Hard drive loud

[Foster426]

The hard drive on my laptop is loud. Not in a bad way, but it's noticeable. Now, I know that since I'm closer to the hard drive, that's why I can hear it so good. But, it's annoying. When I'm not listening to music, all I hear is my hard drive doing work and churning. I mean, it's a good thing that my hard drive is working, I just don't want to hear it as much. How would I quiet it down?

 

[Debbie B]

Hi,

It seems to be a mechanical issue with Hard Drive. I would suggest you to Back up your data as once they become noisy it is usually too late to even save the data and Hard drive can go bad anytime.

Hope this helps.

 

[x BlueRobot]

Are you sure the sound is coming from the hard-drive and not the fans?

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/433-disk-check.html

This will check for bad sectors on the hard-drive, but please backup as suggested beforehand.

A SSD will run much quieter than a HDD, and gives much better performance too, however please bear in mind that a SSD is more expensive than a HDD.

Hope this helps,

Harry

 

[kbrady1979]

Has this always been a problem? Or is this noise something fairly recent?

 

[Foster426]

I'm sure it's the hard drive. It's just making the usual read/write noises. It's not making the dangerous noises it makes when it's dying. I'm just really annoyed with hearing my hard drive work. Kbrady, I've been able to hear it since I got my laptop in April.

 

[x BlueRobot]

Have you performed a Disk Check?

What are you usually doing when the hard-drive is making noises? Have you considered a SSD?

 

[kbrady1979]

Quick fix: SSD

Not so quick fix: Not really sure, maybe there are some advanced power settings that affect how often the HDD is accessed, and therefore reducing the time you hear it. I'm pretty sure you can't do anything to muffle the actual sound though.........nothing that is safe that is.

As long as it has made the same sound consistently and it hasn't gotten louder, or more frequent, I don't think your drive is going bad. That being said, it won't hurt a bit to check it to make sure there isn't an underlying problem. It would be a different story if all of a sudden your HDD started playing techno.

 

[Foster426]

I have done a disk check and no problems were shown.

 

[kbrady1979]

I have done a disk check and no problems were shown.

That's good news. If you want cool and quiet, go with a SSD. They also use less power than a HDD and perform exponentially better.

 

[x BlueRobot]

Get a SSD and then install the OS onto the SSD for greater performance, although most people then purchase a fast HDD for data due to the cheap price:size ratio in comparison to SSD's.

 

[alikhan]

Western digital has test and diagnostics software available for download. Try Data Lifeguard Diagnostic for Windows from this page:
http://support.wdc.com/product/dow [...] 13&lang=en
I would feel fine if it passed this, unless the noise is very severe. Just keep everything backed up - any HDD is like a ticking bomb tied to your data.

 

[bobafetthotmail]

hmm, a HDD shouldn't be active the whole time unless you are doing stuff (reading/writing from it). I'd go check if there is something running in the background that is doing something with the HDD if constantly active.

This page tells you how to do that. Follow method 1 and if there is something working when it shouldn't (i.e. disk is being accessed a lot even when the PC is idle) post a screenshot.

If it's noise at the right moments, then you can try this.

Of course replacing the HDD with a SSD would be the safest way to reduce noise, albeit the more expensive.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

HUm had something similar with a Samsung Spinpoint and changed to a Saeagte Barracuda - end of noise. Like Blue said a SSD is the go but if you must have a large drive then try a different brand.

By the by you could try a surface test with the Partition Wizard http://www.partitionwizard.com/free-partition-manager.htmlor or do a check with the Seatools drive app
SeaTools | Seagate

 

[Foster426]

The only time I hear it is when I'm in a relatively quiet enviroment. I know you should be able to hear your HDD sometimes but it's just annoying.

 

[kbrady1979]

SSD's are silent. The make as much noise as your RAM does.

 

[Layback Bear]

Because we are unable to hear your hard drive your question is very difficult to answer. We all have different abilities with our hearing. If it's loud enough to bother you I wouldn't hesitate to get another hard drive. I wouldn't trust it no mater what the test indicate. I have been in room with 8,10,12 computers running at the same time and don't remember hearing a bunch of hard drives clanging or spinning. Todays hard drives should not make mechanical noise so loud to bother anybody.

 

[kbrady1979]

Everybody's ears are sensitive to different tones and frequencies. I hear fan noise more than the average person, while the average HDD noise barely registers. I know some people that are very "in-tune" with coil whine, even when it is in a case and a fan is spinning at 1000rpm or better right next to it. All hard drives make a noise, some are irritating and some aren't. My new Seagate Barracuda(7200.14 Power of One) hard drive makes a noise unlike any I've ever heard. When it is working it makes a squelch type noise. Squelch is the best I can describe it. It's a weird noise, but not bothersome because it very rarely makes that sound because it is a storage drive for my SSD.

Again, the SSD makes absolutely no noise.....unless you are one of the few people who have been struck by lightning or shocked real good and can "hear" electrical impulses! Another thing to consider: slower hard drives have much higher access times which means when they do have to get up and go, it's as long and drawn out as possible. Laptops that have a 5400/5900 rpm drive will have to work much longer than a new 7200rpm drive which just prolongs the noise it makes. My hard drive makes that squelch noise less than a second and it's done......none of the endless hem-hawing around the old hard drives used to do.

If you are determined to not have to listen to hard drive noise, I have to say again, get you a good SSD and use an external hard drive for data storage. I promise you won't hear a peep out of that........plus on average you can expect 30min-1 hour more battery life with an SSD.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Yep me too am sensitive to certain frequencies that Spinpoint I mentioned used to sound like someone dragging their fingernails across a blackboard not loud but very annoying.

Hum just thought KB wonder if a 2.5 HDD would be that noisy then as the externals have them eh?

 

[x BlueRobot]

In your situation, I would get a SSD for the OS and then a HDD for the data storage, as a said before by kbrady1979, the faster the HDD spins (RPM) the less time the HDD will work when reading/writing data; HDD's can go up to 10,000 RPM.

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Foster426,
As mentioned an SSD will be a truly transformational purchase and with the prices falling on them everyday you can get a 120-128GB drive for a good price then purchase an external usb drive enclosure for the stock spinner for back up and none essential software or games. In a laptop you'll notice:
Huge speed increase
Extended battery increase
No heat added by the HDD
Lowered noise as drive is silent
Increase durability and shock resistance

Here are some shots of my drive going into a enclosure.