HDD making noise

[Exxon]

Hi everyone,

 

Lately, my harddrive is making noise.

At first I thought it was my CD Drive, but those can't make such sound I hear.

It starts a few seconds after I start my pc, and goes on for about 3 to 5 minutes.

 

It sounds something like this, but then the sound at 0:18

 

 

 

In fact, this is the same HDD as I have.

I have the 'Western Digital WD WD6400AACS-00G8B'

It has 640 GB at 7.200 RPM, but I don't know if it's the 00G8B1 or not.

My pc says without the 1.

 

What's going on?

This morning I was playing Minecraft, and I noticed that my pc was pretty quiet (as it normally isn't, especially with the side panel on).

The HDD was very very hot, it felt the same as my videocard (65 C) [pretty warm for playing Minecraft right?]

 

Can anyone help me?

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Exxon

[OverTheBelow]

Thats a very clear sign that the harddrive is about to fail.

 

You should look to backing up your data ASAP.

 

 

[Exxon]

Well, it's not clicking (yet), and the sound always goes away after a few minutes.

And all of my games work perfectly, and I don't really notice a slow computer or something.

Shall I record the sound today or tomorrow so you can decide better (as that video isn't from me)?

[OverTheBelow]

If you want, but I really would recommend backing up your data to be sure. Any sort of clicking from the HDD could indicate a problem with the read/write head.

[Exxon]

Well luckily I haven't heard any sort of clicking

I rather don't backup my files, as I got +10 games on my pc (from the available 600 GB, I've got 230 left)

[OverTheBelow]

I rather don't backup my files, as I got +10 games on my pc (from the available 600 GB, I've got 230 left)

Don't you worry about your save games? You'd lose all your Minecraft worlds, for example.

[Andrew]

Moving this to Tech and PC chat which is a more suitable location for it.

 

Exxon, your hard drive is failing. The clicking sound you hear is a problem with the heads. You need to get it backed up ASAP, it shouldn't make any noise except standard operating noise.

 

It won't go straight away, but one day it will do. So I suggest you back it up ASAP.

[Exxon]

But I don't hear clicking, so are you sure

How can I backup 10's of GB's of data?

[Finn 7 five 11]

I rather don't backup my files, as I got +10 games on my pc (from the available 600 GB, I've got 230 left)

Don't you worry about your save games? You'd lose all your Minecraft worlds, for example.

Don't be ignorant, back up everything of importance, otherwise you will most definitely be regretting it.

 

You came here for help, and it seems pretty certain that is probably the Harddrive failing, so i suggest taking the advice strongly, otherwise your next thread will be "how do i get data from my broken Harddrive?"

[Exxon]

I'm not shocked that fast, but now I actually am

And I've been hearing this actually for a couple of weeks now, so you guys are saying I could lose my dear computer very soon

[Wolf68k]

Backing up the data should be easy. 10GB isn't that much. You can get some USB thumb drives easily and cheap enough to spread the data out over that, or get a single 16GB (or bigger) thumb drive. Or of course just burn it to DVD.

 

Personally I would be curious enough to see what the SMART system reads on it. HDTune has a free version http://www.hdtune.com/download.html

 

 

Side note: I think your first mistake was getting a Green drive. Not a good choice for gamers....personally not a good choice period. If you're going to go with WD then get Blue or Black.

[Exxon]

When I bought this pc, I didn't knew anything aboutpc's.

That's why it's OEM

[Finn 7 five 11]

I'm not shocked that fast, but now I actually am

And I've been hearing this actually for a couple of weeks now, so you guys are saying I could lose my dear computer very soon

Your PC will be fine, you just need a new haddrive, that is an easy fix

[Exxon]

Well, my father says that if this computer won't work anymore (HDD failure included) we will probably just get a whole new (custom) pc.

Then I can finally get rid of this C2Q Q8300 and get i5-2500k

 

By the way finn4life, anóther repair/upgrade on this pc isn't what my father likes to see.

We've already upgraded it for €280, another upgrade isn't what he's going to like (so it will probably be a new custom pc, but then I'll keep my new GPU ).

 

Off-topic:

I saw a computer with i5-2500, 4 GB RAM and HD 6970 (not good pc case I thought) for €1400.

Then I made the same pc, but with the 2500k and GTX 570, and that was about €900

[Exxon]

But why is it always making the sound the first ~10 minutes of starting up the PC?

Why not the whole time?

 

And what should I backup besides my documents and photo's?

The AppData folder (savegames)?

 

EDIT

Sorry for double post!

Edited July 12, 2011 by Exxon

[Finn 7 five 11]

But why is it always making the sound the first ~10 minutes of starting up the PC?

Why not the whole time?

 

And what should I backup besides my documents and photo's?

The AppData folder (savegames)?

 

EDIT

Sorry for double post!

