Seagate HDD clicking noise

[Rajib97]

Hi, I've looked through the other forums on this issue but can't seem to relate it to my issue.

I have a seagate baracuda 750GB ES 3.5" internal hard drive. I've suddently been noticing random clicking noises for a second or two before going then occuring again.

I used HD Tune to check for errors and it reports it's in "ok" health. One thing i noticed, when i scanned it, as it goes through the scan to the 650GB+ section of data, the clicking noice occurs.

What could be the issue? The hard drive seems to work fine though GTA V has been crashing at times.

Would greatly appreciate any help, thanks.

 

[DukeIShere]

any clicking sound coming from your harddrive is a bad sign i would get ready to buy a new one.

 

[Dunlop0078]

Clicking is a tell tale sign of a failing hard drive, just because that software says its okay does not mean that it is it may not be taking errors yet but clicking means something mechanical is starting to fail. I would backup all your important data.

 

[10tacle]

What could be the issue? The hard drive seems to work fine though GTA V has been crashing at times. Would greatly appreciate any help, thanks.

Get a second opinion to HD Tune. Download and install Seagate's integrity check software tool and run it: http://www.seagate.com/files/www-content/support-content/downloads/seatools/_shared/downloads/SeaToolsforWindowsSetup.exe

But back up the HDD BEFORE you install and run that program (if you haven't already done so). If that still says it's fine, I'd still RMA that HDD if it's still under warranty as random clicking noises are not normal. And like Dunlop0078 said, means something physically is wrong and a complete failure is very likely imminent.

 

[Rajib97]

What could be the issue? The hard drive seems to work fine though GTA V has been crashing at times. Would greatly appreciate any help, thanks.

Get a second opinion to HD Tune. Download and install Seagate's integrity check software tool and run it: http://www.seagate.com/files/www-content/support-content/downloads/seatools/_shared/downloads/SeaToolsforWindowsSetup.exe

But back up the HDD BEFORE you install and run that program (if you haven't already done so). If that still says it's fine, I'd still RMA that HDD if it's still under warranty as random clicking noises are not normal. And like Dunlop0078 said, means something physically is wrong and a complete failure is very likely imminent.

Thanks for the answer. I ran the tool and once again shows no issues with the drive. Sadly it is no longer under warranty. I guess it's time for a new hard drive, I'll have to reinstall all my steam games + windows 🙁 any tips on maintaining a hard drive? I thinks it's time also for me to move my OS to an SSD.

 

[10tacle]

Thanks for the answer. I ran the tool and once again shows no issues with the drive. Sadly it is no longer under warranty. I guess it's time for a new hard drive, I'll have to reinstall all my steam games + windows 🙁 any tips on maintaining a hard drive? I thinks it's time also for me to move my OS to an SSD.

Well I recently had a Western Digital Blue laptop drive crap out, so it happens. On HDDs I just keep them defragged and run CCleaner about once every 3 months to keep the registry clean of junk files clogging things up. Otherwise there really is no preventative maintenance for them. On my gaming PC, I have a 240GB SSD Windows (C) drive and a 1TB hybrid drive (Seagate) for gaming (Steam, GOG, Origin).

All are regularly backed up to my Seagate 4TB external drive. Really the only thing that can quickly kill a HDD is dropping it or running it in a hotter than normal environment.

 

[Rajib97]

Thanks for the answer. I ran the tool and once again shows no issues with the drive. Sadly it is no longer under warranty. I guess it's time for a new hard drive, I'll have to reinstall all my steam games + windows 🙁 any tips on maintaining a hard drive? I thinks it's time also for me to move my OS to an SSD.

Well I recently had a Western Digital Blue laptop drive crap out, so it happens. On HDDs I just keep them defragged and run CCleaner about once every 3 months to keep the registry clean of junk files clogging things up. Otherwise there really is no preventative maintenance for them. On my gaming PC, I have a 240GB SSD Windows (C) drive and a 1TB hybrid drive (Seagate) for gaming (Steam, GOG, Origin).

All are regularly backed up to my Seagate 4TB external drive. Really the only thing that can quickly kill a HDD is dropping it or running it in a hotter than normal environment.

I wanted to know, if I bought a 1TB Western Digital Internal HDD, would i be able to just copy all my data to it or is it better to reinstall everything?

 

[Rajib97]

Its quite weird that whenever I run GTA V which i recently installed, the clicking noise is most apparent. And the game then freezes and crashes. Other than that I hear it far less when playing other games.

Anyway I'll replace the hard drive. Any 1TB hard drives you would recommend? Thanks again, really appreciate the help.

 

[10tacle]

Its quite weird that whenever I run GTA V which i recently installed, the clicking noise is most apparent. And the game then freezes and crashes. Other than that I hear it far less when playing other games. Anyway I'll replace the hard drive. Any 1TB hard drives you would recommend? Thanks again, really appreciate the help.

Probably has to do with the way the game was coded with textures and how they run from the HDD GTA V uses a lot more GPU VRAM than other games as well. WD, Seagate both make great 7200 RPM 1TB drives. The Western Digital Black series are very good (and will last) and the Seagate Barracuda series is the equivelant. Here are the links to both from a place I buy much of my components from (US links, not sure where you are).

WD Black - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822236625
Seagate Barracuda - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA8UW3H42962

I wanted to know, if I bought a 1TB Western Digital Internal HDD, would i be able to just copy all my data to it or is it better to reinstall everything?

The only files you can copy over are documents, pictures, and videos. Programs you can't just copy over from the file directories. Windows doesn't work that way. What you can do is clone your entire drive using any number of free cloning software programs out there.

The drives I linked are OEM and not retail in a box which is more expensive buy may have their own cloning CD software. My Samsung EVO SSD did have that, but SSDs are usually only sold retail box and not OEM (OEM is just in a plain back or white box with bubblewrap). And most physical brick hardware retail stores only sell retail box versions, unlike E-tailers like from my links above.

In the old days before cloning software was available, we had to back up files, load the new hard drive, then load up and install everything all over again. But you can still do that of course. Here are links to two good free disk imaging programs. Just make sure you download the free version and don't get suckered into junk they may want to add as a "service". Both have instruction manuals. Good luck!

http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx

http://www.paragon-software.com/home/br-free/index.html