Why is my hardrive rattling?

entry · 04-28-2009, 10:23 PM

My hardrive is making a rattling noise regularly, does that mean it is about to go? (it is old)

i have made a back up of my files tho.

i know the truth is i am working too hard on it lol, but seriously does it mean it is unstable, and could crash/freeze.... a rattling hardrive ?

ShayRockhold · 04-28-2009, 10:24 PM

I would have to say a rattling hard drive is an unhealthy hard drive.

Dan C. Rinnert · 04-28-2009, 10:31 PM

Start shopping for a new hard drive like right now. Rattling noises, grinding noises, unusual noises of a mechanical sounding nature are hardly ever a minor problem.

Seriously, right now. Log off WF and find a new drive. Pronto.

Why are you still reading this?

Go.

Shop.

NOW.

Craig Desorcy · 04-28-2009, 10:31 PM

Usually a sign it's going to retire on its own real soon.

Make backups and get yourself a new one thus beating the soon to be nightmare.

Have fun,

Craig

p2y · 04-28-2009, 10:31 PM

Yes that is the dying sign of a hard drive, time for a new one! Drives these days are cheap, I just picked up a 1tb hitachi for $85 from newegg

entry · 04-28-2009, 10:33 PM

Thanks, Any recommendations?

I want a Seagate, and a 200+ Gb hardrive.

are seagate cheeta drives good? anyone got them ?

John M Kane · 04-28-2009, 11:03 PM

200GB
Don't be a cheapskate.
Get a 500GB minimum
200Gb really is not a big savings compared to a 500.
I prefer Seagate myself.
Been more reliable compared to Western Digital and Matrox.

entry · 04-28-2009, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by war28476

200GB
Don't be a cheapskate.
Get a 500GB minimum
200Gb really is not a big savings compared to a 500.
I prefer Seagate myself.
Been more reliable compared to Western Digital and Matrox.

lol ok.
you know much about the seagage cheeta ?

GarrieWilson · 04-28-2009, 11:49 PM

Get 1TB or 1.5TB.

Pick one out at NewEgg then use pricegrabber.com to find the lowest price. Normally NewEgg is higher on HDs in my experience. I got my last 10 from Mwav.com (saved $20/drive and got free shipping.)

Paul Buckley · 04-29-2009, 01:06 AM

First, be certain it's your hard drive that's making the noise. Cooling fans have given me more than one scare.

If it IS your hard drive, here's a trick that might give you enough additional life from it to transfer/backup data: Remove it, wrap it in plastic wrap and put it in your freezer for a couple of hours then reinstall it. This will cause the materials to shrink and possibly realign themselves and fit correctly for a little while longer.

While it's in the freezer, go shopping for a new one

Bujuk · 04-29-2009, 01:10 AM

yeah, dont wait any longer. make the necessary backup immediately. and buy a new hd for the replacement.

entry · 04-29-2009, 01:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Buckley

First, be certain it's your hard drive that's making the noise. Cooling fans have given me more than one scare.

If it IS your hard drive, here's a trick that might give you enough additional life from it to transfer/backup data: Remove it, wrap it in plastic wrap and put it in your freezer for a couple of hours then reinstall it. This will cause the materials to shrink and possibly realign themselves and fit correctly for a little while longer.

While it's in the freezer, go shopping for a new one

My fan did make a crazy noise about 6 months ago. I opened it, and cleaned it out (hoovered the dust in it) and the huge noise went away.

How can i tell if it is the fan or hardrive? they are both near each other in the computer (and the computer is open tho/side removed/naked)

jayleishman · 04-29-2009, 01:36 AM

Time to bust out a Drobo!

Thomas Wilkinson · 04-29-2009, 01:37 AM

Unplug the fan, reboot for a half a minute and see if the noise goes away. Don't let it run very long that way.

Tom

entry · 04-29-2009, 01:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thomas Wilkinson

Unplug the fan, reboot for a half a minute and see if the noise goes away. Don't let it run very long that way.

Tom

The thing is the noise comes and goes, and isnt constant. so if i unplugged the fan for 30 seconds, it would be hard to tell if the silence is caused by the fan, or hardrive - as there would be silence, as the noise isnt constant. another lil dilema

entry · 04-29-2009, 02:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mhuktar

How to Recover Dead Hard Drive Data
Legend has it that if you put a dead hard drive in a freezer, pull it out and plug it in, it should run long enough to recover the data. Is it true? Indeed, it seems so.

While freezing the drive for a while extends life momentarily, the real trick is to run the hard drive while it’s in the freezer. Just throw in a water tight bag first, of course. Works pretty well with other gadgets including iPod hard drives too.

Evidence:
Two techs encounter an uncooperative drive, this is their epic recovery story.
More stories of how freezing a hard drive brought it back from the dead. Note, this only temporarily extends the life of the device, allowing you to recover data before it completely dies.

more of this @: hackaday.com

Freezing a hardrive? is this method from CSI ?

