If your drive makes strange noises, you should contact someone knowledgeable in computers. What follows is not for a computer novice.
Hard drives do emit sounds during normal
use, but if you notice unusual noises, this usually indicates
a problem.
Sounds you are probably accustomed to hearing
(especially on desktop computers) include:
• Whining noise when the drive “spins up” .
• Regular soft clicks or taps when accessing the drive
• Harder clicks when the read-write heads”park”
However, should you suspect your drive is having problems, the
very first thing you should do is:
• If the drive is making noises.
Test whether or not this is a dangerous condition – or a temporary
problem you can easily remedy yourself:
Noises can be caused by mounting issues. If the drive is resting
against something (especially if the computer case is open),
or if the mounting hardware is loose, this can create vibration
sounds. However, they do not necessarily indicate drive failure
or an imminent hardware problem. If repositioning or remounting
the drive eliminates the sounds, then the drive is probably
fine. However, should the noises continue, you most likely have
(or are about to have) a hard drive failure.
Tips for Troubleshooting noise
issues:
Remove the hard drive from its brackets and place the it on
a secure surface that does not conduct electricity. If the the
noise stops, insert gaskets or washers between the mounting
brackets and drive screws and remount the drive.
If the noises are not due to a mounting or
positioning issue:
TURN OFF your computer!
Abnormal noises include:
- High-pitched whine
- Repeated, regular taps
- Grinding noises
- Repeated beeps
If you suspect a hardware drive failure, to prevent further
damage to the drive, TURN OFF the computer. If you don’t have
backups, we can always get you a mirror image of your drive
– but it’s best to do this before further physical damage is
inflicted on the drive. Our disk imaging equipment is very different
from Norton’s Ghost or other software, and will not damage your
drive any further. This is a fairly cheap undertaking – whereas
rescuing data from a drive which has severe physical damage
can be very expensive.
If you’re experiencing weird software errors: backup your data.
Then consult us – or your preferred computer or data recovery
guru. |
