Seagate "clicking" noise fix

http://support.dell.com/support/dow...1&impid=-1&formatcnt=2&libid=41&fileid=288150

Somebody tried this yet? I've this clicking noise too. I've called xps support 3 times already. They said they will inform me if a fix is out, but I haven't heard anything yet.

I thought maybe someone had the same problem. And have tried this fix already. Them I want to ask: does it fix the annoying clicking noise?

 

That's really interesting!

I tried everything to resolve the clicking noise but nothing fixed it (received several new hard drives and even a new motherboard, tried all sorts of BIOS and NHC settings and tech support even had me sticking a piece of paper inside the hard drive casing ).

Eventually I "fixed" the problem by replacing the HDD with a SSD

 

I have a Samsung 160GB HDD and have the sporadic clicking noise. Not a loud click, but imagine dragging a sharp needle across a rough surface, and soften the sound by 38%, add some pepper to it and microwave it on high for 1.75 minutes. It stinks.

 

All it does is slow down the harddrives performance to make it quieter.

 

, slow down the HDD? That's not what I want. Then I've purchased a 7200 rpm HDD for nothing. If this is really true, then I'm gonna claim a new one.

 

Seagates drives have been crappy as of late. I'd think that Dell would just stop buying from them until they fix it. But, they are probably a lower cost drive and Dell has to cut corners.

 

I am now switching from 7200RPM Seagate to 5400RPM to get ridth of heat generation and *hopefully* clicking noices

 

It's an old story that affects other HDD brands, not just the seagate models... (although this fix is only for Segate, of course...).

 

I thought Western Digital hard drives only have this problem. I guess they do that sound when they "park" the plates to save power or something like that (not really sure). I noticed if you set the hard drive to performance in the BIOS, there will be less clicking. Somebody try it

 

I heard it has something to do with the free-fall sensor. And that bios thingie didn't work for me. Anyone tried this yet? Does it really slow your harddrive?

 

I have this noise too on my XPS M1330 with Vista Ultimate 32bit SP1. Although mine is more of an electricity clicking noise.

I reformatted and installed XP Pro SP3. Clicking noise gone.

Vista FAIL.

 

I think you had a other noise. Because I'm running XP Pro SP3 too. And he's still 'clicking'.

This fix is for the following hard drives:
Seagate ST980411ASG, ST9120411ASG, ST9160411ASG, ST9200423ASG, ST9250421ASG, or, ST9320421ASG.

Nobody tried it yet? Or is there someone that knows more about this fix? I'm not planning to use it, if it will really slow down my HDD.

 

A01 didn't work for me, but A02 is out today and I'll try it later and report back here.

 

Thanks! And don't forget to mention which harddisk you have.

 

I tried the fix and it's still clicking...

 

I have the Seagage 160G 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive Free Fall Sensor, on my 1530. I have heard it click in the past, but it never really bothered me.

Probably because it hasn't been a *constant* click. I'm sure if it was constant, then it would bother me per se.

Maybe, today I will just try the *fix* and see what happens

Thanks for the info!


Cin

 

I have the Seagate 7200 160G Drive. I have zero issues... Sounds like isolated incidents to me...

 

Good to see someone else with the same Seagate as mine, and hasn't really heard any clicking! I'm not sure if this is a known issue or not!


Cin

 

This fix wont work for my HDD. My model isn't among the ones supported by the fix.

ST9160821AS - this is my HDD model no. has anyone else with the same model tried the fix?

 

Nope - still clicking. Seagate 320GB ST9320421ASG.

 

Hmm, that is too bad. It's al the same? You noticed that the disk slows down?

 

I have the "Seagage 320G 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive Free Fall Sensor" that clicked. Only thing that previously stopped the clicking was hdparm. All other solutions posted here did not.

Installed this update and... clicking is gone! Worked like a charm. I did not notice any slowdown, so it's all good for me!

btw, I think it's great Dell is still bringing out updates for a model that has been out so long. Not many manufacturer do!

 

Are you for sure? And how do you know this?

Great it worked for you . I'm still a little afraid to try, because of the reason above, that is will slow down the harddisk. I want to know this for sure.

 

TheStig wich one did you download? Because the newest one: http://support.euro.dell.com/suppor...1&impid=-1&formatcnt=2&libid=41&fileid=289385 has an empty iso .

 

I used to old one and the problem is 99% fixed, every once in a very while I get the sound but for me its a 100%. Get the old update, burn the ISO into a CD, boot, wait 25min and done. Gluck!

 

There is a related thread on this issue with the ISO being empty. Look for my posts.

 

Does anybody knows this comment is true? I want to know this for sure, before I'm gonna try.

 

Yeah that's what the fix will do slow down the drive so it isn't as noisy.

 

I used the link from the 1st post of this thread. ISO wasn't empty then. Also, I would say don't worry about the speed. I've read someone stating it made the drive faster too. Personally, I don't think the speed has changed but I did not do benchmarking to confirm.

 

Why should I update if it slows down my hard drive ? I bought a 7200 rpm hdd with a reason.

 

I just called Dell XPS Support. And asked what the the update does. He said that it only changes the fall-free sensor, so it isn't so sensitive anymore. Could this be true?

And about the emty iso. He asked me to use a USB key and make it bootable with this file and then copy the dell firmware files to the USB-key. I will try this tonight.

 

Hmm. I used that application from HP. Pressed F12 to boot from usb. All I got where some errors. I couldn't update .

 

just ignore the click guys, it's not there all the time right.. every hdd does make that click sound.. anyway mine is good once in a blue moon i'll notice it click!

 

jup it is there all the time.. it's also bugs my classmates.

 

does this work w/ new seagate driver? 320 gb 7200 rpm?

 

If you mean the Seagate ST9320421ASG, then probably yes.

 

this is what i have http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148336

i think they're different?

i tried to download ST9320421ASG updates but it wont let me make image cd. hmm

 

Release R206837 is no longer available.

Reason: Seagate has found a firmware bug with this update and has requested that it be pulled from Dell online.

/edit
I've called Dell. And now they gonna send me a new hdd.

 

I have had my sxps 16 320gb 7200rpm drive running all day. Came back to it and there is no noise at all...

 

That's probably a other hard disk or it's one with a newer firmware.

 

if your harddrive makes "clickling noises" then change the "hdd preformance mode" in bios to "high preformance"

 

That doesn't work for these hard drives.

But I'm almost getting a new hdd. Hopely not the same one, wich clicks .
I have to return my old hdd back. What's the easiest/best way to transfer the files to the new hdd?
Can I just format the new hdd, make the partitions and copy all the files from the old one, by connecting the hdd's to a pc?
Or should I make a image of the C: drive or something? Which program should I use for this?

 

i use this for image. http://www.acronis.com/,

 

The clicking noise on the modern seagate hard drive (like 7200.4) is produced by the AAM function, and in my own case, the "beep" sound is produced by the APM function.

If you change the values for both (AAM and APM) the harddrive will run smoothly.

Please, check the seagate forum, in the final post i write my explanation of the case.

PCWizard let you know the values for AAM and APM in your harddrive, and the software QuietHDD let you change these values.

The AAM and APM function are explained in this site too

Regards,
Francisco Chavez