Is my hard disk telling me he's dying?

Loud_Silence · 11-22-08, 05:07 PM

After buying it, my hard drive made a very distinctive sounds just before shutting down. Now it makes them often, while the PC is running. They are not clicks or "head crash phasers", but something like very faint, short beeps, i dont know how to explain. They're so faint i cant record them because of the noise from the fans.
The disk is a Hitachi Desktar HDS725050KLA360, SATA2, 500GB, 7200 rpm. Fragmentation is "normal" and SMART only reads 2 bad sectors reallocated.
Any ideas of what is happening with the disk?

SteamWake · 11-22-08, 05:09 PM

Whens the last time you defragged / chkdsk ?

11-23-08, 04:42 AM

i wouldnt be concerned, it sounds like you might be hearing it now but it may have always been doing it.

try a defrag because having properly organized files that are easy to find usually clears up noises caused by searching for data.

unless it continues to get louder or makes more noises i wouldnt worry.

Arclight · 11-23-08, 04:53 AM

Err, how old is that drive? The fact that it has bad sectors says something, right? I never get bad sectors on a drive that isn't within months of dying.

(and yes, I've had a couple drives fail on me

)

AVGWarhawk · 11-23-08, 07:48 AM

Personally, if I had some bad sectors, time to get a new drive. I will move this thread the tech forum. The guys in the know will visit this thread.

Loud_Silence · 11-23-08, 08:00 AM

The disk is a year and some months old. I dont know how long the bad sectors have benn there, one day i looked at the SMART section in everest and i found the 2 reallocation events, that was before this summer.
Is true that the disk may've been making those sounds for more time, but now the case is next to my ear.
The last time i chkdsked and defraged was less than a month ago.

CaptainHaplo · 11-23-08, 10:12 AM

Question - is the drive set in a raid array of any type? If your not hearing the dreaded clicks I wouldn't sweat the drive too much itself.

A HD has no internal mechanism that can create a beep on its own. If its in a raid array then check the raid controller (as they usually have an audible alarm circuit of some type). Doublecheck the heat in your box, you may be getting a temp alert or something similiar.

When in doubt, double check your backups and insure you are up to date just in case.

If you want to find the issue, open the box, disconnect all unneeded devices, etc and run the box. Trace the sound by ear as needed. If opening the box keeps the sound from occuring - you have a heat issue.

SteamWake · 11-23-08, 11:06 AM

While were on the topic just a reminder to all...

Sooner or later your fixed disk will fail, its only a matter of time. Thats why you back up your precious data.

Loud_Silence · 11-23-08, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteamWake

While were on the topic just a reminder to all...

Sooner or later your fixed disk will fail, its only a matter of time. Thats why you back up your precious data.

Hell yeah...
The sound is not a click, nor a buzz or beep, but definitely is something strange. I associated it with the servo-arm retracting to the standby position outside the surfaces of the disk (because i dont really know what makes it), but now i hear it often with the drive working. Thats what freaks me out.

Wolfehunter · 11-24-08, 01:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteamWake

While were on the topic just a reminder to all...

Sooner or later your fixed disk will fail, its only a matter of time. Thats why you back up your precious data.

Correcto mundo.

I've never experienced a hard drive failure in all my years but many friends and family member I know had the missfortune to experiance a major loss.

From their experiance when it happens its too late all gone finished hehehe.

External backup is your only trusty friend and I'm not talking about multiple partitions.

wetwarev7 · 11-24-08, 11:49 AM

Bad sectors are a part of every drive, and not necessarily something to worry about. There are normally always sectors on a drive that just cannot be read for one reason or another. When you do a format, the computer scans each sector to look for and mark bad sectors, and that might be what you are seeing. (Quick formats don't do this, that's why it's quick!)

Now, if you start getting NEW bad sectors, then yes, your drive might be dying.

As always, backup your data. You don't always get indicators that you are about to have a bad day.

Arclight · 11-24-08, 12:41 PM

You could check the SMART data with something like Speedfan; it should give you a percentual read-out for drive fitness/health and performance. Write down the values (perhaps the individual stats as well) and see if it gets worse.

Personally, I'd start worying if the health and performance drop below 90%. When it dies, you lose everything on it.

