My HD makes a 'crunch' sound??

I don't know how to describe it but I found someone else that has the exact same problem and he recorded it, you have to listen carefully, turn the volume way up.... CRUNCH

I am concerned because I really really don't want to lose my hard drive.

Any comments? Should I be concerned?

 

i think it is ok, (probably the head ramping up to park in case of shock, is yours a seagate? My seagate did that until it died 6 days after I got it with excessive vibration from a CD drive (it started clicking every 1/2 second)) but the most difinitive way to test it is:

go and download knoppix linux live cd

then:
after it boots (it might take a while, and it will have to try different video drivers (automatic)), open a terminal

and type:

smartctl --data --all /dev/sda

this will show you all of the SMART Diagnostic information
if smart is not enabled:

smartctl --data --smart=on /dev/sda

when it is activated, you can run a really long test that tests the HDD:
this takes up to 2 hours, or more, depending on your hard drive's capacity

smartctl --test=long --data /dev/sda

this will find most errors. It found mine when my hard drive started clicking
if there is an error, it may show, or you can run the first command again and scroll down to almost the bottom and find the test logs.

for more info, type

man smartctl

 

Some noises are normal, unless the HD repeatedly produces the same sound.

WD 5400RPM on 640M - Very quiet, no sounds
Hitachi 7200 on M1210 - very loud, often produce a "scratch" sound
Seagate 7200 on M1210 - loud, often has "click" sound

All HD ran through low-level format and advanced test and there's no sign of defect.

 

My HD is a samsung. About installing linux...I think i'll pass. Sounds like that process will take a better part of an entire Saturday and I've got the ND VS G tech football game to go to

The sound doesn't happen often, I would say it only happens when I use the computer for over an hour and it usually happens once.