NOISY HD

[roger]

I've had my PC up and running for the best part of a year but now the HD
makes a loud whirring sound at start-up and usually a light tap will rectify
it, but I wondered what is the reason behind the noise? Has anyone else
experienced this and recommend a solution?

TIA

 

[Groove]

roger said this...

I've had my PC up and running for the best part of a year but now the HD
makes a loud whirring sound at start-up and usually a light tap will
rectify it, but I wondered what is the reason behind the noise? Has
anyone else experienced this and recommend a solution?

I would recommend that you obtain a new HD and transfer your critical data
as a matter of some urgency. Your disk may be about to fail.

 

[roger]

The units only a year old, surely it should be a bit more robust than that?
I thought Maxtor were decent.

 

[Groove]

roger said this...

The units only a year old, surely it should be a bit more robust than
that? I thought Maxtor were decent.

I've had OK results with Maxtor drives, but I'm always nervous about any
mechanical item that starts making a new or unusual noise.

 

[jeffc]

The units only a year old, surely it should be a bit more robust than that?
I thought Maxtor were decent.

They are, but you have in your computer a specific hard drive, not the
abstract Maxtor brand name. All components have what is called a "mean time
to failure". That is, an average life expectancy. Maxtor's average might
be longer than Cheeso brand, and it might have fewer short lives, but
ultimately these are random events. I'm not saying your drive is shot for
sure, but even the best brands can fail at any time. It's just not a
perfect universe.

 

[Guido]

Are you sure it's not a cooling or PSU fan making the noise ???

 

[anc]

I've had my PC up and running for the best part of a year but now the HD
makes a loud whirring sound at start-up and usually a light tap will
rectify it, but I wondered what is the reason behind the noise? Has anyone
else experienced this and recommend a solution?

TIA

Open your case and check the tightness of screws around your hard drive.
Occasionally they do work loose, and the vibration of your hard drive is
amplified by the cradle and metal framework of your case.

If this is not the case it may well be prudent to back up your critical data
and do a surface test of your hard drive. It may reveal bad sectors.

 

[Clive]

The units only a year old, surely it should be a bit more robust than that?
I thought Maxtor were decent.

I wouldn't worry about the age of the HD, you would be advised to replace
the disk and use something like Ghost to transfer your system/data ASAP.

If your having to 'tap' your disk to get it to work, you don't have long
before it breaks

Clive

 

[Groove]

Clive said this...

If your having to 'tap' your disk to get it to work, you don't have long
before it breaks

Hi Clive, Good to meet another optimist.
;O)

My feelings exactly...

 

[roger]

Yeah that's what I thought originally but the sound is emanating near the
HD. Still haven't had time to open the case yet. Maybe this weekend.

 

[roger]

Yeah that's what I thought originally but the sound is emanating near the
HD. Still haven't had time to open the case yet. Maybe this weekend.

I suppose it could be the bearings in the drive unit itself.

 

[sdlomi]

Yeah that's what I thought originally but the sound is emanating near the
HD. Still haven't had time to open the case yet. Maybe this weekend.

I suppose it could be the bearings in the drive unit itself.

Roger said " Yeah that's what I thought originally but the sound is
emanating near the
HD." Roger, it is hard enough to detect the source of the noise with the
case open--even more difficult (darn near impossible) to detect w/case on!
Wait, undress it, and listen carefully! Hope you find a $3-fan 'whirring'.
HTH & good luck, sdlomi

 

[Guido]

Make a "stethoscope" by rolling up some 8x11 paper into a tube and probe
around after you open the case.

I bet it's a case, cpu, or psu fan. If it was the drive, you'd be getting
errors.