Hard Drive Makes Knocking Noise...

  • Thread starter tehFAO
  • 4 comments
  • 741 views
T

tehFAO

54
... I've experienced faulty hard disk drives before, but this is something different. My last HDD got dropped and the computer froze, and of course when I rebooted it was done for. So I recently upgraded my HDD on my ThinkPad T20 (from 14gigs to 80gigs w00t), maybe about two weeks ago and now I'm hearing this annoying "knocking" sound. I've also upgraded my OS from 2000 Pro to XP Pro. I'm running XP on 512mb of RAM, which is the minimal requirement, but I'm also in the process of upgrading my memory too... perhaps up to 2gigs instead.

Anyway... I'm just hearing this knocking noise. It's not like the HDD is under any real load, even at an idle it does this knocking sound. It's not loud, and if it wasn't so quiet in my room all the time, I wouldn't really even hear it. In fact, I find that I can't even hear it over my own typing. It also appears to happen in about 30 to 40 second intervals, just a quick knock. It doesn't do it when I put my computer under real stress or anything... in fact the HDD has been super quiet and cooperative and easy to use since buying it.

I'm not running any applications or software... I can't really figure out why it's doing this, and it kind of scares me a little bit just because it was so hard to find a new HDD drive for my particular laptop, especially at the bargain price of $60.00! ;)

I just noticed it today... can't recall it happening at any other time in the two weeks I've had it. If anyone knows if I should be concerned, or has any answers, please let me know. I'd really appreciate it. Thanks!
 
hmm

I'd check to make sure the new HD is seated correctly inside that old lappy. it might be a hair too small, or not fastened down right.

also, hope and prey you didn't just buy a broken bargan, because something's telling me the thing may have an internal mechanical fault.
 
Back it up as soon as possible. Make a point not to place any critical data on it. Use a USB key for that. Replace the drive as soon as possible.

the Knocking noise comes from the head smacking the side walls of the disk. NOT a good sign.
 
Sounds aren't always the indication of a bad disk. They also make noise when the drive head(s) park. My new pair of 500GB Seagates are rather noisy compared to the 320GB of the same line they joined. Its better to be safe than sorry, of course. Does it sound the same as disk access (which would be the head(s) moving around) or is it a very short knock? The latter could be a sign of failure.
 
emad
Back it up as soon as possible. Make a point not to place any critical data on it. Use a USB key for that. Replace the drive as soon as possible.

the Knocking noise comes from the head smacking the side walls of the disk. NOT a good sign.
Click to expand...

Eric.
Sounds aren't always the indication of a bad disk. They also make noise when the drive head(s) park. My new pair of 500GB Seagates are rather noisy compared to the 320GB of the same line they joined. Its better to be safe than sorry, of course. Does it sound the same as disk access (which would be the head(s) moving around) or is it a very short knock? The latter could be a sign of failure.
Click to expand...

The knocking could be serious issues, but it MAY go away. I had this issue with a Seagate 40gb that I still have in use. At one point in time, it would head knock on access... Then, once warmed up a bit, it would quit. Now it has entirely quit doing that.

But yes, to be safe, backup anything vital you may have.
 

Latest Posts

Back