How to Fix a Noisy Hard Drive – Try These 4 Methods

A hard drive is one of the crucial components of a computer. Having a healthy hard drive ensures the safety and reliability of your data. However, when your hard drive consistently makes noise, it's a cause for concern. In this article, from Tools, we'll guide you through how to fix a noisy hard drive.

First, we'll analyze the main reasons for a “loud hard drive.” Then, we'll help you distinguish between normal and abnormal hard drive noises. Next, we'll discuss four ways to fix a constantly noisy hard drive.

Why is my hard drive making noise?

When you hear clicking, grinding, or scraping sounds coming from a hard drive, it often indicates a potential problem. These noises can stem from various issues and can affect hard drives of all sizes. Here are some common reasons for such sounds:

1. Physical harm

One of the main reasons a hard drive makes clicking sounds is due to physical damage. This could involve dropping the hard drive, exposing it to extreme temperatures, or subjecting it to direct impact. Physical damage can affect the read/write head assembly within the hard drive, leading to grinding, scraping, or clicking noises.

2. Damaged read/write heads

The read/write heads of the hard drive are the most crucial components, and if they are at fault (usually due to some physical damage), this can lead to clicking. A damaged read/write head will always cause some kind of alignment problem that will prevent the hard drive from working properly.

3. Damaged disk platters

If the platters are damaged, the read/write arm won't work properly, and the heads will fail as well. You'll hear sounds as the arm moves back and forth trying to find a readable part of the disk.

You may also like: Hard Drive Making Clicking Noise Every Few Seconds - Causes and Fixes

4. Wear and Tear

Because hard drives and their moving parts aren't built to last forever, they can wear out over time. If your old hard drive fails, you might hear a clicking sound, which could be the result of an arm that's failed due to wear and tear.

5. Problems with printed circuit boards (PCBs)

The PCB is a critical part of the hard drive because it connects the electronic components to facilitate efficient drive operation. If your PCB is damaged following a power surge or power failure, your hard drive will not function correctly.

6. Power problems

Sometimes, a power surge can cause your hard drive to fail. This can damage the internal components of the hard drive, resulting in clicking or grinding noises.

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What to Do When Your Hard Drive Makes Noise

If your hard drive keeps making noise, it's best to address the issue promptly to prevent further complications or data loss. Fortunately, there are several effective ways to fix a noisy hard drive. In this article, we'll discuss four methods. Follow along as we delve into each solution in detail.

Troubleshooting Step 1: Verify that the Hard Drive Is the Source of the Noise

If you hear noises coming from inside your computer, the issue may not necessarily be with the hard drive. There are many other components inside of a computer, such as internal speakers, fans, and power supplies, that can make noise.

If you want to identify the source of the noise, open your computer case and listen for where the noise is coming from. If it's definitely coming from the hard drive, continue with the troubleshooting steps below.

Fix 2: Run CHKDSK or disk diagnostic software

CHKDSK is a Windows command that can help you identify and fix issues affecting your connected disk. Run the command by following these steps:

Step 1: Type “Command Prompt” in the search box. When Command Prompt appears in the search results, click “Run as administrator.”

Step 2. In the next window, paste the command below and press Enter (replace "C" with the correct drive letter):

This command, chkdsk C: /f/r/x, is used to check and fix file system errors on the C drive in the Windows operating system. The parameters mean: - `/f`: Indicates that the command should fix any errors found on the disk. - `/r`: Tells the command to look for lost files and bad sectors, attempting to recover readable information. - `/x`: Forces the volume to be dismounted before checking. If the volume is an active system volume, this parameter will prompt the user to restart the computer to complete the check. Please note that running this command may require administrative privileges and could result in a system reboot during execution.

This step checks for and fixes errors on the hard drive.

A disk diagnostic tool scans your hard drive for errors that could be causing the noise. The software will show you the status of your disk and flag any bad sectors, preventing the computer from storing data in these areas.

When using diagnostic software to fix a hard drive, it's important to close all other running programs for best results. Some free hard drive diagnostic tools you can try include Seagate SeaTools, HDDScan, GSmartControl, and DiskCheckup, among others.

