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Are you disturbed by the buzzing noise from your HP laptop? Or maybe the question on your mind is, why is my HP laptop making a buzzing noise? Well, this article has this covered. The most common reasons for such issue is a dusty laptop fan, corrupt Sound Card drivers, or a faulty power supply.
In this article, you will discover, in more detail, why your HP laptop makes such buzzing sounds. Also, we have uncovered the most effective steps you can take to resolve the issue before contacting a professional.
There is more to this article than mentioned above. You will find more detailed information about this topic as you read even further.
Why Is My Laptop Making a Buzzing Noise?
The very notable reasons for a buzzing noise on your laptop, particularly in an HP laptop, are due to a damaged cooling fan, corrupt Sound Card drivers, or a failing hard drive.
Some other causes may include an outdated computer BIOS, a faulty power supply, a corrupt driver, or a faulty adapter.
Knowing the actual cause of a technical problem creates a good chance of solving it. We will take you through more specific reasons why a laptop makes a buzzing noise, whether on startup or when in use. Here they are.
1. A Dusty Cooling Fan
Having a dusty cooling fan is a factor that could result in a buzzing sound from your laptop. When too much dust gathers around the cooling fan, it deteriorates its maximum function. You may already know that the cooling fan design is to keep the CPU cool upon operation. If this is hindered, there is a good chance of overheating in the computer system. And with overheating comes a buzzing sound.
2. Lack of Ventilation
Lack of ventilation is another good cause of overheating. The environment and the surface you place your computer system upon are factors that relate to overheating. Working with your computer in a badly-ventilated climate can result in overheating. Placing your laptop on a soft surface such as a bed or similar surfaces can cause overheating in the computer system.
3. A Failing Hard Drive
A failing Hard drive is undoubtedly one of the most common sources of buzzing noises from a computer system. A failing hard disk occurs when a grinding noise comes from the hard disk drive. When this happens, there is a likelihood that the elements in the hard disk are faulty. As a result, a failing hard disk prevents you from accessing your data and files or even losing them.
4. Outdated Computer BIOS
An outdated computer BIOS is another factor contributing to overheating in a system. The computer BIOS can control the cooling fans of your laptop and could leave the cooling fans off while the CPU is working. This results from an incorrect BIOS configuration, which usually leads to overheating.
Furthermore, an outdated BIOS could be why a computer system would refuse to boot. Often, this results in a laptop making a buzzing noise that won’t turn on. Sometimes, this happens when a computer BIOS has been corrupted.
5. Corrupt Sound Card Driver
Indeed, when the Sound Card driver of your computer system is corrupt, it creates a good chance for a buzzing noise. So check out for such an issue to ensure this driver is working correctly.
6. Faulty Power Supply
Suppose the buzzing sound from the computer system is that of electricity. In that case, you are looking at a faulty power supply as the ultimate cause of the noise. Replacing a faulty power supply is often preferable to repairing it.
How to Stop Buzzing Sound from Laptop
As you may already know, the most common cause of a buzzing sound from a laptop is the build-up of excess dust. The dust overloads the cooling fan and causes the fan to overwork as it tries to cool down the computer system. Although the cooling fan is specifically designed to keep the system at a moderate temperature, the system can overheat when the cooling fan overworks.
While that is true, other factors contribute to this problem. As a result, we will take you through some of the necessary steps you can employ to stop the buzzing sound from a laptop.
- Avoid Overuse
Most people find it quite difficult to regulate how they use their computers. One effective way to control laptop usage is by observing the number of running programs. If several applications or programs are running in the background, especially those not in use, simply close them.
You can do this by using the ctrl + alt + delete function, taking you to your Task Manager page, where you will find the programs running in the laptop’s background. Such programs may consume too much power, resulting in overheating. Finally, always ensure to shut down the computer system after every work session.
- Free The System’s Fan from Dust and Dirt
Since the cooling fan is the most common cause of the whirring sounds in computers, it is best to keep these fans clean, including the fan vents. The dust build-up and other similar particles can reduce the cooling fans’ effectiveness and result in overheating specific sensitive components in the system.
Therefore, you should always keep the fan vents clear of dust and particles that hinder the free flow of air through the system. This is essential to allow the computer to perform proper self-cooling.
- Regular Shut Down
A regular shutdown aids the proper update of your computer system. Updates will remain pending when your laptop is in use. Most automatic updates take place overnight when the computer system is idle.
A proper update allows you to get the most out of your computer system. So, if you ignore shutting down the laptop, you indirectly keep these automatic updates hanging. Moreover, most of the preventive measures on your laptop must be done when the computer system is turned off and disconnected from the power source.
- Check Out for Malware
Another main reason why an HP laptop would produce buzzing noises is as a result of malware. The existence of malware can cause the computer system to overwork. These can come as unknown programs running in the background, which cause the system to overrun.
Therefore, you need to use anti-virus software to tackle this issue, protecting the computer system from possible malware. Also, your laptop remains safe from hidden running programs in the background.
- Use a Cooling Pad
Since the main source of the buzzing noise is generated from overheating, we recommend getting a laptop cooling pad, and this can come in handy when all hopes seem lost. A good laptop cooling pan is essential to keep your laptop at a normal temperature, and this way, the laptop’s cooling fan has to do less work. In addition, these laptop cooling pads are not expensive for what they offer.
- Give the Cooling Fan Some Breathing Space
Some laptops come with their cooling fans placed at the bottom. You need to consider the surfaces on which you place the laptop. Placing the laptop on soft surfaces can deter the hot air from escaping and cause the computer system to overheat.
To give the cooling fan of your laptop some breathing space is to place the system on hard surfaces during every operation. Surfaces like a counter or a desk are most appropriate.
- Update the BIOS of the Computer
The computer’s BIOS is responsible for giving specific instructions to some components of the computer system, like the cooling fan. An outdated or misconfigured BIOS can cause the cooling fan to stop working while on an operation.
This could also lead to overheating. As a result, you always need to keep your computer’s BIOS updated. To understand more about the computer BIOS update, you can follow this link:
- Involve a Professional
On some occasions, the cause of such strange noises could be more technical. In such a situation, the best option is to involve the assistance of a professional. They are in the best position to decide and know what would or wouldn’t work.
In summary, it is best to replace the cooling fan of your laptop rather than try to fix its problem. Getting a durable and effective laptop cooling fan will save you the pain of fixing the issue occurring now and again.
Final Words
The main cause of a buzzing noise from a computer system is overheating. So, if you are asking, why is my HP laptop making a buzzing noise? It could result from overheating a particular element or specific components in the computer. You can employ the guidelines we have provided in this article to tackle this issue.

I am a professional laptop and computer troubleshooter, tech editor who loves to talk about technology and software. My passion is electronics devices. Follow me on social media.
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