SEAGATE 1.5TB MAKING CLICKING NOISES

[DJDRESSLER]

Hello
I have a Seagate 1.5tb ST3150041AS 7200.11 hard drive. Every time I boot up my PC the drive clicks exactly 11 times then shuts down BIOS is still detecting the hard drive. The BIOS reconizes the drive as well as the Seagate HD utility software. When I run the hard drive detect utility program ( boot cd and Windows ) it tells me that there is no power to the hard drive. I have tried this in two computers and an external ESATA case with the same results. I am using Windows XP PRO 32 & 64 OS. Windows does not see the drive even though the Seagate utilities does. I have even swapped the circuit board with a brand new Seagate 1.5tb ST3150041AS 7200.11 hard drive withe same results. I sure would appreciate any help with this.
Thank You!
djdressler

 

[tokencode]

Sounds like it could be a bad controller, try swapping PCBs and remember to move the firmware chip.

 

[John_VanKirk]

Hello,

There are repeated posts on the Inet about repeated clicking from Seagate HDDs. One about exactly 11 clicks as described here.
Here is what Seagate says about abnormal noises. They don't address the repeated clicks or 11 clicks however. There are also complaints of Seagate HDDs being noisy and sometimes with vibration.

Since HDD noises are NOT normal, especially repeated clicking sounds, strongly consider sending it in for replacement

Today's hard drives are very quiet and usually the system fan noise covers the drive. When the system ventilation fans get dirty or out of balance they can begin to make noise. Sometimes the hard drive is suspected of making these new noises.

Older hard drives will make noise during normal use. The level and type of noise may change depending on the function the drive is performing. Users must be able to distinguish normal noises from detrimental, abnormal noises.

Normal sounds include:
1.Whining noise during drive spin-up.
2.Regular clicking or tapping sounds during drive access.
3.Hard clicks when the drive heads park during power saving modes like Standby or Hibernation.

Abnormal noises include:
1.High-pitched whining sound can be an indication of abnormal function.
2.Noises can be caused by mounting issues. This is due to either a high frequency vibration in the mounting hardware, or a potential drive failure.
3.Repeated, regular tapping, grinding or beeping.
4.Seagate and Maxtor hard drives do not contain audio speakers. Some failure mechanisms may make a regular repeating beep from the computer's internal speaker. This may or not be hard drive related. Check your system documentation for an explanation of system beep codes. If a drive failure is possible, it is always important to make an immediate backup.
5.Two hard clicks at start up and then a boot error message or system shutdown is a symptom of a failed drive. Check your cables and connections in case they might have gotten loose. You can use SeaTools to diagnose the drive however it may be non-responding.

Troubleshooting noise issues:
1.Run SeaTools for ATA and SATA drives, SeaTools Enterprise for Seagate SCSI drives, or SCSIMax for Maxtor or Quantum SCSI drives. SeaTools and SCSIMax will determine if the drive is malfunctioning or defective. In addition to checking for errors with SeaTools’ Short and Long Test, you can use the Acoustic Test to spin down your ATA or SATA hard drive while your system is on to determine if your drive is making the noise, or if the sound is caused by another device in your system such as the fan.
2.If the tests did not detect any errors try onnecting the hard drive from ONLY the data cable. If the noise stops, check the physical installation of the hard drive.
3.Remove the hard drive from the mounting brackets and place the hard drive securely on an insulated surface. If noise stops after the hard drive is removed from the mounting brackets, check cables for twisting, warping and insert gasket washers between the mounting brackets and drive screws.

 

[John_VanKirk]

Hi again,

Here is a very interest web page that lists the different manufacturers of drives, and the 'noises or clicks' their drives make depending on the problem. Click on the arrow to actually listen to the .wav file of the noises.

Possibly you will hear something similar to the complaint of your HDD.

http://datacent.com/hard_drive_sounds.php

 

[fzabkar]

It's not a board fault. :-(

 

[DJDRESSLER]

Thanks to all of you for your input to my problem. I have decided the best thing to do, is give the drive back to Seagate while its still under warrenty ( 02/25/2012 ).
Again thanks for all the help!!!
djdressler

 

[gsteel]

My ST31500541AS CC34 firmware 1.5TB SEAGATE started making random soft clicking noises (head parking?). Used SEATOOLS and it passed short and long tests and acoustic test.

Upgraded to firmware CC35 and the soft clicks are history!

 

[toneeedotcom]

I have seen this in action with a barely used 4 GB GoFlex external hard drive, which turned about to be a Barracuda XT SATA drive. It is basically "the click of death" and marks the end of your hard drive and the files on it. The heads and the arm(s) attached are basically flipping back and forth somewhat like a windshield wiper, banging into physical barriers in there, because it no longer knows where to go. It tries to find its place, but after 11 tries, it just gives up and sits there. During this process, if the heads are touching the surface of the platter(s), additional damage (scratches) may occur, possibly destroying more data.

Freezing the hard drive, turning it upside, etc. will likely fail. Opening the hard drive and exposing the platter(s) is far too risky. As far as using software to fix the drive, it never passes its self test, which means the drive will likely never appear on-screen in order to run an analysis.

Basically, professional data recovery is your only option. As of Sept 2014, Seagate charges a non-refundable $49 "engagement fee" along with a $450 to recover your data, deducted upon successful recovery. That's why you should back up your data in the cloud.

Sorry for the bad news.