hard drive making noise

sensitive · 11-13-2007, 01:20 PM

Few weeks ago my hard drive starting making a grinding noise when using Firefox browser. My OS is Windows 98 SE. I have avg anti virus program.

**koala** · 11-13-2007, 01:38 PM

Does it only make a grinding noise when you're using Firefox?

sensitive · 11-13-2007, 01:54 PM

Yes and it kind of pauses for a few seconds.

**koala** · 11-13-2007, 02:04 PM

Go to the hard drive manufacturer's website and download their diagnostic utility to see if the drive is faulty. If you use the advanced mode, it will try to fix any errors it finds. Usually when a hard drive starts to make a noise, it means it's dying, so backup any important data as soon as possible.

amws33629 · 02-04-2008, 06:31 PM

I just saw this post. What ended up happening? I seem to have the same issue; however it's with a brand new hard drive so I'm not sure if it's the hard drive or Mozilla or what.

ravenperch · 06-11-2009, 02:07 PM

There is something called an actuator arm inside the hard disk. when the hard disk is requested for data, the actuator arm's motor has inertia bearings inside that cause the sound. it is normal, and ignore what some business sites say. the thinnr the hard disk, the less noise it will make.

**wmorri** · 06-12-2009, 05:11 PM

Moved to hardware.

**raptor_pa** · 06-12-2009, 06:04 PM

Grinding is anything but normal in an actuator. The bearings in an actuator are sealed fluid bearings, not sure what an 'inertia bearing is' and actuators haven't had motors since Connor gave us the voice coil actuator in the late '80s. Of course this is kind of a necro's thread LOL.

ravenperch · 06-17-2009, 01:40 PM

get lost pal, its either the hard disk or the read head repeatedly moving to and fro on the platter when operating. i've opened up hundreds of perfectly working hard disks to find this and its only a few manufacturer brands that do this. and its nothing to worry about. too many clicks is worring though.

**wmorri** · 06-17-2009, 03:16 PM

Listen,

I don't think that you need to go about talking bs and telling other users to get lost. I don't know if that was directed towards a staff member or towards a user. Either way please watch what you are saying and remember that not everyone has the same experiences that other have and that is why they come to TSF.

Bottom line is if you don't have something helpful to add them please don't post.

Cheers!

11-13-2007, 01:20 PM	#1 (permalink)
sensitive Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 48 OS: Win98SE	hard drive making noise Few weeks ago my hard drive starting making a grinding noise when using Firefox browser. My OS is Windows 98 SE. I have avg anti virus program.

11-13-2007, 01:38 PM	#2 (permalink)
koala Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UK Posts: 12,400 OS: XP/7/Ubuntu My System	Re: hard drive making noise Does it only make a grinding noise when you're using Firefox? __________________ New members: Subscribe to your thread (Thread Tools) to receive an instant email notification when you get a reply. TSF Folding@Home Team 85015 - details here

11-13-2007, 01:54 PM	#3 (permalink)
sensitive Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 48 OS: Win98SE	Re: hard drive making noise Yes and it kind of pauses for a few seconds.

11-13-2007, 02:04 PM	#4 (permalink)
koala Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: UK Posts: 12,400 OS: XP/7/Ubuntu My System	Re: hard drive making noise Go to the hard drive manufacturer's website and download their diagnostic utility to see if the drive is faulty. If you use the advanced mode, it will try to fix any errors it finds. Usually when a hard drive starts to make a noise, it means it's dying, so backup any important data as soon as possible. __________________ New members: Subscribe to your thread (Thread Tools) to receive an instant email notification when you get a reply. TSF Folding@Home Team 85015 - details here

02-04-2008, 06:31 PM	#5 (permalink)
amws33629 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 1 OS: xp	Re: hard drive making noise I just saw this post. What ended up happening? I seem to have the same issue; however it's with a brand new hard drive so I'm not sure if it's the hard drive or Mozilla or what.

06-11-2009, 02:07 PM	#6 (permalink)
ravenperch Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 2 OS: vista home premium	Re: hard drive making noise There is something called an actuator arm inside the hard disk. when the hard disk is requested for data, the actuator arm's motor has inertia bearings inside that cause the sound. it is normal, and ignore what some business sites say. the thinnr the hard disk, the less noise it will make.

06-12-2009, 05:11 PM	#7 (permalink)
wmorri Moderator/Fedora Amb. Join Date: May 2008 Location: /pm/etc Posts: 2,835 OS: Window 7/Fedora 10 My System	Re: hard drive making noise Moved to hardware. __________________ Linux Forever!

06-12-2009, 06:04 PM	#8 (permalink)
raptor_pa Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Central PA Posts: 4,905 OS: XP	Re: hard drive making noise Grinding is anything but normal in an actuator. The bearings in an actuator are sealed fluid bearings, not sure what an 'inertia bearing is' and actuators haven't had motors since Connor gave us the voice coil actuator in the late '80s. Of course this is kind of a necro's thread LOL. __________________

06-17-2009, 01:40 PM	#9 (permalink)
ravenperch Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 2 OS: vista home premium	Re: hard drive making noise get lost pal, its either the hard disk or the read head repeatedly moving to and fro on the platter when operating. i've opened up hundreds of perfectly working hard disks to find this and its only a few manufacturer brands that do this. and its nothing to worry about. too many clicks is worring though.

06-17-2009, 03:16 PM	#10 (permalink)
wmorri Moderator/Fedora Amb. Join Date: May 2008 Location: /pm/etc Posts: 2,835 OS: Window 7/Fedora 10 My System	Re: hard drive making noise Listen, I don't think that you need to go about talking bs and telling other users to get lost. I don't know if that was directed towards a staff member or towards a user. Either way please watch what you are saying and remember that not everyone has the same experiences that other have and that is why they come to TSF. Bottom line is if you don't have something helpful to add them please don't post. Cheers! __________________ Linux Forever!