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    WD 320gb clicking

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by nu_D, Sep 10, 2008.

  1. nu_D

    nu_D Notebook Deity

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    Hey guys,

    I have the Western Digital 320gb 5400rpm drive and it always is "clicking" for some reason. I looked around the forums and the best I saw was to run hdtach (which I did and it didn't work), anyone know of any other solution to this clicking noise? Thanks.
     
    nu_D, Sep 10, 2008
    #1
  2. K-TRON

    K-TRON Hi, I'm Jimmy Diesel ^_^

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    If you go to the western digital website you will find a download which is for running diagnostics on your harddrive. You want to run them, I cant remember what its called but its WD tools or something basic like that. In the program you can check the health of the drive in the smart readings. If there are errors you should return the drive and get a replacement. If the clicking is very low, and no errors detected, than its either 1) your hearing is exceptionally good, or 2) you have background processes running which are causing the harddrive to become active.

    You can go to the start menu, go to the run command and type in msconfig. Than shut off background processes, services and programs which are using your harddrive.

    K-TRON
     
    K-TRON, Sep 10, 2008
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  3. hotrent1

    hotrent1 Notebook Consultant

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    On my bios, i set the hdd to performance mode and the clicking went away. i know there are alot of thread in the dell forum that address this issue.
     
    hotrent1, Sep 10, 2008
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  4. AuroraAlpha

    AuroraAlpha Notebook Consultant

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    My understanding of this is that it is generally caused by too many devices trying to control the harddrive at once. For example your harddrive is trying to put itself into sleep mode, your bois is, your os, some software program. In the end the harddrive gets confused or responds to one command after another very quickly causing the clicks.

    Also I thought the WD fix required a floppy drive. I always thought it was funny that a laptop drive would need floppys since no laptop in a few yeras has had one.
     
    AuroraAlpha, Sep 11, 2008
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  5. Phil

    Phil Retired

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    As far as I know the clicking is the parking of the heads.

    To stop it either do what hotrent1 or K-Tron said or another solution is to install Notebook Hardware Control.
     
    Phil, Sep 11, 2008
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