Higgs Boson wrote:

My guru is not here, so I don't know what to do! My computer (PC, 5+
years old; well-behaved), has started SCREAMING every few minutes.
It wants something, or is warning me of something.

Turning to knowledgeable NG members: Did you ever experience this?
What might it mean?

My PC did that years ago. Turned out to be the bearing in the hard
drive. Better backup your stuff now and get ready to buy a new hard
drive (or new PC).