ANything you don't want to lose, pretty simple really.

 

You can do a full back-up of everything, but i forget how to, somebody here should be able to help you with that.

this video should explain it if you have windows 7.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows...kup-and-restore

 

Do NOT buy a pre-built computer, you WILL get ripped off, buy the components yourself, we can help you on this forum we can give you a good set-up if your not sure, and instruction on how to do it, unless your father is a competent pc builder?

 

So talk to your dad and if he deems it fit to get a new computer (once you have everything backed up) just make a thread describing what you need the computer for, and what your budget is and we can select components for you.

[OverTheBelow]

But why is it always making the sound the first ~10 minutes of starting up the PC?

Why not the whole time?

 

And what should I backup besides my documents and photo's?

The AppData folder (savegames)?

 

EDIT

Sorry for double post!

It may only be happening at startup because this is when the harddrive is being stressed most - loading Windows, applications, etc.

 

 

Buying a completely new computer will be unneccessary. Only the harddrive needs to be replaced - I'd recommend a Spinpoint F3 1TB for great bang for buck.

[Exxon]

@finn4life (Off-topic)

My father works at the office, he isn't really technical.

I mean, my sister's HDD of her laptop was full, she had 2 parts of space and 1 was full.

My father dragged the big files to the other, instead of copying and pasting making the other one full too

 

But on topic, I can replace a heatsink, CPU, videocard, PSU and RAM, but replacing the HDD?

No way, and what about all drivers and things? Then I'll need to reinstall Windows, motherboard drivers (don't even know where to get them, don't even know my motherboard model).

 

And my father is a bit simple sometimes, he'll just say 'We'll get a new (f*cking) computer, and then I don't want to hear you for the next 5 years!'

Know what I mean?

 

But I gues I'll be copying a lot of files today

[Wolf68k]

Don't go all sad face about having to make a back up of your files. You should be doing that anyway.

As to why the drive is making that noise; drives fail...hell all hardware fails at some point. Usually a drive, and some times other hardware, will fail as soon as you get it or it'll last a few days/weeks and then fail or it'll lost for years (more so if it's treated properly). Doesn't matter if it's brand new, fresh off the factory floor and you got it directly from the factory because you or someone you know works there, it can still fail the first time it's turned on. Nothing in this world is perfect every time.

 

I'm not sure what OEM has to do with what I said about the drive being a Green drive, unless you were talking to someone else.

WD makes a Green, Blue and Black version of their drives.

Green is more for light use because it uses less power and will spin down more often thus to use less power.

Black is their performance drive, ideal for gamers and anyone that needs fast reaction time from their storage drive for constant access like video editors and so on.

Blue is a go-between. It's not quite as high performance as the Black but also doesn't use as much power but it doesn't spin down as much as the Green and because of that uses more power.

You can also look at this way:

Green = Prius

Black = gas guzzling Humvee but fast as hell Lambo

Blue = the old reliable family car

[Exxon]

I've just put a 4,7 GB cd full with my files.

I'm gonna copy everything on it to my older pc so it's not only on a cd.

 

My parents are gonna buy a new fence because the current is dieing, no new pc

I'll see how long this hardrive will last, then gonna buy a new one.

I'll see how it's gonna work out with it

 

By the way, I spoke about OEM because I bought an OEM system which came with this HDD

Edited July 12, 2011 by Exxon

[TenEightyOne]

I've just put a 4,7 GB cd full with my files.

I'm gonna copy everything on it to my older pc so it's not only on a cd.

 

My parents are gonna buy a new fence because the current is dieing, no new pc

I'll see how long this hardrive will last, then gonna buy a new one.

I'll see how it's gonna work out with it

 

By the way, I spoke about OEM because I bought an OEM system which came with this HDD

Have you opened the PC up?

 

If you haven't localised the sound to the HDD itself then the issue is (potentially) the fan on the main board.

 

That said; with that HDD it wouldn't surprise me to find that the drive was on its way out...

[Exxon]

It's a pretty big mess in my pc, could it be that (a lot of) cables could let the hdd make such noise?

I gues no eh?

[Stinky12]

1. That loud buzzing noise is coming from one of your fans as its about to die.

2. The clicking noise can be your HDD, as others said perform a backup.

Just go buy a external hard drive (a size larger than your internal) and copy whatever

that's important.

If you don't know how to, bring it to a professional.

[TenEightyOne]

It's a pretty big mess in my pc, could it be that (a lot of) cables could let the hdd make such noise?

I gues no eh?

No, cables don't make noise

 

The noise is coming from something with a motor.

 

Those things are only; fans, CD/DVD drives, floppy drives, hard disk drives.

 

Do you have an HDD light that flashes when the drive is being accessed? See if you can sync the noisiness to the illuminations of that light?

