0

Imagine a 17 year old revving a Ferrari, the hard disk sounds like that for about 5 seconds then returns to a normal noise. The revving noise is far louder than a traditional disk thrashing under load. The disk doesn't appear to click like a traditional disk failure and the laptop remains operational.

The disk is a 2.5" WD 500Gb and only about 6 months old, to replace a previous dead (clicking) HDD.

What I'd like to know, is if anyone has seen a disk do this before and what it is? Does this mean the disk is dying?

I'll upload a audio clip once I've eaten.

Improve this question
2
  • check your SMART stats, and any vendor disk diagnostics for indications of imminent failure, and plan to replace the disk in the near future. Mechanical disks are quite susceptible to damage when moved about excessively, making laptop hard disks somewhat more prone to failure before their expected expiration date. Let us know what the smart stats indicate. I use SpeedFan in Windows to read SMART info, and palimisest (gnome-disk-utiltiy) in linux.
    – Frank Thomas
    Aug 28, 2015 at 18:28
  • 1
    are you certain this isn't the cpu fan spinning up and down based on load? Fans get louder over time, especially if, say, a piece of paper got into one of the vent holes
    – Yorik
    Aug 28, 2015 at 19:24

3 Answers 3

Reset to default
1

The first thing is to run a SMART scan on the disk and see if that is successful. Go to the cmd prompt and type wmic, then hit enter. Then type diskdrive get status and hit enter. If it fails, that's your issue, but even if it passes it still may be the drive, but it's far less likely. The other cause could be that the heat exhaust fan is making the noise you are describing and not the hard drive. Nevertheless, back up your data ASAP, and complain to WD if the drive breaks. It shouldn't be broken already.

Improve this answer
2
  • "It shouldn't be broken already." - assuming it has been handled fairly. A single drop of the laptop may be enough (don't even throw it on top of a bed either), especially if the thing is running.
    – Hannu
    Aug 28, 2015 at 19:42
  • @hannu Yes, assuming proper treatment. I like to give the benefit of the doubt. Also, the question author wrote an answer saying that I was right in the second guess that it could be the exhaust fan.
    – Ethan Z
    Aug 28, 2015 at 22:50
1

If you can, test it with another computer / dock. Newer hard disk should never make sounds like that, generally if they make "strange" noises they should be backupped and replaced as soon as possible or data loss may happen.

Improve this answer
0

Turns out, it's (as others have suggested) the CPU fan, it makes a very loud revving sound and then stops spinning.

Will replace once I've ordered a new one.

Improve this answer

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .