Harddrive Noise M1530

My M1530 has been emitting a strange noise. I think it has occurred since I received the laptop, but I'm not sure if it's just a noisy drive or something to be concerned about. Below is a recording I made:

http://jay.thegrebs.com/wp-content/HarddriveRecording.mp3

The 'ticks' happen continuously when the system is left idle. When accessing the drive, other noises can be heard (which is to be expected, I think), but when the system returns to idle the ticks are once again heard. It's similar to being in a quiet room with a wall clock. The ticking is constant and can be heard a fair distance away.

I do not know the manufacturer of my harddrive, but it's 160gb and 5400rpm. According to device manager, the manufacturer is "Standard Disk Drives". Windows Check Disk has not reported any bad sectors that I know of.

Either way, I think I'll end up purchasing another harddrive and replacing this one. If this sound is not an indication of failure, I could throw it into an external enclosure. If it's an omen of death, who should I return the harddrive to? Dell or the manufacturer? Will they send me a replacement harddrive without sending the whole computer back?

Thanks!

 

I've been having this problem with my m1330 also... I at first thought there might have been something loose inside and I also hope it's not the ominous hard drive click of doom typical of drives that are soon to die. I don't want to have to send back the laptop because it's otherwise perfectly acceptable to me. Would be nice for them to send a new HD...

 

Alright, so I took some initiative, bit the bullet, and purchased a new HDD. Same specs as the original, but Western Digital rather than Seagate.

Noise issue is much better. The Western Digital drive has a louder hum than the Seagate perhaps, but there is no clicking and the drive is quieter when being accessed as well.

So...now I'm stuck with what to do with the original hard drive. I purchased an external enclosure for it in the future. Right now I'm just debating using the drive as is and risking a failure, or sending it back under warranty for a replacement.

Who should I send it to, Dell or Seagate?

 

Just keep it and use it as as external drive. There's probably nothing wrong with it, the noise is probably just how it works.

 

I have the exact same issue. I really don't think it has to do with the hard drive failing soon. I think it is just the way the m1530 is made. The finished aluminum casing probably amplifies that ticking noise. Like Miao Ying, my laptop is great otherwise and I don't trust any technician doing anything with it, that is if there is a problem at all. I have sort of grown used to the noise anyway, and it seems to be less intense. Or it could just be me blocking out what I don't want to hear...

 

Turns out I counted my chickens too soon.

The same noise is still occurring. I guess it's something else within the laptop causing it...

Also, my original Seagate drive is perfectly fine in an external enclosure.

 

I'm 90% sure its on brand. My D630 has a seagate drive and doesnt clonk, but i have 3 here at work with WD drives which do.

 

I suspect it is the laptop design. My original 160GB was noisier than I wanted. I replaced it with a 200GB 7200, and it sounds much the same. Both drives were nearly silent in an external enclosure.

btw-the Hitachi 200GB 7200 drive is much faster than the original Fujitsu 160GB 5400.

 

My new 1530 came with the 320GB Samsung drive and even in performance mode (as set in the Bios), it seems pretty quiet No noticable noise at all really!

 

I think it's WD HD as well. My m1530 is doing the samething. When I go for the processor upgrade, I will replace it with different manufacturer with bigger space,

 

It sounds like a normal Harddrive up close to me..........

 

I just got my m1330 and the samung 320 gig hd clicks also. Ive done numerous tests and it comes back healthy. I have heard this same click in my WD passport portable drive when it is plugged into a usb port that was underpowered.

 

Ok, I checked the bios on my system and noticed that it was set to "bypass". I set it to performace and it does not make a loud click anymore. Anyone know why it would be set to bypass? It said bypass was for older drives.

 

I have three options in my HDD Acoustic Mode tab. 'Bypass' (selected), 'Quiet', and 'Performance'.

I'm skeptical on changing this setting... is there any potential consequences to modifying the acoustic settings?

 

Please when answering FireDragonLightning's question above, could someone also instruct on how to get to the bios on the system and change that HDD setting to 'performance' or 'quiet'? Thank you

 

my m1530 has the 160gb 5400rpm hdd from fujitsu, and it is loud as hell!
well.. not exactly, just louder than i want it to be.
i tried to switching it to "Performance" mode (on bios boot up hit F2, take you to the bios settings screen, go down to performance believe, open the tree, and there on for hdd setting, and change it to performance) but the sound coming from the hdd was the same.. or even a little louder.

do you guys think dell will allow me to switch the 160 for a 250gb hdd? how much you think they will charge?

 

I have a 250GB 1530, that makes a clicking sound OCCASIONALLY, doesnt sound like what the TC is describing... I wonder if I should be worried?

 

mine makes crunch and thudding sounds...and ticking sounds when idle.

 

Talk to customer care and just ask for a replacement. If the first guy won't give it to you, just keep talking until you find someone who will replace it for you free of charge. I just had mine replaced because it was making too much noise and my chasis was slightly off.

 

Is changing the hard disk finish the sound problem?

 

My friends i have xps 1530 and i was annoy of hdd noise (clicking noise) but i read http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=168425 and it solve .

Voila , have fun . . .

 

If you read the review for the XPS M1530, it mentions that how the hard drive is mounted, enhances the standard noise created by the hard drive. I have a Samsung 320GB 5400rpm disk and i heard an occasional click, and even beep's too at times. However i will admitt that i don't get these as often as in your recordings. It might just be a noisey hard drive enhanced by the mounting.

 

Wraith of Vern . . .

How do i can solve this problem in xps 1530 and is it normal or not ?

 

Probably the beep is not the HDD, IMO... it' the processor... search for laptop whine or constant beep noise... either here or in google and you will get more info. By the way, Dell has a knowledge base article on this too... saying its the processor changing its power state or something and that this beep is due to some piezoelectric effect and such.... cheer.s

 

I get the loud click at odd times. I though perhaps the drive was "parking" due to idle, but it has done it when there is clearly stuff going on - like I'm running a test install in VMware.

What got me was the beep. To me, beeps are bad. Like it's a thermal issue or something. This laptop runs hotter than lava.