Any Mac Experts? Please HELP!!!

My laptop (powerbook pro, 15 inch) is making a weird buzzing sound that gets pretty loud. I also have to keep entering my password for mail. Is this something I can diagnose and fix myself, or do I need to take it in for service?

If this sounds like it's written by someone who is computer tech challenged, that's because it is! I appreciate any advice.

Thanks!!!

By the way, the laptop is about 3 years old.

sorry, had to be said.

:evilgrin:

they have forums with people who can generally give sound advice for how to fix things like this.

There are people there who seem to jump on every question with a great solution, or you might find what you need just searching the archives.

You might have two separate problems. My G5 occasionally spazzes out on the email password, which can be fixed sometimes if you go into your keychain and trash that pref and then reenter it fresh. More likely, it could just be that your mail server sucks and it's just not accepting the login at this time. (I have Comcast and this is often the case. . .)

The buzzing sounds like your HD might be dying. I would back it up ASAP before it totally croaks and you lose all your data. (You can get a 500 GB external FW drive for just over $100.) You also might restart from your CD and run Disk Utility to see if it can fix something, but I'm afraid the buzzing is more ominous than a bad block or corrupt file.

When my laptop's fan kicks in, it can sound light a freight train. A friend of mine has an older Mac laptop and she got one of those cooling pads for when she's got it, well, on her lap. But your fan might have to be replaced.

I don't know about the password for e-mail. Which e-mail program are you using?

if there's an Apple Store near you, take it in to be checked at the "Genius Bar." You can make an appointment on line, and they are used to dealing with tech-challenged people. (They helped me set up my AirPort base station.)

Let them do it.

The news isn't good - sounds like that, coming from a laptop are usually not good. :(

First,

Do you have a cd or dvd inserted? If so eject it. It could be a faulty disc drive. (I am assuming you have a Superdrive?) If this isn't the problem, it is likely the hard drive which, as you can guess, is not good.

As for entering the email password over and over, Is it a direct email address such as TheseEyes@cox.net or is it a hotmail, Google, Yahoo type account? If it is the former, you may need to check your settings - Open Mail, go to pull down menu "Mail" Open preferences,
Open "Advanced" - at the bottom there is Authentication with a pull down menu, set it to "Password" - if SSL is checked, uncheck it. If it is a free account, i.e. Google or Yahoo, there is a setting which you can search for and reset.

If this doesn't help, contact your service provider - they may be able to help you.

At any rate, get yourself to the closest Apple Store, make an appointment with one of the techs - They will do what they can to help you.

($595 in 1982...)

the "windows laptop" comment :) . I think I can stop hyperventilating for a minute since I have now backed up everything. Have a good evening!