2.5 Hard drive clicks - is this normal?

[tigertim71]

When I shake a 2.5 laptop HDD it makes a clicking noise, almost as though something inside isn't tight. This happens on 4 out of 5 drives. Some click more than others, but they all work.

Does anyone know what this is and does this matter?

 

[BadBigBen]

Get the DATA from the drives ASAP...

A Clicking or Clanking noise from the HDD usually means imminent failure (if it is not already too late) and it is time to replace those drives...

Ben
"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."
How to ask a question, when posting them to a professional forum.
Only ask questions with yes/no answers if you want "yes" or "no"

 

[Lemon13]

a clicking noise might be a warning sign, but not in general, it also happens during thermal recalibration of the heads.
it is normal when you shake the drive, and you should definetly not do so. the noise is made by the heads and there is a great danger damaging either the heads or the surface.

M. Knorr

MCSE, MCTS, MCSA, CCNA

 

[vacunita]

[red]When I shake a 2.5 laptop HDD[/red]

Calm down guys. Its not making the noise when plugged in.

Its when he manually shakes them, and for Laptop drives that is actually normal.

They'll make a little clicking sound. But it doesn't mean they are faulty or anything.






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Phil AKA Vacunita
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Ignorance is not necessarily Bliss, case in point:
Unknown has caused an Unknown Error on Unknown and must be shutdown to prevent damage to Unknown.

 

[goombawaho]

Stop shaking it and run the manufacturer's testing utility on it. If it passes, don't worry. I've heard drives that click when shaken, but I wouldn't keep shaking it on a regular basis.

 

[kjv1611]

*Note to self: No more using hard drives as maracas.

--

"If to err is human, then I must be some kind of human!" -Me