How much hard disk noise is normal?

Hello all,

I bought a new computer in late July, and since day one, the hard drive has been clicking rather consistently. It's a constant noise when it happens (several times a minute), presumably when it's writing data (as it coincides with the activity indicator light), and sounds similar to a bicycle wheel spinning.

Is this normal? Every now and then the heads will park and make a louder louder "clack" (often on shutdown), but aside from these noises nothing else seems wrong. Notebook Hardware Control and HD Tune show no errors, and chkdsk seems to agree with them.

My concern comes from the reputation that noisy hard drives have for dying and destroying data. I have my data backed up by Acronis TI 10, but I'd rather not test it.

The computer, if you were wondering, is a Sony VAIO CR190 Notebook (the NBR review reports a similar clicking), running Vista on 2GB of RAM and a 2.0GHz Intel Core2 Duo processor. The HD speed is 5400 RPM.

Additional details:

• There are no driver or firmware updates for the drive (Fujitsu MHW2120BH).
• There is no BIOS setting for "quiet" mode.
• NHC's "quiet" mode did nothing.

Thanks,
Peter

 

Use NHC's loud performance mode. Its quiet as a whistle.

 

Nothing in NHC fixed it.

 

Anyone have a guess?

 

i think its normal, i hear a very faint accessing noise in my gateway, only hear it if its really quiet around the room. but no problems, doesnt seem like slowing down or any errors at all, i wouldnt be too worried, sound reminds me of the loud access noises old hard drives make, that buzzing sound, lol i dunno how to explain it.

 

If it been clicking since you first bought it in July and nothing has been wrong with it, it should be fine.

 

Some drive are much louder than others. I have 3 x Hitachi 7k200's in my D901C. They are very quiet. Even with no fans running on my notebook I can't hear them.