I just purchased a refurbished Dell desktop, GX620 Dualcore 3.0 GHz, 4GB RAM, 500GB hard drive, Windows XP.
I use it for internet surfing, simple cameras, and classwork (no gaming). Really, it is not being overworked, as I usually spend my time on a laptop, and the desktop may go for 2 or 3 days at a time without even being powered up.
Sometimes the fans make a noise that reminds me of an airplane getting ready for take off!! It doesn't seem to matter what I am doing, sometimes it starts very soon after I have turned on the PC. It also often makes a "percolating" or bubbling noise for an extended period (again, it's quiet at this moment while I type this).
My main question:
Is this noise indicative of a hardware failure about to happen? Is there any harm (other than to my ears) if I don't fix it?
If I would decide to fix it, what is the first step? Did I buy a lemon?
Thanks in advance for any direction you can provide.