HardDisk clicking when turn-on notebook

My Sony Vaio PCG-K15 has a SAMSUNG MP603H of 60Gb. When I turn on my notebook, I hear some clicking sounds. It´s not a lot of clicking, but, it at least 4 clicks, when the Vaio presentation is appearing (when BIOS is being loaded). Sometimes it doesnt recognize the harddisk and the notebook doesnt boot to Windows. Sometimes, it doesn boot normally to Windows after those clicking sounds. When the notebook boots, I don´t realize any problems.

I searched some about this subject and I found some threads talking about a software called HD Tune. I´ve download this software and runned the benchmark, and its all OK. The Health status is OK.

Do anyone has an idea of what´s going wrong?

Thanks a lot!

 

If everything is okay, that's fine. As long as it's not clicking like a bunch of gears would, it's okay. Those Samsung's click a bit I hear, but many drives to it's normal.

As long as there are no errors while loading stuff everything is okay. If it is bothering you a lot then you can send it in and get a replacement.

Cheers,
Mike

 

get some software like HDTUNE (health tab) that can read the S.M.A.R.T. data of your drive to make sure that nothing is wrong.

 

Hey Shampoo, thanks for your reply! Well, everything is alright, except to the fack that the notebook doesn't boot in first turn-on attempt. If I turn it off and then turn it on again, it works.

Qwester, thanks for your reply. Yes, before posting this thread, I search about this subject on the forum and I found some threads mtalking about the software HD TUNE. I've downloaded it on the official website and tested it. The HD TUNE says that my harddisk is all ok.

I'm just worried about the fact that the notebook doesn't boot in first turn-on attemp.

Thank you all for attention!!

 

Does this always happen (not turning on from first attempt)?
What happens? just no response, or it powers up (power-on light goes on) but doesn't boot?

If you are still under warranty you might want to consider sending it for a check up. Usually a failed HDD startup should be recorded in the S.M.A.R.T. data and hence should appear as an error. So since there is no record of such errors in the S.M.A.R.T. data, there might be a problem elsewhere.

 

Whoa that's not good if it doesn't boot up on first turn on. Take your baby back to where you got it.

What happens when you first push the power button? Does it post and then fail to boot into windows or does it just not post at all?

 

Qwester, so, It might not being an HD problem?

My notebook has about 2 years of use, it´s from USA, and I´m in Brazil, since sony doesnt sell notebooks here in Brazil, it doesn´t have an official technical assistance. But I might be looking for a good notebook assistance, so I can solve my problem. The situation is that when the notebook is turned on for the first time, it power-up ok, all lights goes on and stuff, it clicks a bit, and then, an cursor stars to blink on the upper left corner. But, if I reset it, or, turn it off and then turn it on, then the notebook starts normally, boots to windows XP and works normally. If I run any diagnose tool on the HD Tune, it doesn´t indicate any error or malfunctions.

Hey Shampoo, yes, it post in the first time, sometimes it shows the "No system record found" (or something like it heheh) amd sometimes it only blinks a cursos on the upper left corner. Then, If I reset it (or quickly turn it off and turn it on) it works properly.

Guys, thank U all for the attention!

 

I've worn out two hard drives (over 17 years as a PC owner), and this is EXACTLY what they all go through prior to their final death.

My advice is to use this period of intermittent failure to back up all your data, and then get this drive replaced. There will come a time in the near future when you won't be able to get the system to boot.

 

That does sound like a failing HDD indeed. I would go by SpacemanSpiff's advice.

Probably the HDD is having problems spinning up quick enough, or the head is not moving on first power up. Nothing that is fixable, except by HDD replacement.

 

Definitely a HD starting to go bad in spite of what HD Tune says.

 

Yes I agree with qwester, it does sound like a failing harddrive, but it could also be many things like the motherboard not supplying stable voltage to certain parts, or dust accumulating inside your laptop causing shorts.

Hopefully it's just the harddrive and not something else as those problems are more of a pain.

Cheers,
Mike

 

Guys, my heart is broke, I don´t know what to say.

I guess that open up my notebook to clean up the dust isn´t a good ideia, since I never did it before. If somebody already done it and realize that is easy, tell me. I´m used to open up and build a whole desktop, but notebooks, never did it.

But I will back up the data as soon as possible.

Thank you all for your attention!

 

yep clicking HDs always forecast failure

 

Oh, no My i2200 is doing the same thing (and has been for quite a while). This is definitely bad, then? Like the other person, it only does it when i start up, it's a very definite series of clicks, 4 or 5. It always does it.

