Hard Disk click sound

Discussion in 'Storage Devices' started by oilisab, Oct 3, 2005.

  1. oilisab

    oilisab Geek Trainee

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    I was using my computer today. everything was normal
    until I opened windows exploer for the X time in the day.

    This time it had a delay to load and the Harddisk did a click sound
    like if it was stopped then started again, then WinExplorer loaded, and it occured like 2 or 3 more times.
    I turned off my computer because i got scared, because i have heard
    this sound before in other comps and then the HD dies a few days later.

    A lot of ppl call to this sound the click of the death.
    I turned my comp on again 30 min later and windows loaded without any problem. But then i opened nero burning rom it happened once and now it's working fine. I'm not doing any heavy load work.

    Im doing tons of backup CDs now, and everything is going fine. No more weird clicks.
    Im using a maxtor 120gb model 6Y120M0

    Is there any chance that my HD is dying or it was just a random click?
     
  2. ninja fetus

    ninja fetus I'm a thugged out gangsta

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    maxtor doesn't have a very good reputation with hard drive life. That meaning, they often die. That clicking sound is your hard drive dying slowl.y
     
  3. JAY

    JAY sCoRpiOn

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    thats weird,i thought maxtor was a good HDD..i actually have a quantum fireball 40g HDD for about 4 or 5 years now..its quite good id say n i also have a western digital HDD..i know WD is a good hdd..
     
  4. pelvis_3

    pelvis_3 HWF Member For Life

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    I'll second that!
     
  5. oilisab

    oilisab Geek Trainee

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    what is a good HDD brandname??

    i thought maxtor was fine since i have worked with maxtor HDD for a long time without any problems.
     
  6. Matt555

    Matt555 iMod

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    hmm on the subject of clicking, mine has been making a clicking noise when it accesses stuff, it never used to in my old case (that had rubber vibration dampeners) and it does in this one (this case doesnt) i'm sure my HDD isnt on the way out as i've had no problems, but it may be so i may get a new HD soon...hmm :eek:hah:
     
  7. aji1217

    aji1217 Geek Trainee

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    some maxtors are fine. id compare pc part to groceries. some brands just last longer than others. theres always that gallon of milk that goes bad 2 days after you get it home regaurdless of brand. then theres the scary rolls you find 2 years later that are still as soft as when you bought them.. its hit or miss really. a lot of different things affect hard drive life. but yes maxtor has been known to have a few problems. then again i cant think of many brands that havent had a few problems. i wouldnt go playing favorites or blacklisting a brand just because some people had some problems.

    that clicking noise though... probably it dying. is it at normal intervals or just random clicks, or does it only do it when you access something on the drive? if it clicks on a regualr basis..90% sure its gonne crash soon..start looking around. hd's are cheap as dirt right now. if you get a new one before this dies you can possibly prevent some data loss. just install and copy over the files. lots of programs out there to help you as well with the file transfer.norton ghost i believe. ive never worked with it myself but i hear good things. also keep in mind that clicking noise may not mean impending doom. ive got an old 256mb drive thats done that since 1994.. last i checked(a few months ago) it still works. hope this helps ya.
     
  8. Matt555

    Matt555 iMod

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    yeah i honestly dont think its my HDD dying, although it may be, there isnt anything to be suggesting dying apart from the noise and i think it may just be vibrations...hmm interesting, might have to look into this
    *puts on a detective hat and trenchcoat, walks out of door in a stylish yet important way*
     
  9. oilisab

    oilisab Geek Trainee

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    it did like 3 or 4 times in a row yesterday . Then i turned off my comp
    and turned back on and did it one more time when i opened Nero.

    I did a powermax (maxtor HD's testing program) full test yesterday and it said everything was fine.
    I'm using it right now and everything has gone just fine but im still concerned about it.
    I dont want to spend $100 bucks for nothing, since you mentioned you have a drive clicking since 1994 and it still works

    in your personal experience what do you think is worth buying?? maxtor again, seagate, WD, samsumg???
     
  10. aji1217

    aji1217 Geek Trainee

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    honestly the way i shop is i find a product i like... go to google and type in the products name, followed by the word review. i look through at a minimum of 2 pc site reviews(ie something along this line- http://www.twistedmods.com/article.php?name=Sections&op=viewarticle&artid=250 ) and try to find as many customer reviews as possible..they are almost all out there. thats a real good way to see hard numbers on performance and what all you get with the package, as well as any little quirks it has(site reviews are great for that) and see how many customers had problems with there products..as long as your not buying BUBBAJOES 200GB hawrd dryve, you should be ok i think. just do your homework first.
    and im not saying that the drive clicking means your gonna be a-ok either..if youve got things on your hd you need to save, id get a backup. if not you can find a nice one you like now, write it down somewhere(not on your desktop or ie favorites please) and if/when it does die you just buy your new one. your call really.
     
  11. Addis

    Addis The King

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    When the drive starts to make clicking noises along with delays, its definately not good. You're lucky to be able to back up, as when it happened to me it just died. Sometimes its just bad luck.
     
  12. Matt555

    Matt555 iMod

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    Yeah mine hasnt got delays, just makes a clicking sound, i think it may be vibration, i may just get a new drive to be sure, hmm...
     
  13. ninja fetus

    ninja fetus I'm a thugged out gangsta

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    maxtor uses a different bearing design than WD and Seagate that runs hotter and shorter hard drive life.
     
  14. aji1217

    aji1217 Geek Trainee

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    pretty sure the bearing problem was resolved a while ago(few years ago..). I have a friend who almost lost his hand to a WD drive at work.. one of the old monster drives..its like a 5"x5"x8" box...somehow it locked up and the platter cut out of the plastic drive housing and flew accross the room.. we only saw the aftermath..(pretty sure he dropped it while it was on.. still scary though..nice dent in the wall about 20 feet away.) but ive got a western digital in my comp now..

    everyones got different opinions and views on hardware.. just postin mine...i only blacklist intel and windows ME.. :p
     
  15. ninja fetus

    ninja fetus I'm a thugged out gangsta

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    I'm running a WD and Seagate right now, I've had a Fujitsu and Maxtor just die without making any sounds or slowing so no warning to backup my stuff :(
     
  16. aji1217

    aji1217 Geek Trainee

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    that does suck... i hate it when you get no warning...lost 3 seagates and 2 ibm hard drives in like 2 years... :swear:

    but hey what are ya gonna do ya know? besides play baseball with em and make cool frisbees outta the platters that is...
     
  17. eshban

    eshban Geek

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    Hi,

    Your problem is serious

    Download Software "ACtive Smart" from www.ariolic.com

    this tool will physically monitors your hard drive everytime when your pc is on.

    or also use "EASY RECOVERY PROFESSIONAL" latest edition. (www.ontrack.com) and check your hard disk for errors.

    These tools will really help you
     
  18. spkenn5

    spkenn5 Geek Trainee

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    i had my samsung clicking too, its not broken isnt it? this occurs after i broke my cpu pin then i formatted my main drive but then this one wasnt a system drive, i kept files in it only..

    wonder what happen...
     
  19. randomman113

    randomman113 Geek Trainee

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    yeah i have lost one harddrive the same way. it does really suck
     
  20. spkenn5

    spkenn5 Geek Trainee

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    so is it broken? if it is, i definitely need to send to hardware tehcnician lol
     

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