According to statistics, after about 6 years every second HDD stops working, but practice shows that after 2-3 years in operation hard drive malfunctions may occur. One of the common problems is when the drive cracks or even beeps. Even if this was noticed only once, certain measures should be taken to protect against possible data loss.

A working hard drive should not have any extraneous sounds during operation. It makes some hum-like noise when writing or reading information. For example, when downloading files, running programs in the background, updates, launching games, applications, etc. There should be no knocks, clicks, squeaks or crackles.

If the user observes sounds unusual for the hard drive, it is very important to find out the cause of their occurrence.

Checking the status of the hard drive

Often, a user who runs the HDD status diagnostic utility can hear clicks made by the device. This is not dangerous, since in this way the drive can simply mark the so-called bad sectors.

If the rest of the time there are no clicks or other sounds, operating system works stably and the speed of the HDD itself has not dropped, then there is no reason to worry.

Switching to power saving mode

If you have turned on the power saving mode, and when the system goes into it you hear clicks from the hard drive, then this is normal. If you disable the corresponding settings, clicks will no longer appear.

Power outages

Power surges can also cause the hard drive to click, and if the problem is not observed the rest of the time, then everything is fine with the drive. Laptop users may also experience various non-standard HDD sounds when running on battery power. If the clicking noise disappears when you connect the laptop to the network, then the battery may be faulty and should be replaced with a new one.

Overheat

For various reasons, the hard drive may overheat, and a sign of this condition will be various non-standard sounds that it makes. How can you tell if a disk is overheating? This usually happens under load, for example during games or long recordings on the HDD.

In this case, it is necessary to measure the temperature of the drive. This can be done using the HWMonitor or AIDA64 programs.

Other signs of overheating include freezing of programs or the entire OS, a sudden reboot, or a complete shutdown of the PC.

Let's look at the main reasons for increased HDD temperature and ways to eliminate it:

Damage to servo markings

At the production stage, servo marks are recorded on the HDD, which are necessary to synchronize the rotation of the disks and correct positioning of the heads. Servo marks are rays that start from the center of the disk itself and are located at the same distance from each other. Each of these tags stores its number, its place in the synchronization chain and other information. This is necessary for stable rotation of the disk and accurate determination of its areas.

A servo marking is a collection of servo marks, and when it is damaged, some area of ​​the HDD cannot be read. The device will try to read the information, and this process will be accompanied not only by long delays in the system, but also by a loud knock. In this case, the disk head knocks, which tries to contact the damaged servo tag.

This is a very complex and serious failure in which the HDD can work, but not 100%. The damage can be corrected only with the help of a servowriter, that is low level formatting. Unfortunately, there are no programs for this that offer a real “low level format”. Any such utility can only create the appearance of low-level formatting. The thing is that the formatting itself at a low level is carried out by a special device (servowriter) that applies servo markings. As is already clear, no program can perform the same function.

Cable deformation or faulty connector

In some cases, the culprit for clicking sounds may be the cable through which the drive is connected. Check its physical integrity - whether it is broken, whether both plugs are held tightly. If possible, replace the cable with a new one and check the quality of work.

Also inspect the connectors for dust and debris. If possible, connect the hard drive cable to a different connector on the motherboard.

Incorrect hard drive position

Sometimes the problem lies simply in the incorrect installation of the disk. It must be bolted very tightly and positioned exclusively horizontally. If you place the device at an angle or do not secure it, the head may catch during operation and make sounds such as clicks.

By the way, if there are several disks, then it is best to mount them at a distance from each other. This will help them cool better and eliminate the possible appearance of sounds.

Physical breakdown

A hard drive is a very fragile device, and it is afraid of any impacts such as falls, shocks, strong shocks, vibrations. This is especially true for laptop owners - mobile computers Due to the negligence of users, stationary ones are more likely to fall, hit, withstand heavy weights, shaking and other unfavorable conditions. One day this may lead to the drive breaking. Typically, in this case, the disk heads break, and a specialist can repair them.

