear the dust.

He took it out the other day, and said it smelled like something was burning when he turned it on, so he shut it down and unplugged it.

Could it just be dusty dirty belts making the smell or does it sound like something more. He's ready to trash the new computer already too.

Help, he has no luck with any of his computers. My is older than his and I have a billion or few dozen games and software editing programs, the scanner and camera and other stuff on mine, and it flies compared to his.

Thanks,
Linda

I would check to make sure that the PSU (Power Supply Unit) is not overheating, then I would check the CPU Heatsink and make sure that it is on correctly otherwise the CPU will fry and your computer will die.

If you smell burning in your computer, yet cannot find the source I sincerely suggest you take it to a professional before something bad happens.

[StarLab]

I would suspect dust in the Power Supply. (But that's just me)

My system in on 24/7. Every 3-4 months I unhook everything and give the desk a good cleaning. I've smelt a brief "burning" smell when powering up after completing this task.

I suspect that dust collects in the Power Supply. Just the act of moving the computer may dislodge some of that dust onto heat intensive components.

The smell usually dissipates quickly, however.

Just something I've observed from past experience. And since the computer in question had been stored, it might apply.

[Bernard]

The power supply is usually a one piece system with a cooling fan. Dust accumulates in the cooling fan over time and can be a problem. I agree with StarLab. You might consider replacing the power supply unit (it's not hard to do and should cost less than $30).

[Linda in NY]

Thanks everyone, I'll let him know. He'll have to do some research to know exactly where the power supply is in the thing. But we appreciate the input on the subject. We will keep ya posted on the progress.

[Atom]

Originally Posted by Linda in NY

Hi everyone,

My husbands old computer was put away because it kept crashing. Couldnt find any viruses or spyware. So he went out and bought a new computer in the spring. Its a piece of crap, no extra programs or anything extra on it, and its slower than molasses with Windows Vista.

Anyways he was thinking the old computer out of mothballs. It was making a squeeking type noise before and someone told him it could just be dust on the belts and to blow out the computer to clear the dust.

He took it out the other day, and said it smelled like something was burning when he turned it on, so he shut it down and unplugged it.

Could it just be dusty dirty belts making the smell or does it sound like something more. He's ready to trash the new computer already too.

Help, he has no luck with any of his computers. My is older than his and I have a billion or few dozen games and software editing programs, the scanner and camera and other stuff on mine, and it flies compared to his.

Thanks,
Linda

Sounds like mechanical hard drive failure. The HD mechanics having to work harder from friction through normal wear is virtually unnoticable at the beginning but can increase abruptly near the end, causing the power supply to work slightly harder at the beginning (virtually unnoticable), and hard enough to overheat winding varnish and resistors (which is usually the source of the "burning smell") at the end. Each time a PC is booted up, it wears the mechanics of the hard drive a tiny bit, and toward the end, it's more than just a tiny bit each time due to the cumulative effect.

[Atom]

Including the cumulative effect of the extra heat dissipated within the HD, which is a significant factor aiding the abrupt increase at the end. So, heat and wear escalate it's destruction near the end, and the result is often over heated transformer windings and/or resistors in the power supply, one single resistor often being the culprit for the burning smell.

I had one HD that toward it's end I could barely touch for more than 10 seconds.

A word of advice to all: today's power supplies are complicated, it's best to not even try to repair them. However, often they remained unharmed despite the "burning smell". That all depends on the design of their over voltage/over current shut down circuit. Additionally, it's also possible for the burning smell to originate within the HD alone, another reason not to count out the power supply unless the PC is dead, in which case the PS is usually at fault, aside from the usual obvious causes such as the PC being unplugged and the like.

[3ncryptabl3_lick]

My guess its dust buildup and what you're smelling is nothing more than that buildup on the heatsinks.

the squeeking is most likely a fan. Either on the northbridge (most likely this one), attached to the heatsink of the cpu , in the psu or on the case itself. Since you don't mention the location of the squeek, it's best to localize it first before jumping the gun and thinking it's one thing when in fact it's something entirely different. Drives that are about to go or are having usues usually have intermitent whines or soft grinding. Not really squeeks. Constant squeeks and grinds are reserved for fans

My suggestion would be to turn it off and open it up and clean out all the dust and not with a blower. Dismantle it. Remove the fan and heatsink from the cpu and clean the heatsink from dust buildup. Then repast the cpu with your thermal-compound of choice and reset it. Spin the case fans and if they are tight, replace them they cost like 5$ -$10 at most.

If you think this is beyond what you might be capable of, don't worry about it, it isnt. Just take a good long look at where everything is and how it is setup before you take it apart and make notes if you have too or take a few snapshots with a digital camera. I mean, if you're thinking of trashing it, I would try this first. If it works, you saved it. If it doesn't work, it was going to get trashed anyways so you did your best.

[Atom]

Originally Posted by 3ncryptabl3_lick

... Drives that are about to go or are having usues usually have intermitent whines or soft grinding. Not really squeeks. Constant squeeks and grinds are reserved for fans ...

Well the problem is, she didn't specify "constant". She only said ..."It was making a squeeking type noise before ...", so it could be assumed either way that it was constant or not. I assumed it was intermittent. Also, some people describe noises in their own way, which is often different from what a majority would describe. This was very common at the electronics shop I worked at. So, I suppose I made another possibly innacurate assumption.

[ScriptMan]

Linda

The power supply is located at the back of the unit and at the top on tower units. Where ever it might be it is where the main power cord for the cpu box plugs in. If trying to blow the dust out of one of them, always blow the air so that the fan spins to the outside (blow from inside the case out).

Maybe your hubby could use his XP CD and install it on the newer computer?

[Dan Williamson]

Originally Posted by ScriptMan

Linda

The power supply is located at the back of the unit and at the top on tower units. Where ever it might be it is where the main power cord for the cpu box plugs in. If trying to blow the dust out of one of them, always blow the air so that the fan spins to the outside (blow from inside the case out).

Maybe your hubby could use his XP CD and install it on the newer computer?

Not to be evil *cough cough* but many PSU's are now sitting at the bottom of tower cases. A general suggestion, look for the device which looks like this.

[G10]

I had a burning smell from my system recently and it was that the silicon gelling the CPU to the heat sink had not made a proper bond so it started running hot (the CPU)

The motherboard also burnt out two capacitors on it, totally fried but the system limped along until oe day, nothing, totally dead.

Most important thing is to bak up all your data and anything else important as once you get that burning smell from your system, you are probably running on borrowed time.

[ScriptMan]

Covering all the bases, I said "it is where the main power cord for the cpu box plugs in.".

[Linda in NY]

Just to clarify, I checked with the husband type person and he said the squeeky "TYPE" noises were intermittent.

Thanks all

[den1ska]

Once I had a burning smell too. It was ps fan so check it first.

If it does not help,try to open it and check while power is on(be careful) you

[kristeejo]

I'd check to make sure you didn't leave the casserole in the oven too long.

[masterofthe]

Did you use air compressors to clean the PC? if not you better next time, this helps you avoid touching the wires and unexpectedly shorting out temporarily some pins or terminals in there.

Just be careful next time and be sure to use air compressors in removing dust to avoid further damage. If you do not have one, then try and carry it to the nearest vulcanizing shop. I'm pretty sire they have one there and you can pay them a little $ to have it used in your PC.

[sniper07]

It happens to me once, yes they are right it was PS Exhaust Fan it's stock.