Constant USB drive "read/write" noise

[ExpertNovice]

Four month old external USB drive (Seagate Expansion Desktop 5T) is making noise. No, not the clicking noise but sounds like the read/write head is active. The noise starts immediately after powering up.

Neither ejecting nor taking it offline stops the noise.

What does help is unplugging the power or USB cable. At that point the sound of powering down and, I assume, the head being parked, is heard; silence follows.

Any ideas?

PS. The noise stopped. It was plugged into two different hubs and the computer with the same results. Now, it is quiet in all three.

 

[glamdringfh]

Hi ExpertNovice,

If ejecting doesn't stop it then it probably isn't an issue with being written to constantly. I suspect you just have a somewhat faulty drive inside. On Newegg that model of external HD has gotten fairly mixed reviews surrounding drive failure.

If you have time you might consider sending it back and getting a replacement citing hard drive issues. At the very least I would suggest backing up any critical data you have on it to somewhere else.

 

[ExpertNovice]

Thanks. I agree with your assessment.
The original post was updated stating the sound has abated. So, this is an interim issue and I'm wondering what might be causing it. The drive was plugged into two different hubs and the computer to see if the hub was causing the sound, but the sound persisted; until it didn't. Which supports your analysis.


The drive has a three year return-for-any-reason warranty on the drive so, even though it passes the Long Generic test, it could be replaced. There is very little concern about loss because, after the nightly system backup, the backup drive is backed up to another USB drive. To lose data requires three separate drives crashing and then... there is the off-site backup drive. 😀

 

[glamdringfh]

Sounds like you've got your bases covered then, and fingers crossed your drive works for many years to come!

 

[ExpertNovice]

Hopefully. 😀 just saw the link you had in your original post and perused it. None applied but that was a good idea to add the links. Most "noise" issues found when searching the "always-truthful-www" focused on the clicking, or worse, sounds. Worse for the ear not the drive.

Still quiet.

 

[ExpertNovice]

From Seagate.
As for the noises even while ejected, it is not your computer. This drive uses Shingled Magnetic Recording to get higher capacities with fewer platters inside. It has an "offline mode" that reorganizes the data for better access when not in use, which is what the noises you are hearing are from. This is similar to disk defragmentation, it is simply optimizing the drive when not in use.

(It took two emails rebuffing the "it is failing" responses and one email asking if they were sure the PC could be writing to the drive while ejected or offline before they finally responded with the above.)

 

[glamdringfh]

Wow, great work tracking that answer down!

Thanks for posting it here in the forum as well, hopefully if people have a similar issue with their drive they will be able to reference this post.