FIREWALL · 12-17-08, 07:31 PM

Maybe your going nutz in the haid and hearing things. :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:

Just j\king

11-22-08, 05:07 PM	#1
Loud_Silence Planesman Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 193 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Is my hard disk telling me he's dying? After buying it, my hard drive made a very distinctive sounds just before shutting down. Now it makes them often, while the PC is running. They are not clicks or "head crash phasers", but something like very faint, short beeps, i dont know how to explain. They're so faint i cant record them because of the noise from the fans. The disk is a Hitachi Desktar HDS725050KLA360, SATA2, 500GB, 7200 rpm. Fragmentation is "normal" and SMART only reads 2 bad sectors reallocated. Any ideas of what is happening with the disk?

11-23-08, 04:53 AM	#4
Arclight Navy Seal Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Land of windmills, tulips, wooden shoes and cheese. Lots of cheese. Posts: 8,467 Downloads: 53 Uploads: 10	Err, how old is that drive? The fact that it has bad sectors says something, right? I never get bad sectors on a drive that isn't within months of dying. (and yes, I've had a couple drives fail on me ) __________________ Contritium praecedit superbia.

11-23-08, 07:48 AM	#5
AVGWarhawk Lucky Jack Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a 1954 Buick. Posts: 27,343 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	Personally, if I had some bad sectors, time to get a new drive. I will move this thread the tech forum. The guys in the know will visit this thread. __________________ “You're painfully alive in a drugged and dying culture.” ― Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road

11-23-08, 10:12 AM	#7
CaptainHaplo Silent Hunter Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 4,404 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 0	Question - is the drive set in a raid array of any type? If your not hearing the dreaded clicks I wouldn't sweat the drive too much itself. A HD has no internal mechanism that can create a beep on its own. If its in a raid array then check the raid controller (as they usually have an audible alarm circuit of some type). Doublecheck the heat in your box, you may be getting a temp alert or something similiar. When in doubt, double check your backups and insure you are up to date just in case. If you want to find the issue, open the box, disconnect all unneeded devices, etc and run the box. Trace the sound by ear as needed. If opening the box keeps the sound from occuring - you have a heat issue. __________________ Good Hunting! Captain Haplo

11-24-08, 11:49 AM	#11
wetwarev7 Grey Wolf Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Deep Waters Posts: 871 Downloads: 31 Uploads: 0	Bad sectors are a part of every drive, and not necessarily something to worry about. There are normally always sectors on a drive that just cannot be read for one reason or another. When you do a format, the computer scans each sector to look for and mark bad sectors, and that might be what you are seeing. (Quick formats don't do this, that's why it's quick!) Now, if you start getting NEW bad sectors, then yes, your drive might be dying. As always, backup your data. You don't always get indicators that you are about to have a bad day. __________________ Guess I should change my sig since SH5 has an offline mode now

11-22-08, 05:09 PM	#2
SteamWake Rear Admiral Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 13,224 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	Whens the last time you defragged / chkdsk ?

11-23-08, 04:42 AM	#3
Webster Stowaway Posts: n/a Downloads: Uploads:	i wouldnt be concerned, it sounds like you might be hearing it now but it may have always been doing it. try a defrag because having properly organized files that are easy to find usually clears up noises caused by searching for data. unless it continues to get louder or makes more noises i wouldnt worry.

11-23-08, 08:00 AM	#6
Loud_Silence Planesman Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 193 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	The disk is a year and some months old. I dont know how long the bad sectors have benn there, one day i looked at the SMART section in everest and i found the 2 reallocation events, that was before this summer. Is true that the disk may've been making those sounds for more time, but now the case is next to my ear. The last time i chkdsked and defraged was less than a month ago.

11-23-08, 11:06 AM	#8
SteamWake Rear Admiral Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 13,224 Downloads: 5 Uploads: 0	While were on the topic just a reminder to all... Sooner or later your fixed disk will fail, its only a matter of time. Thats why you back up your precious data.

11-24-08, 12:41 PM	#12
Arclight Navy Seal Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Land of windmills, tulips, wooden shoes and cheese. Lots of cheese. Posts: 8,467 Downloads: 53 Uploads: 10	You could check the SMART data with something like Speedfan; it should give you a percentual read-out for drive fitness/health and performance. Write down the values (perhaps the individual stats as well) and see if it gets worse. Personally, I'd start worying if the health and performance drop below 90%. When it dies, you lose everything on it. __________________ Contritium praecedit superbia.

12-17-08, 07:31 PM	#13
FIREWALL Eternal Patrol Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: CATALINA IS. SO . CAL USA Posts: 10,108 Downloads: 511 Uploads: 0	Maybe your going nutz in the haid and hearing things. :rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl: Just j\king __________________ RIP FIREWALL I Play GWX. Silent Hunter Who ???