Albert is spot on. That is what I do. I take a picture of the screen with KNFB reader to determine if the computer is on. I got a Dell 11" XPS last May and it is like that due to the solid state drive. I also have a Surface Pro 3 for work and it is quite as well. Initially I even held the bottom side of my Dell up to my ear and could not hear it. One other option that I have not tried is to use a stethoscope. Don't laught, you can get an inexpensive one for about $12. It is all about tools in the toolbox you know. :-) 



-----Original Message-----

From: Visually Impaired Computer Users' Group List [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Ana G

Sent: Wednesday, November 11, 2015 10:57 PM

To: [log in to unmask]

Subject: [VICUG-L] Quiet Computers



Hi all,



How do you deal with a computer that's too quiet and too still?



Computers have gotten progressively quieter over the years. In general, I very much like this trend. My current desktop and my recently departed netbook are both so quiet that I only hear them when the house is silent. In fact, if the usual household noise is going on, I often confirm the computer is running by touching some part of the body to feel the subtle vibration. this is helpful when the computer is taking longer than usual to power up or power down, when the shut-down is blocked by an app, or when the screen reader is acting up.



My newest laptop, the HP I bought a week or so ago, is completely silent and completely still. there's no soft click on powering up, no barely perceptible blowing of the fan, no subtle vibration from whatever moving parts may be inside. the only sign of life I have, aside from the screen reader, is that the bottom warms up a little after some use. This doesn't help me troubleshoot or verify anything because it takes a while to warm up and another while to cool down.



What do the rest of you do to check the system is alive when you're not sure?



Ciao





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