Comments on: MacBook Scratchy or Buzzing Noise

By: Samuel

Samuel — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 01:12:23 +0000

Had my MacBook since early ’09, never had this noise for almost two years. Now I finally finished putting in a new hard drive with a clean install of Windows 7. Noise started a day later, as described above. Mine sounds close to E R 4 5. Can’t be the hard drive, as that’s elsewhere. Seems to be the processor. Noise happens both on the Windows and Mac side. It’s like the screws are loose and something is bumping around in that area. Hope someone figures this out sometime. Gah.

By: Clare

Clare — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 16:47:39 +0000

Just like Paul, I have a 15″ MBP bought Spring 2008 which about a week ago, January 2011, developed this “trapped bug” sound that seems to emanate from under the upper left area of the keyboard.

The first time it happened, it was a constant, scary noise and so I restarted. Since then, the sound seems to just randomly start, then might disappear, but returns – and has occasional pauses, always regardless of what I’m doing. In other words, it’s inconsistent and I can’t figure out what it relates to as it seems independent of anything I do. Any ideas welcome!!

By: Paul

Paul — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 16:29:08 +0000

I have a 15″ MBP purchased Spring 2008 and it was fine for a long time but recently developed the same sort of “trapped bug” sound in the left side of the keyboard.

1. Turning the volume off, up, down has no effect.
2. Changing screen brightness has no effect (i heard that a bad inverter was the culprit, but no)
3. It does not seem to be related to processor overload/use
4. It is very frustrating and annoying.

Not much help, but figured that venting would make me feel better. If anybody comes across a solution, PLEASE post.

By: Michael

Michael — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 04:03:45 +0000

wow thanks guys for this thread. I thought my mac was going to explode. Now I know it’s normal.

By: StevieTT

StevieTT — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 19:21:05 +0000

Hi
I have the low-lovel scratching noise, too. I have a white macbook and just recently it’s been making this horrible, quite loud clunking noise as though the cd drive is trying to load a CD and failing. It doesn’t seem to be the CD drive. Any thoughts?
Thanks.

By: Frederic

Frederic — Sun, 23 May 2010 10:23:21 +0000

Thanks Guys! at least I know I am not the only one who wonder about that noise. bought the computer in Nov 2009. Noise started about in January this year, and either I am getting more sensitiv to it ( read pis**d off… by it) or it is getting worst as time pass. Today I am taking it back to Apple store, which by the way, I am agree on this, is usually displaying a level of sound around that is not only unfriendly to consumer service but plain rude.

By: Margus Sütt

Margus Sütt — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 23:40:26 +0000

We’re all in the same boat, i think. I bought my macbook at the beginning of this year and have never noticed the noise before, but suddenly i marked that my mac’s battery isn’t holding on so good anymore. When i used to get 5-6 hours of medium brightness just using Safari, then now i get 3-4 hours the same thing. I think that this buzzing sound eats the battery. I have no idea, am i over-reacting or what but if i won’t find any answers from the internet, i’mma take my mac to technician.

By: Ben

Ben — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 18:02:51 +0000

Guys I have the same roblem, bought the macbook at the beginning of January!

By: Dino

Dino — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 03:19:31 +0000

I just bought my white MacBook 3 weeks ago and I also noticed the buzzing with a slight vibration. It bothers me too and I want to go back to the computer store and ask them if this is normal. I’m happy to see I’m not the only one but is this normal? I’m going to call Apple too.

By: anwyn

anwyn — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 15:59:18 +0000

so, it’s normal ? like, my macbook is good, hardware is ok and there’s no distortion ?