Ordinary HDDs that are not subject to any manipulation can also fail. All it takes is a particle of dust to get inside the device under the writing head and it can cause squeaking or other sounds.

The problem can be determined by the nature of the sounds made by the hard drive. Of course, this does not replace a qualified examination and diagnosis, but it may be useful:

• Damage to the HDD head - several clicks are heard, after which the device begins to work slower. Also, sounds that do not stop for some time may occur with a certain periodicity;
• The spindle is faulty - the disk starts to start, but in the end this process is interrupted;
• Bad sectors - it is possible that there are unreadable areas on the disk (at the physical level that cannot be eliminated using software methods).

What to do if clicks cannot be eliminated on your own

In some cases, the user cannot not only get rid of clicks, but also diagnose their cause. There are only two options on how to proceed:

1. Buying a new HDD. If the problematic hard drive is still working, then you can try to clone the system with all user files. Essentially, you will only replace the media itself, and all your files and OS will work as before.

   If this is not yet possible, you can at least save the most important data to other sources of information storage: USB flash, cloud storage, external HDD etc.

2. Contact a specialist. Repairing physical damage to hard drives is very expensive and usually does not make sense. Especially when it comes to standard hard drives (installed in the PC at the time of purchase) or purchased independently for little money.

   However, if there is very important information on the disk, then a specialist will help you “get” it and copy it to a new HDD. If there is a pronounced problem of clicking and other sounds, it is recommended to contact professionals who can recover data using hardware and software systems. Independent actions can only aggravate the situation and lead to complete loss of files and documents.

We have analyzed the main problems due to which hard drive may click. In practice, everything is very individual, and in your case a non-standard problem may arise, for example, a jammed engine.

Finding out on your own what caused the clicking sounds can be very difficult. If you do not have sufficient knowledge and experience, we recommend turning to specialists or purchasing and installing a new hard drive yourself.

Quite recently, I already told you about the ways in which you can... In particular, the article talked about a program that can control coolers in your system unit. But coolers are half the problem. Most users experience a lot of noise coming from their hard drive. Moreover, some hard drives are so loud that they become the main cause of computer noise.

But, in fact, there is nothing wrong with this. After all, a hard drive, also called a hard drive, is a mechanical device in which there are several rotating disks, which, in fact, make noise. Internal drives are similar to regular CDs, but they operate on a completely different principle.

Thanks to the magnetic heads inside the hard drive, information is read. During this process, the discs move and create noise. For some users, hard drives rattle, for others they crackle and even creak, then you should. The noise produced depends on the hard drive model and the stability of the computer case. If the system case is cheap and its walls are thin, then the noise from the hard drive will be transmitted throughout the case. Poorly secured parts will vibrate, creating even more noise.

To reduce the crackling noise, you can do the following:

• Replace the old noisy hard drive with a new one, having first learned about its noise level.
• Use the AAM settings to change the acoustic noise level.
• Check the sound insulation of the housing. Perhaps this is the problem and after replacing it with a new one, the computer will run quieter.
• Install the hard drive on special soundproofing pads or use a soundproofing case for the drive.
• Defragment your hard drive. But it is not a fact that this procedure will help you. And if after this the hard drive starts to work more quietly, then soon the noise will return again.

Reducing hard drive crackling using AAM

Any hard drive has such a function as controlling its noise level using the internal AAM setting. (Automatic Acoustic Management). The principle of this setting is very simple: the speed of movement of the heads is reduced, which allows the hard drive to operate much quieter. But this setting reduces not only the noise level, but also the speed of the hard drive as a whole.

Here you need to choose what is more important for you - the speed of the hard drive or the noise from it. Perhaps, after the setup, you will not notice how the speed of the hard drive has dropped, but there will no longer be any crackling noise during operation.

In order for you to be able to start adjusting the volume of your hard drive, you need to download the “WinAAM” program. This program is completely free and it is better to download it from the official website.