 

The best thing to do is to CAREFULLY open the PC (without the power cable attached). Power the PC once you've got it stable and secure.

 

Do NOT put your hands inside unless you're 100% sure what you're touching!!!!!

 

You should be able to move your head around near the PC and work out where the noise is from... but do an HDD backup anyway (you should always have one!)

[Exxon]

Oh god damnit ...

 

As TenEightyOne said, I should localize the sound.

My pc is in such position that I can't stick my head between the pc and the wall (or barely).

From where I sit now, I can bend and listen, then it comes from the HDD.

But I moved the pc so I can look into it, started the pc and listened.

I think the sound comes from one of my fans!

And I think it's the fan from the heatsink or my videocard, but from the last one I'm not sure

 

EDIT

Can I go to a hardware shop and buy a new heatsink, but then only the part that absorbs the heat and the fan?

Then I'll keep my current plastic thing on it, because that one barely fits so I don't think another one would fit

 

EDIT 2

Is this one a good one?

I've got a pretty small case, that's why I want that. And it's also cheap

 

EDIT 3

Ah screw it! Even that one is never gonna fit!

How the hell can I put a +12 cm heatsink in it if I only got about 10 cm space!

Edited July 13, 2011 by Exxon

[corvettelover]

This is a bit too late, but, when you get a new HD, check for bios updates. I went through like 4 HD's before I found a bios update and the notes said something along the lines of "Fixed HD problems/crashing with USB devices plugged in" so check for a bios update before it happens to a 2nd HD. It's been over a year without a single problem, before the update the HD's would click within around 1 to 3 ish months of being plugged in.

 

Also, kinda offtopic, but whats wrong with WD Green HD's? I think that is what I bought for my PC a bit over a year ago (no probs so far!)

[TenEightyOne]

EDIT 3

Ah screw it! Even that one is never gonna fit!

How the hell can I put a +12 cm heatsink in it if I only got about 10 cm space!

 

That definitely the question?

 

 

Answer... you can't. Try searching for parts from the equipment manufacturer (or motherboard manufacturer). Failing that see if you can CAREFULLY disconnect the fan and go down to your local Radio Shack and ask the droids for a match. Do they still exist?

[Exxon]

I'm still not sure where the sound comes from

 

My videocard and heatsink fan both do a 100% fan at startup, for 1 second.

After that, the sound comes. So now I believe it's the HDD again

 

Well, I gues I'll have to see what it really is.

When I know it, I'll contact this topic again. Ok?

[Wolf68k]

 

This is a bit too late, but, when you get a new HD, check for bios updates. I went through like 4 HD's before I found a bios update and the notes said something along the lines of "Fixed HD problems/crashing with USB devices plugged in" so check for a bios update before it happens to a 2nd HD. It's been over a year without a single problem, before the update the HD's would click within around 1 to 3 ish months of being plugged in.

While that is a fine idea, it also sounds like something that would be limited to that maker or more so to that mobo.

Example: I've gone through about 7 mobo's now and I've only had 1 where having the on-board LAN enabled it would always search for a network to connect to even though the setting for that feature was disabled in the BIOS. To make things worse once an update did come out that fixed that there was a new problem in which it wouldn't see that a floppy drive was connected and would stop on start up because of this. This was with a Jetway mobo.

Now if someone else had that kind of issue with the on-board LAN enabled it would do the same thing that if they update their BIOS then it'll cause the mobo to to correctly detect the floppy drive, because that was a unique experience to that one model of mobo and it's BIOS.

 

 

Also, kinda offtopic, but whats wrong with WD Green HD's? I think that is what I bought for my PC a bit over a year ago (no probs so far!)

WD's Green drive is not meant for gamers. It's meant for people that use their PC to just surf the web and to bills and taxes and things like that.

The Green drive is said to be quieter than the Blue and Black drives, however it does only spin up to 5400RPM too while the other 2 are 7200RPM. The performance is random depending the work it has to do. For purely storage it's fine but for an serious work, like loading a game or editing, you want something will get the job done as fast as possible.

For a laptop it's fine because you don't really expect to need a high performance drive there but will want less power consumption so you can go longer on a single charge. Now a SSD will give that laptop the best of both of those worlds but you have take a hit on storage capacity.

[Slamman]

For the record, I read the normal HDD life span is supposed to be 5 years, but I've seen some of the oldest HDD PATAs still working, and even with some noise, they can work. I'll buy a used one that's cited as being noisy, for a low asking cost.

 

I have a small 4GB Toshiba drive that was formatted in Win 9x, it had Sectors damaged and the SMART system indicated replacement too, but despite all that, In a practice attempt to format XP on something for my Compal laptop, it worked and has not shown any errors since!

 

It's rather amazing but as a 4GB drive with XP OS, there's little room left to actually work with! haha