Windows 7: Clicking Sound after Shutdown

Hi,

I have a strange problem. I have an Acer laptop with a Western Digital Hard Drive. I like the computer, however, when I shut the computer down it turns off and then makes a subsequent click sound. This sound is made when everything is seemlingly shutdown.

I thought it may have been a faulty hard drive but I tested this with Seatools and there is no problem. The sound also seems to be coming from the top right hand section of the computer near where the CD/DVD drive is located. The click sound is only made on shutdown and the CD/DVD drive has only been used a couple of times and when this sound is made it has nothing in it.

Is it normal for this to be happening? Is my computer just shutting down a component? I'm thinking because it's under warranty I may take it for repair. Does it need repair though?

Please note the clicking sound is never made at any other times.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you also for having me on this forum.

Kind regards,

Panda Bear

Would you say it is a mechanical clicking sound or more of a speaker clicking sound?

If it the speaker I would not worry about it, if mechanical it might be the hard drive but since you have tested it with the hard drive tools I would not be too bothered about it unless you start having problems with program loading etc.

You might want to run the drive check utility for your drive. Right click on the drive then go to tools then click on error checking, tick both boxes and reboot and let the computer scan the disk for any problems.

Get back to us if you find any problems.


Steve

Hi Steve,

Thank you for your message.

It sounds more like a mechanical clicking sound. It only happens though when I turn the computer off by shutting down.

I ran the utility and there were no apparent problems. I'm wondering if it could possibly be related to the CD/DVD drive?

Since it is more a mechanical sound, should I be concerned despite all the good results in testing?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thank you for your help.

Kind regards,

Panda Bear

I honestly think that it is nothing to worry about my friend.

You might want to look here for any testing tools for your hard drive and look for a drive tester since I don't know what drive you have except that it is a WD this is the best I can find.

WD Support > Downloads > WD Scorpio & AV-25


If you are not sure about what you have download this free program and it will tell you everything.

Speccy - Download



Steve

Hard drives are one of the components most likely to fail on a notebook. Having said that, there are no moving parts on the drive. So you're not getting the "click of death". If it's only happening when you shut down your notebook, I don't think I'd worry about it. Caveat - always back up your data.

Hi,

Thank you both for your responses. They're really appreciated.

Steve, it's a Scorpio Blue WD Hard Drive and you directed me to the correct websites so thanks for that.

Western Digital Hard Drive has now been tested and has passed.

I think it's ok but I must admit the sound is a little different.

Thanks for your help again.

I'll report back if I learn of anything new.

Kind regards,

Panda Bear

Is it a single click? Could it just be the HD motor turning off or the head parking?

I've had a bad power supply do this, and a HDD do this, although the HDD never failed. Both in a desktop though.

I can't really think of any advice for narrowing it down at the moment...

Do you leave it plugged in all the time? If so, and I don't even know it this would matter, but try unplugging it, then shut down and see if it does this.

Also, try shutting it down several times, each time try your best to distinguish where the sound is coming from, if you can narrow it down, find a picture online of your computer, use MS Paint to place an X where you hear the sound, or the general area outlined, and post it here.

Hi,

Thank you for your responses.

The clicking sound is a single click only.

It happens most times when I shut down the computer but I have noticed there have been about two times out of ten when it doesn't make this sound.

I've tried it both plugged and unplugged and it makes no difference.

Please see the attached file which indicates the sound is coming from near the CD/DVD drive.

Thank you for your help with this.

Kind regards,

Panda Bear

I've looked up the hardware layout, and at this point I don't think it's anything to worry about. If indeed the sound comes from that area, it's very unlikely it's the HDD or power unit. I think it's likely the media drive, or possibly even the speaker.

When I shut down my gamer rig, I get a certain strange sound from my speakers, not common but normal. I rarely notice it, simply because I turn off my speakers before the machine gets a chance to shut down, however you don't quite have that luxury on a notebook, so if there is any anomaly you may notice.

I wouldn't worry about it.