SteelDanno · 04-29-2009, 02:44 AM

Nothing strikes more fear into a geek than the death rattle noise of a HD.

Especially if the last backup was ... when was it? :-P

edhan · 04-29-2009, 03:50 AM

Sounds like it is going to breakdown.

Your option will be get a replacement harddisk. You can easily get 1 TB harddisk at S$300+

Next will be backup your harddisk so you can transfer to the new harddisk before it crashes. I use Acronis TrueImage backup. Great with the entire harddisk backup including the O/S. After transfer, it simply boot up from the new harddisk.

andrewpeacock · 04-29-2009, 05:17 AM

Backup. Now. See TweakHound - Windows XP Backup Strategies For Home Users, Disk Image 1 for some advice to backup everything that's on that drive.

Even if it turns out to be the fan, back up just in case.

And do clean out the fan etc. My PC's got a crud load of "furballs", and I've finally gotten round to buying one of them compressed air cans to clean it with. Just need to wait for a non-rainy day so I can take it outside and let the wind take the furballs.

Please. Please. Please... Backup. Buy, beg, or borrow a spare drive from somewhere. Don't delay.

Andy

Paul M · 04-29-2009, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by entry

The thing is the noise comes and goes, and isnt constant. so if i unplugged the fan for 30 seconds, it would be hard to tell if the silence is caused by the fan, or hardrive - as there would be silence, as the noise isnt constant. another lil dilema

I cant be a 100% sure without being there and taking a look, but it sounds more like
fan problem too me.

I had the same problem for months with my fan making a rattling noise on and off.
As far as I know fans don't stay on constantly so that might explain the coming
and going.

I would suggest you get someone who knows what there doing to take a look at it.

If it is your fan, it could become a potential fire risk.

-Paul

fan994 · 04-29-2009, 09:42 AM

My harddrive has been rattling for 2 year now. It does this off and on, not all the time. So far no problems but I do back up all the time.

Hannah McNamara · 04-29-2009, 09:55 AM

If you're not doing it already, get backing up! After a moaning-groaning hard drive finally collapsed and died on me a few months back, I could have lost my entire business if I didn't have everything backing up automatically every night. Don't rely on saving files to CDs or an external hard drive - upload to a secure service so you can get your hands on files quickly. It also means you're protected in case you get robbed or have a fire. Thieves steal external hard drives too!

04-28-2009, 10:23 PM	#1
entry Senior Warrior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,756 Thanks: 211 Thanked 20 Times in 20 Posts	Why is my hardrive rattling? My hardrive is making a rattling noise regularly, does that mean it is about to go? (it is old) i have made a back up of my files tho. i know the truth is i am working too hard on it lol, but seriously does it mean it is unstable, and could crash/freeze.... a rattling hardrive ?

04-28-2009, 10:24 PM	#2
ShayRockhold StarFleet Admiral War Room Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Delta Quadrant Posts: 1,836 Blog Entries: 10 Thanks: 1,335 Thanked 619 Times in 284 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Why is my hardrive rattling? I would have to say a rattling hard drive is an unhealthy hard drive.
	"Fate protects fools, little children and ships named Enterprise" -- Cmdr. Riker

04-28-2009, 10:31 PM	#3
Dan C. Rinnert I have a lame list. War Room Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: One Second into the Future Posts: 4,242 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 806 Thanked 2,161 Times in 996 Posts Social Networking	Re: Why is my hardrive rattling? Start shopping for a new hard drive like right now. Rattling noises, grinding noises, unusual noises of a mechanical sounding nature are hardly ever a minor problem. Seriously, right now. Log off WF and find a new drive. Pronto. Why are you still reading this? Go. Shop. NOW.
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04-28-2009, 10:31 PM	#4
Craig Desorcy Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Japan Posts: 2,373 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 417 Thanked 907 Times in 209 Posts Social Networking	Re: Why is my hardrive rattling? Usually a sign it's going to retire on its own real soon. Make backups and get yourself a new one thus beating the soon to be nightmare. Have fun, Craig
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04-28-2009, 10:31 PM	#5
p2y Advanced Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 508 Thanks: 9 Thanked 187 Times in 57 Posts	Re: Why is my hardrive rattling? Yes that is the dying sign of a hard drive, time for a new one! Drives these days are cheap, I just picked up a 1tb hitachi for $85 from newegg
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04-28-2009, 10:33 PM	#6
entry Senior Warrior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,756 Thanks: 211 Thanked 20 Times in 20 Posts	Re: Why is my hardrive rattling? Thanks, Any recommendations? I want a Seagate, and a 200+ Gb hardrive. are seagate cheeta drives good? anyone got them ?