Fix 3: Use Disk Management Tool

The Disk Management tool that comes with Windows can also help fix a hard drive that has issues. You'll need to launch the tool and select the disk you want to check for errors. Here's how:

Step 1: Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard, then type "diskmgmt.msc" on the prompt and click OK.

Step 2: Right-click on the disk you suspect is having problems, and select “Properties” from the pop-up menu.

Step 3: In the next window, click the “Check Now” button under the “Tools” tab.

Click on "Scan Now"

4. When the "Check Disk Options" window appears, make sure both "Automatically fix file system errors" and "Scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors" are checked. Click "Start." The computer will scan your hard drive for errors, which may be the cause of the noise.

Fix 4: Replace the hard drive with a new one

If you've tried all the above methods, but the hard drive noise still exists, then replacing the hard drive is a permanent solution. When replacing the hard drive, it's recommended to use a disk cloning tool to help you copy data from one hard drive to another without losing data. One of our top recommendations for data transfer software is AOMEI Partition Assistant.

With a Hard Drive Copy tool, you can safely transfer data from your old hard drive to a new one/external hard drive without losing any files. To help you replace a failed hard drive, this hard drive cloning software enables you to move data from the failed disk to a healthy one.

To start replacing your old hard drive with a new one using the Disk Copy tool, make sure you have it downloaded and installed on your computer to help you replace your laptop hard drive without losing data. Here's how:

Advance notice:

• Sector-by-sector clone requires the target disk to be the same size or larger than the source disk. Uncheck this option if you want to clone a larger hard drive to a smaller one. • All data on the target disk will be erased. Please proceed with caution.

Step 1: To start cloning the entire disk to another disk, you need to select this disk as the source disk in "Disk Mode", and then click "Next".

Step 2. Select another disk as the target disk.

Step 3: Check the disk layout of both disks. You can manage the target disk's layout by choosing “Adapt to Disk,” “Same as Source,” or “Edit Disk Layout.”

• "Fit to disk" makes some default modifications to the layout of the target disk so that it runs optimally.
• "Copy from source disk" makes no changes to the target disk, which will have the same layout as the source disk.
• "Edit disk layout" lets you manually adjust/move the partition layout of the target disk.

Check the box for “Select if target is SSD for best performance.”

A warning message appears, telling you that the data will be lost. Click OK to acknowledge the message, and then click Next.

Step 4: Click “Proceed” to actually carry out the task.

Is it normal for a hard drive to make noise?

It depends on the type of noise your hard drive is making. A hard drive is like a “car engine” for your computer. If it's making a low humming or slight whirring sound, that's normal. However, if your hard drive is clicking, grinding, scraping, or beeping, that's not so normal.

These noises mean that there's a problem with your hard drive, but, just like a car engine, a Noisy Hard Drive can often be fixed.

wrapping up

A hard drive may make noise due to physical damage, a damaged read/write head, platter damage, wear and tear, PCB problems, or power issues. This article will teach you how to fix a noisy hard drive. Out of the four solutions we'll discuss, replacing the old hard drive is the most effective.

When replacing a hard drive, it's recommended that you use a software tool like Drive Copy to safely transfer your data. Be sure to download Drive Copy today and start using it to protect yourself from hard drive failure.

Frequently Asked Questions on How to Fix a Noisy Hard Drive

Here are some common questions about how to fix a noisy hard drive.

What should I do if my hard drive is making noise?

If your hard drive is consistently making noise, you should immediately cease all operations and seek a solution. The noise indicates an issue, and you must address it to prevent further damage.

Should my hard drive be making that sound?

A low, constant humming or slight clicking is normal for a hard drive. However, if the noises become louder, include distinctive clunking, beeping, scraping, or grinding sounds, then your hard drive has a problem that requires attention.

How do I fix a noisy hard drive?

If you've determined that the hard drive is the source of the problem, try fixing it with these methods:

• Run the CHKDSK utility
• Run a disk diagnostic tool
• Use Disk Management utilities
• Replace the old hard drive with a new one

We have discussed these approaches in detail elsewhere.