Two questions: whining noise and grinding on power cord insert

[Goldom]

That was an awful subject line. Anyway. My old secondary computer, which has never worked too well, has this kind of odd problem... if I leave it plugged in when it is off, it emits a really high-pitched whining noise. I think most people probably couldn't even hear it. Now, I am really sensitive, as I could hear the same thing from an old router I used to have. But this hasn't always done this. So, my solution was to unplug it when not in use (since it is not in use often). However, when I plug it back in, though off, it makes an awful grinding noise for about half a second. I don't know what it is. It kind of sounds like the HD, but there's a very new drive in there, so that doesn't make much sense.

While we're on the subject of grinding noises, I guess I have one more, on my current computer, there is a single program that every time I open it, the comp emits that sort of sound. Just with that one. I thought maybe it was residing on a bad sector of the drive or something, but did a surface scan and found none. Ideas?

[bemildred]

1. Noises:

Fans: generally there are fans on the CPU, sometimes the video card,
the power supply, and the case.

Floppy drives and CD/DVD drives can make noises. In the case of
floppies it's sort of normal, in the case of CD/DVD drives it's not
good.

Dying hard drives can make a whining noise. When it turns to grinding it
usually means they are dead.

Based on what you say, I would look at fans and floppy drives.
It is common for CPU fans to puke from time to time, esp. cheap
ones. The same is true of power supply fans, both get dirty
over time.

The grinding 1/2 second noise could be a floppy seek on boot. The
program starting noise suggests it activates a device when it starts,
what device would depend on what the program does.

YMMV.