 

Hey Confused. I´m sorry to be the one that led you to find out that your hdd is about to die too.

So, just to continue with this thread, today I get an old notebook HDD (toshiba mk6021) that originally came within the notebook. It was replaced by this SAMSUNG for about a year ago (it was presenting some panes, I replaced it and send to technical support to get fixed. Yes, they fixed it, and for a while, I had two full-function notebook hdd). I was wondering what could be the problem, so I changed HDDs to test if it was an HDD problem or something else. With the old toshiba, the notebook stops the clicking and try to boot sucessfully, but, it doesnt because the toshiba hdd don´t have an OS.

Like qwester and shampoo said, HDD failure is not the worst thing, at least the rest of my sony is OK. You should try another HDD on yours to see where exactly is the problem.

Good luck!

 

In anticipation of a possible HD failure, is there anything I should do? Back up data, etc? How much would a replacement hard drive be?

 

Hey Confused, I think it´s extremally important to keep a fresh backup of your stuff. It´s like to keep a good army in times of peace to get through times of war . I think you should backup your important data at once.

I don´t know how much will cost to replace your HDD, first, you might check out if your notebook is in warranty. If so, you can easly replace the hdd by getting in contact with the people / business who sold you the notebook.

If it´s not on warranty, so, you´ll probaly going to spend for about 150 bucs for a new HDD. I´m not in USA so I´m not sure about costs.

I´ve got a question to Qwester (hope you see this!)

I notice that the HDD that was clicking was an 5400rpm (SAMSUNG MP0603H), and the old one, that does not click, is 4200rpm (TOSHIBA MK 6021 GAS). Is there any chance of my notebook cannot supply all the voltage or electric current that this HDD needs (SAMSUNG MP0603H)? So thats why it clicks in first place and then works?

Thanks for your attention!

 

Under normal circumstances I would go along w/ the diagnosis of a hard-disk about to fail (and wholeheartedly agree w/ BACKUP!!! the machine NOW!!!)...but this vintage of Vaio (I am typing on one) has a well-known motherboard issue w/ the 2nd (rear) dimm holder solder connection becoming partially disconected after some period of time (mine is now held in place by a tongue deppressor wedged under the edges of the memory-compartment access door) see the 71-page thread at HardwareAnalysis for details...

So my 1st question would be how much memory do you have installed and when you do a right-mouse --> Properties on My Computer what is the system telling you is there??? If it is half the amount that you have installed welcome to Sony Hell!!!!! There is some discussion in that thread about filing a class-action lawsuit but it does not seem to have any momentum behind it -- WILL sign-on if one is ever filed...

(Patiently waiting for the Core Duo Sager 5720 to replace this POS!!!! Sony)

 

Check with your harddrive manufacturer's warranty.

With Western Digital you just register online with its part number, model number, etc, and they send you a harddrive before you even send it out, but you have to give them your credit card number incase you're trying to scam them.

If your warranty is over then pick up a new drive. Shouldn't cost more than 150 canadian for an 80gig.

I suggest Western Digital for your next drive because they're great harddrives, or Seagate seems to be a great alternative. If you want performance then go for the Hitachi.

Backup all of your data right away.

Cheers,
Mike

 

I have a hitachi now...you can see how well it's serving me

 

A funny thing happened. Yesterday, I was experiencing another HDD on the notebook. When I built-in the Clicking Toshiba again, it didn´t click. No more.

Yesterday, I turned it off and on again several times. Then, I get throught the night with it off, and, today morning, it didn´t click. I was wondering:

Those HDD for notebooks, did they have any kind of protection against fall-down, jump, I mean, any kind of mechanical impact, that locks the heads and plates to avoid damage them?

Because, the clicking may be the notebook trying to disable the protection and use it. Sometimes, the notebook isn´t able to disarm this protection, causing the pane I relate on the beggining of this threat. Sometimes, the notebook disarm this protection an use the hdd normally.

No, I´m not incredibly high right now

Thank U all for your attention!!

 

felipebb, I don't know much about the protection on harddrives but may you're thinking along the right lines.

Sometimes harddrives need a good shaking to work again.

Sounds like I'm crazy right? Nope, sometimes it works. My dad's friend has an old Sony laptop, OLD, but he asked me to fix it for him because the harddrive crashed. It wouldn't even boot up, so I told him to buy a new laptop or a harddrive.

He just said screw it and shook the thing in front of me because he was pissed off. Then for the hell of it I gave the power button a shot.

PRESTO~! It works like a charm now. Weird? Very.

Someone with harddrive knowledge give us some insight~!

Cheers,
Mike