The program has a Russian interface and to work, you do not need to install it. You launch it directly from the archive and configure it. Once you open the program, you will see a window with options for choosing how the program works.

You need to click the “continue” button. We don’t go into the security settings at all, since they cannot in any way affect the noisy operation of the hard drive.

When you run the program, you will see that the first line will say "in at the moment Noise control is not active.” You will need to select "Quiet/Standard (128)" to set the "quiet" AAM value. Despite the fact that the program has a range of values ​​from 0 to 255, you need to select the “Quiet/Loud” value, since intermediate options are not displayed on the operation and noise reduction of the hard drive. It is for this reason that the program contains only one that you need button so as not to rack your brains with choosing a value for efficient work programs.

Once the value is set, the program will close automatically. You need to start it again and click the “continue” button, and then “check”.

After the program runs, you will see a window that will contain all the information about the chaotic movement of the hard drive's read head, and you will hear how your hard drive will sound in a new way. I'm sure the hard drive will start working much quieter. For comparison, you can press the “Loud (254)” button and hear how noisy the hard drive was working with before all the settings.

By clicking on the same button, you will return all default settings and the hard drive will continue to operate at the same speed.

If this program will not detect your hard drive, then I recommend using “HD Tune.” The essence is the same.

Actually, that's all. Now you can independently control the noise level of your hard drive. If the operation of the hard drive is accompanied by crackling noises and various kinds of clicks, then I definitely recommend using any of the programs to make the hard drive work more quietly if the noise bothers you. Thank you for being with us!

HDD, aka hard drive, makes noise, clicks and creaks. Why and what can be done.

Most HDD noise has sound waves in the range of 1 - 3 kHz and consists of noise from two different sources.

This is the noise of a hard drive generated by the rotation of its spindle and the friction of mechanical parts directly inside the hard drive. This noise can only be reduced by modifying the hard drive components.

The noise we hear most is caused by the vibration of the hard drive inside the computer case. It, in turn, consists of vibration from the rotation of the spindle, as well as vibration from the read/write heads, which accelerate and decelerate many times per second.

Clicks in the HDD, for example, are produced by the positioner when it hits the limiter. A working hard drive may make clicking noises due to so-called thermal calibration, when the hard drive, in response to an increase in the temperature of the case and its components, reinitializes the read/write head positioning system.

In addition, the hard drive also clicks due to a bad, “rattling” or unstable power supply, when the heads go into the parking area and the HDD electronics restart. Another reason why a working screw clicks may be putting the hard drive into sleep mode, and if such settings are explicitly specified in the system's power saving properties, then a similar effect can occur quite often. It makes sense to mention offline scanning of the disk surface as one of the reasons why the HDD clicks. True, in this case, extraneous sounds from the hard drive will be caused by bad sectors of the hard drive, which off-line scanning tries to replace or exclude from the broadcast.

What to do?

Simply put, you can reduce the volume of sounds emitted by a hard drive in two ways - fix them in the case using soft mounts that prevent the transfer of vibration from the hard drive to the case and use the Automatic Acoustic Management function.

Is “creaking” the rattling sound of the propeller during operation or a constant hum? If the latter, then most likely resonance. Tighten or tighten the hard drive mount. What if there are two of them? The screws work silently one at a time, but together in the same case there is a hum. We recommend turning one of the screws upside down so that the rotation is in different sides. They turned it over. The sound has decreased by 80%. That means it.

Not everyone knows that the user can change the characteristics of the hard drive using the acoustic control function, which allows you to modify data access profiles (access patterns) and change the default hard drive mode (fast) to quiet mode.

Launch a utility like HD Tune Pro, enable AAM (Automatic Acoustic Management) and set it to quiet mode.

Download the Victoria program and use it to adjust the noise level of the hard drive (the noise is reduced by reducing the spindle speed).

All UltraATA/100 and Serial ATA hard drives have Automatic Acoustic Management (AAM), but you need special software to access it and change its settings.

Sounds with frequencies from 1 kHz to 3 kHz are characterized by the greatest sensitivity, so noise reduction at these frequencies is more effective than at other frequencies. This is where acoustic control technology comes from.

