Studio XPS 1647 hard drive "clicking"

Did a clean install of Win7 Pro the day after I received my 1647 (see specs in signature). Updated the BIOS to A04 and received my replacement 130w adapter via courier yesterday.

Migrated my data from my old daily use machine and started to use the XPS1647 as my new daily use late last week. I immediately noticed that the hard drive tends to "click" (for lack of better terminology) on a regular basis. It almost sounds like the drive head is constantly parking and un-parking.

Note: I am pretty sure it is the hard drive causing the noise. Front left hand side next to the track pad is where the noise seems to be originating.

I have the power settings set to never turn off the hard drive when plugged in (this was my initial suspicion of what was causing the noise).

I am thinking of calling Support and just having a tech come and have a look at it. The problem is the noise seems to come and go as it pleases (ie I can't reproduce the issue at will). Of course if and when the tech comes to have a look at it and the noise isn't being produced they will just tell me I am nuts.

Are any other XPS1647 owners hearing the same thing I am? If this is indeed the Hard Drive I am a little concerned as it seems flaky already...

Any thoughts / input are very much appreciated!

 

There is a firmware issue to this, i had the same issue. Update the latest firmware for your harddrive on dells support page. It removes two settings that give it the clicking. Well that was at least the solution to it on my 1640, check the hard drive firmwares on the 1647 page. Find the latest one an update it.

 

Thanks for your quick reply mystycs! No firmware update for the 1647

 

Well theres a whole thread on it, let me find it.

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=413334

 

Try using HDPARM that they talk about i used that before the firmware fix came out, worked like a charm

 

is this a Seagate harddrive? they released a new firmware a few months ago to resolve this, and no need to use HDPARM.

 

mystycs and entrance thanks for your replies!

I quickly looked at the HDPARM thread that was mentioned and haven't had a lot of time to read the thread fully. Not sure if HDPARM is 64bit compatable??

Drive is a 7200rpm 320GB Western Digital. I looked on the WD site and didn't see any firmware upgrades.

Will update once I have a closer look at the HDPARM option...

 

Hmmm i thought the clicking was only on seagate 500GB. Try contacting dell, maybe you actually have a faulty hd, and they can replace it?

 

i had this problem yesterday. Came home with a BSOD! Had to restart the computer and it wouldn't go past the DELL initial startup screen. Ran BIOS diagnostic test and hard drive failed miserably. Call Dell and they quickly dispatch new Seagate 500gb 7.2K FFS along new 4GB memory lol.. not sure why but hopefully it will get here soon! One thing I'm still pissed is all my data is lost

Update: Video of failing hard drive is posted!

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