Hard Drive Sounds Interpretation

Some hard drives make typical sounds. In case hard drive is making sound, the files are even then accessible, and you need to backup such hard disk immediately. Here is a list of common hard disk sound and the possible reason of hard disk sounds.

Western Digital

• 200GB desktop drive with bad preamplifier chip, located on the headstack, clicks a few times, spins down.
• 250GB desktop drive with head crash clicks a few times, then spins down.
• 250GB desktop drive with stuck spindle can't spin up, chatters.
• 500GB desktop drive with bad heads slowly clicks a few times and spins down.
• 500GB desktop hard drive with bad bearings can't gain full rotational speed.
• Desktop drive with bad heads clunking.
• Desktop drive with unstable heads clicks a few times and stops spinning.
• Drive with bad heads making clicking sound.
• Western Digital laptop hard drive with stuck spindle trying to spin up with siren.

Seagate

• Seagate desktop drive with bad heads slowly clicks and beeps on spin up.
• Seagate desktop drive with degrading heads making thrashing, then clicking sound.
• Seagate desktop drive with seized spindle trying to spin up.
• Seagate laptop drive with bad heads making clicking/knocking sound.
• Seagate Momentus laptop drive with bad heads making nasty drilling noise.

Maxtor

• Maxtor desktop drive with bad heads making clicking/knocking/beeping noise.
• Maxtor desktop drive with stuck spindle playing futuristic cell phone melody.
• Maxtor drive with bad heads making steady clicking/knocking sound.
• Maxtor drive with stuck spindle and musical siren again.

Samsung

• Samsung 40GB desktop hard drive with bad head knocks a few times.
• Samsung 80GB desktop hard drive with bad heads making fast clicking sound.
• Samsung desktop drive with degrading media making scratching sound when hitting bad sectors.
• Samsung desktop hard drive with bad heads clicks, then spins down.

Hitachi/IBM

• Hitachi 60GB laptop drive with stuck spindle can't spin up, makes humming/buzzing noise.
• Hitachi laptop drive with bad heads clicks once on spin up, then beeps.
• Hitachi/IBM laptop drive with bad heads making clicking sound.
• IBM 40GB desktop hard drive with degrading media/heads rattles and squeals on spin up.
• IBM desktop drive with degrading media making scratching sound when hitting area with bad sectors.

Toshiba

• Toshiba laptop drive with bad bearings making loud grinding sound.
• Toshiba laptop drive with bad bearings making nasty drilling/screaming sound.
• Toshiba laptop drive with bad heads making clicking/sweeping sound on boot up.
• Toshiba laptop drive with degrading bearings making grinding sound.
• Toshiba laptop hard drive with stuck spindle trying to spin up(heard if taken close to your ear).

Fujitsu

• Fujitsu 40gb desktop drive with bad media making scratching noise.
• Fujitsu laptop drive with bad heads making clicking/knocking noise.
• Fujitsu laptop hard drive with bad heads making sweeping sound.

Quantum

• Quantum desktop drive with bad heads making clunking sound.