Most sound waves in the 1 to 3 kHz range consist of noise from two different sources. Firstly, this is the noise of the hard drive, generated by the rotation of its spindle and the friction of the mechanical parts directly inside the hard drive. This noise can only be reduced by modifying the hard drive components. But the noise we hear most is caused by the vibration of the hard drive inside the computer case. It, in turn, consists of vibration from the rotation of the spindle, as well as vibration from the read/write heads, which accelerate and decelerate many times per second.

The fastest way to move the heads is to accelerate them halfway towards the new track and then decelerate the rest of the way (called on-off search). There are many options to modify this operation, ranging from modification of acceleration and deceleration, as well as the required switching power. Adding Native Command Queuing, which parses and reorders all incoming commands to find the most efficient order of read and write requests, helps reduce the number of head moves, which can reduce access times and reduce noise.

Now let's move on to analyzing the situation when the hard drive is knocking due to a malfunction. As a rule, in this case, the positioning system, for one reason or another, is not able to receive signals from the hard disk heads indicating that the head “sees” the servo markings. In this case, the hard drive creaks, whistles, knocks or makes other sounds that excite the soul. The actuator moves the block of heads over the entire available amplitude, hence the entire set. The HDD also makes knocking noises if there is a failure during the firmware loading process and it freezes, preventing the processor from controlling the internals of the screw. In all cases when a hard drive is knocking, qualified diagnostics are needed to determine the causes and develop an action strategy to successfully recover data from a knocking hard drive.

The hard drive is creaking or the HDD is noisy.

A hard drive, also known as a “hard drive,” is an important component of any computer. It not only installs the operating system, but also stores important documents and files (music, videos, photos). Like any other component, it wears out and breaks down over time. And the main symptom of this is the appearance of noise and humming of the hard drive. In this case, the first thing to do is to help avoid sudden breakdown.

However, this may not always be the reason. Increased noise levels also occur in new drives of some brands and models, and this is their normal operating condition.

Below we will look at several options for reducing hard drive noise: manually and programmatically.

A.A.M.

Newer HDDs support a special function " Automatic Acoustic Management", with its help you can adjust the speed of movement of the reading heads, thereby reducing the noise of the laptop hard drive.

By default this feature is disabled, so to enable it we use a utility called “WinAAM”, it is free and very lightweight. You can find and download it on the Internet.

I would like to draw your attention to the fact that after setting the quiet mode, the speed of the drive also decreases. However, this is very difficult to notice by eye.

CrystalDiskInfo

If for some reason the previous program did not suit you or did not help, the hard drive is still noisy under load and because of this, then I recommend using this utility. With its help, we will configure the AAM function more flexibly. But it also has other useful features, for example, you can view detailed HDD parameters, current status and check for errors.

So what to do:

After which the hard drive will start working with the new settings in quiet mode.

There may be several reasons why CrystalDiskInfo may appear:

• The HDD is old and the utility simply does not support it
• Physical or logical malfunction

How to diagnose the HDD was discussed at the beginning of the article.

Defragmentation

Another method that can help you if the hard drive of a laptop or computer makes a lot of noise or buzzes during operation. As mentioned above, this is due to the moving mechanical heads, or rather their speed.

To do this, we will reduce the distance they need to travel to get to the desired section of the disk and read information from it. This is done quite simply, using regular defragmentation. It will arrange clusters with information in order, reduce the distance between them, thereby increasing the speed of access to them. Simply put, it will be easier for the hard drive to read the necessary information, the load on it will decrease, and subsequently the noise and hum of the hard drive will decrease.

But you can also use the utility built into the system:

This way we will get rid of the humming and buzzing of the drive.

Manual method

If you have a desktop computer and not a laptop, you can use one of the methods suggested below.

Now you know what to do when the hard drive begins to make foreign sounds during operation (noise, buzzing and humming) and you can solve this problem yourself using the methods discussed above.