potential computer issue

Hello. I have a potential computer issue or could end up being one.
I own about an 8 year old HP Compaq Presario (can't remember the model name/number). but it has a 3 gb ram and an Intel Celeron 2.2 ghz processor.
i have recently restored back to factory settings just like it was just bought from the store.
Ever since i have done that, it has been making this whirring intermittent noise. it kind of goes like this whirr (silence for about 3-5 seconds) whirr (silence 3-5 seconds), etc. etc.
Being an IT tech for many years now, i have my theories, but i thought instead of turning this into a lengthy guessing game and since i never really take apart laptops (i am more the desktop hardware guy), i have turned to HF for the advice of the audience, if you will.
Ok, so far my thoughts are the cooling fan might be crapping out or need cleaned and the question there if that is the case: where is the fan and do i use an air can to clean that out or do i just replace it?

another thought is that the hard drive could have some bad sectors or could be crapping out as well maybe? and same questions on that one.

the final thought is maybe it could be software updates or something of that sort, what tool or app do you recommend that could give me a diagnostic check or pinpoint the whirring issue?

anyways, thats my thread and take it away on the replies. thank you in advance
Sumidat (or for those who ask, it is the crushed together Something like that)

The CD-ROM drive is bad. Go buy a new one. I am well versed in that sound. At least unplug the old one to shut it up.

lol you need to pinpoint where the sound is coming from. I dont know why a cdrom would make any noise unless there was a disk in the drive anyway lol. Remove the plates covering the hard drive and or what ever is easy to remove on the bottom and listen closely to whats making the noise lol.....i figure its the hard drive getting old myself. you can run a smart check with speedfan and see if anything is out of wack smart wise at least!

i will try both of those (cd rom and hard drive removal of the plates) and see if that works.
Thank you.

DrLobotomy said:

The CD-ROM drive is bad. Go buy a new one. I am well versed in that sound. At least unplug the old one to shut it up.

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Can this be ruled out by simply pulling the tray open and keeping it open for a while?

michalrz said:

Can this be ruled out by simply pulling the tray open and keeping it open for a while?

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Just unplug the SATA/IDE cable and the power cable from the back of the drive. Usually EZ to get to.
While it is off and unplugged.

DrLobotomy said:

Just unplug the SATA/IDE cable and the power cable from the back of the drive. Usually EZ to get to.
While it is off and unplugged.

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I asked because I thought OP had a laptop and I was curious about a shortcut test.

If it's a laptop, there should be a screw on the bottom side with a 'disc' symbol. Once you unscrew that, the drive should disconnect from the motherboard and come out.
If it's a desktop then yeah, just yank the cables.

well it wasn't the cdrom, i opened it and it didn't have a disk and the sound was coming from the fan. i lifted up the laptop and low and behold the vent on the fan was covered with lint, cat hair, etc. once i cleaned it off, the pc is sounding so much better now and cleared up that issue. thx for the quick replies.

bglick21 said:

well it wasn't the cdrom, i opened it and it didn't have a disk and the sound was coming from the fan. i lifted up the laptop and low and behold the vent on the fan was covered with lint, cat hair, etc. once i cleaned it off, the pc is sounding so much better now and cleared up that issue. thx for the quick replies.

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lol......well at least you finally turned it over laptops that i own get turned over and blown out at least once or twice a year. they blow out even better if you remove some of the bottom covers!