04-28-2009, 11:03 PM	#7
John M Kane HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: In a Van Down by the River Posts: 456 Thanks: 44 Thanked 69 Times in 55 Posts Social Networking	Re: Why is my hardrive rattling? 200GB Don't be a cheapskate. Get a 500GB minimum 200Gb really is not a big savings compared to a 500. I prefer Seagate myself. Been more reliable compared to Western Digital and Matrox.

04-28-2009, 11:49 PM	#9
GarrieWilson Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Mount Vernon, IL Posts: 4,225 Blog Entries: 20 Thanks: 481 Thanked 298 Times in 183 Posts Social Networking	Re: Why is my hardrive rattling? Get 1TB or 1.5TB. Pick one out at NewEgg then use pricegrabber.com to find the lowest price. Normally NewEgg is higher on HDs in my experience. I got my last 10 from Mwav.com (saved $20/drive and got free shipping.)
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04-29-2009, 01:06 AM	#10
Paul Buckley Dumb Irish Kid War Room Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Temple, TX , USA. Posts: 954 Thanks: 45 Thanked 69 Times in 39 Posts Contact Info	Re: Why is my hardrive rattling? First, be certain it's your hard drive that's making the noise. Cooling fans have given me more than one scare. If it IS your hard drive, here's a trick that might give you enough additional life from it to transfer/backup data: Remove it, wrap it in plastic wrap and put it in your freezer for a couple of hours then reinstall it. This will cause the materials to shrink and possibly realign themselves and fit correctly for a little while longer. While it's in the freezer, go shopping for a new one
	Mea navis aëricumbens anguillis abundat. (Quidquid latine dictum sit altum viditur :)

04-29-2009, 01:10 AM	#11
Bujuk HyperActive Warrior War Room Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: East Coast Posts: 134 Thanks: 4 Thanked 15 Times in 8 Posts	Re: Why is my hardrive rattling? yeah, dont wait any longer. make the necessary backup immediately. and buy a new hd for the replacement.

04-29-2009, 01:36 AM	#13
jayleishman HyperActive Warrior Join Date: May 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 178 Thanks: 1 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Why is my hardrive rattling? Time to bust out a Drobo!
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04-29-2009, 01:37 AM	#14
Thomas Wilkinson Cranky Old Bald Guy War Room Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Florida , USA. Posts: 459 Thanks: 287 Thanked 269 Times in 172 Posts Social Networking	Re: Why is my hardrive rattling? Unplug the fan, reboot for a half a minute and see if the noise goes away. Don't let it run very long that way. Tom
	When you hear someone telling you what YOU can't do, they are usually talking about what THEY can't do.

04-29-2009, 02:44 AM	#17
SteelDanno Awful Guitar Player War Room Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: BC, Canada Posts: 148 Thanks: 38 Thanked 61 Times in 23 Posts Social Networking	Re: Why is my hardrive rattling? Nothing strikes more fear into a geek than the death rattle noise of a HD. Especially if the last backup was ... when was it? :-P
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04-29-2009, 03:50 AM	#18
edhan Karma & Merits In Life War Room Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Tiny island called Singapore Posts: 412 Blog Entries: 4 Thanks: 2 Thanked 33 Times in 32 Posts Social Networking	Re: Why is my hardrive rattling? Sounds like it is going to breakdown. Your option will be get a replacement harddisk. You can easily get 1 TB harddisk at S$300+ Next will be backup your harddisk so you can transfer to the new harddisk before it crashes. I use Acronis TrueImage backup. Great with the entire harddisk backup including the O/S. After transfer, it simply boot up from the new harddisk.
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04-29-2009, 05:17 AM	#19
andrewpeacock Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Glasgow , United Kingdom. Posts: 1,232 Thanks: 26 Thanked 25 Times in 12 Posts	Re: Why is my hardrive rattling? Backup. Now. See TweakHound - Windows XP Backup Strategies For Home Users, Disk Image 1 for some advice to backup everything that's on that drive. Even if it turns out to be the fan, back up just in case. And do clean out the fan etc. My PC's got a crud load of "furballs", and I've finally gotten round to buying one of them compressed air cans to clean it with. Just need to wait for a non-rainy day so I can take it outside and let the wind take the furballs. Please. Please. Please... Backup. Buy, beg, or borrow a spare drive from somewhere. Don't delay. Andy

04-29-2009, 09:42 AM	#21
fan994 Warrior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 26 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Why is my hardrive rattling? My harddrive has been rattling for 2 year now. It does this off and on, not all the time. So far no problems but I do back up all the time.

04-29-2009, 09:55 AM	#22
Hannah McNamara Warrior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 5 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Social Networking	Re: Why is my hardrive rattling? If you're not doing it already, get backing up! After a moaning-groaning hard drive finally collapsed and died on me a few months back, I could have lost my entire business if I didn't have everything backing up automatically every night. Don't rely on saving files to CDs or an external hard drive - upload to a secure service so you can get your hands on files quickly. It also means you're protected in case you get robbed or have a fire. Thieves steal external hard drives too!