Clicking Noise issue *resolved*

[ScorpionSX]

Hi, have you tried hdparm with my fix?? (posted few pages back)
In NHC you can't change the acoustic management because you're probably have your HDD set to AHCI mode, then NHC seems not to be working.
And what OS do you have on your laptop?? Because in Vista is better to use hdparm with my fix instead of NHC, NHC is better for XP.

[whatever-kathryn]

Thanks for getting back to me. I'm still looking for hdparm.

Ahh that must be why then.

My OS is Vista Home Premium. I've just downloaded your HDD Acousticx64.

I'll look for the hdparm now.

[whatever-kathryn]

Ok, I installed hdparm, ran HDD acosticx64 - choose HDD Acoustic from start-up, restarted. It's still clicking though.

Do I have to open up the laptop and take a look at the inside of it? It's very strange.

[Layne]

I have installed hdparm + the fix, I'm using XP, there's no ticking since.

[ScorpionSX]

Ok, I installed hdparm, ran HDD acosticx64 - choose HDD Acoustic from start-up, restarted. It's still clicking though.

Do I have to open up the laptop and take a look at the inside of it? It's very strange.

Do you run it as an administrator - do you have NHC turned off?? This should help. Else I really don't know, some drives are imune against any fixes

[radutheodor]

Let's summarize, because I am not sure which one is considered to be the FINAL solution for the noise:
1. hdpar or NHC, depending on the OS software
or
2. firmware update?

I have Seagate ST9200420ASG and I have the some noise problem. I have tried different combination of Power Savings plans and BIOS settings for Performance, still the noise does not disappear. What I can achieve is to hear it every 10 seconds or every few minutes ...
The laptop is Dell XPS M1330 ... I already had the motherboard replaced because of the nVidia failure issue L-)

My Model Number is not on the list of firmware update on Seagate website.

I suppose the hdparm solution will be the only one? Can anyone summarize this 34 pages post (I had time to read about 15 pages out of 35 ...)?

Anyway I still have 2 years remaining from my Dell Home Support / Next Business Day (:-O I was amazed, I called on Monday for the nVidia failure and they've replaced the mother board Tuesday, the next day ... which means today ) and I am planning to call and ask for a Hard Drive replace ...

[ScorpionSX]

Well, as you have writen, there are these two solutions. Firmware update is for a very few models from Seagate, so if your drive isn't mentioned in the list, you probably don't have to update your firmware (that's what says Seagate). But we both know, that you do, but unfortunately there is no firmware for your drive. So the only solution left is the hdparm and my fix (posted few pages back). This should be something that will work for you and should stop the clicking. You can try to replace your drive, but i think that the result will be the same - you'll get drive that clicks.

[colex]

For Seagate ST9320421ASG and ST9320421AS clicking noise issue SOLVED by firmaware update... see my post here:

hard disk Seagate ST9320421AS vs WD WD3200BEKT

[taohat]

Take a look at this

http://xenomorph.net/misc-and-old-st...g-hard-drives/

It solved my clicking problem (lenovo U330 WD2500BEVS) perfectly. A much better solution than NHC.

[knowleqe]

I have managed to fixed my problem, here is what I did:

1. Call Dell tech support and tell them you have a clicking drive, they will run diagnostics with you over the phone. If they determine your drive is faulty they will send you a new one.

2. I received the new drive and the same clicking noise came back, I called dell to ask for another one. Upon running the tests with the tech we found it was not the drive this time. We actually took out the drive and ran some tests, sounds crazy.

3. Determined that the clicking noise was coming from under the left side of the keyboard around the XPS logo, the heatsink assembly.

4. Dell sent out a replacement heatsink/fan assembly and tech came to my house to install free of charge.

5. Hopefully everything is fixed (knocks on wood), the clicking noise has not come back so far.