  Weakly scattering random lasers exhibit lasing modes that spatially overlap
and can interact strongly via gain saturation. Consequently, lasing in
high-threshold modes may be suppressed by strong low-threshold lasing modes. We
numerically examine the effect of inherent noise on this strong nonlinear
phenomenon. Noise generates emission below the lasing threshold and restrains
the dramatic nonlinear behavior above threshold. The result is a linearization
of random laser modes and is possible when noise overcomes spatial hole
burning. Results suggest that control over the noise properties of the gain
medium may facilitate or inhibit certain modes to lase in the multimode regime.
