I think my hard drive is going out

[VxThrasherxV]

my computer has been making a sound the past couple weeks and i just figured it was the fan when it was booting up so id put it in sleep and take it out then it was fine after that

but recently its gotten worse alot worse...

i went to shut down my computer the other night and it made a grinding sound and i think it may be the hard drive i just dont know yet

how do i know if its the harddrive or if its something else

currently its unpluged bc i dont wanna turn it back on til i know whats wrong with it

 

[Brink]

Hello Thasher,

A grinding sound coming from your hard drive is a sure sign that it is dying. I would strongly recommend that you backup anything on that drive that you do not want to lose very soon.

Sorry,
Shawn

 

[zigzag3143]

my computer has been making a sound the past couple weeks and i just figured it was the fan when it was booting up so id put it in sleep and take it out then it was fine after that

but recently its gotten worse alot worse...

i went to shut down my computer the other night and it made a grinding sound and i think it may be the hard drive i just dont know yet

how do i know if its the harddrive or if its something else

currently its unpluged bc i dont wanna turn it back on til i know whats wrong with it

thrasher

there are only two things that usually sound like that. the hard drive and the fan bearings. First take Brinks advice, and make sure you have a backup. After that you could (if it is a desktop) unplug the drive (making sure its off and unplugged first) and try to boot. if no noise turn it off unplug it and re-connect. then try unplugging the fan and do the same. It will just give you a better idea of whats what.

Hope this helps

Ken

 

[VxThrasherxV]

thank you ill try that

i have majority of my stuff backed up but theres a few stuff i didnt transfer over but ill live with out

 

[Mac Harper]

Check the heatsink fans - they sing loudly when the little shaft bearings start to fail. Frequently they squeal at or near startup, and intermittently during operation. You might also peek at the big muffin fan in the power supply. Feel the chassis for vibration with your fingertips. Also feel the suspected hard disk for vibration. I've occasionally used a small computer microphone to play what it hears through the speakers - lets you hear stuff you can't feel. Hope this helps, from an old-time scrounger!

 

[VxThrasherxV]

just thought to let you all know it was the graphics card fan that went bad

i gotta new one now

just thought ud all like to know

 

[SquonkSC]

just thought to let you all know it was the graphics card fan that went bad

i gotta new one now

just thought ud all like to know

Your post back is very much appreciated.

Wish more people would.

Glad it wasn't your disk. (yet)

Be sure to make those backups anyway.
That disk will die one day, you can count on it.

Greetz

 

[Brink]

just thought to let you all know it was the graphics card fan that went bad

i gotta new one now

just thought ud all like to know

I'm happy to hear that you found the cause. Thank you for posting back and letting us know.