hdd making odd sounds

I bought my zx5180 about 4 months ago and just recently it has begun to make an odd clicking sound when it is operating. I assume it is the hard drive that is making this sound since it only occurs when it is loading something up. The sound is like a light clicky sort of crunchy sound. Anyone have any ideas? It still functions fine, but I am worried that this portents of trouble ahead.

 

There's trouble ahead. Back up your stuff, then find the HD diagnostic util from your HD manufacturers website and run it (I've used both Hitachi's and Seagate's over the years). That may or may not diagnose the error, but if it does it'll make getting a replacement a LOT easier.

Consider this an opportunity to upgrade to a Hitachi 7200RPM HD [ ].

 

I bought a Seagate 40GB 5400rpm HDD for my old notebook. After getting it, it started making the occasional CLICK sound as well. I though nothing of it because everything was working fine. A few months later, same thing, but the drive now powers off occasionally while it's being used. Since I never had a Seagate notebook drive before, I didn't know if it was a bad thing or if it was just the design. Well, I just got it replaced and I gotta tell you, it's a bad thing. The new drive runs flawlessly, quieter than the old drive, and no clicking what-so-ever!

After that long story, I'd definitely recommend getting the drive replaced. If it's an original HP drive (the one that came with the unit), just call HP and have them send you a replacement. This part can be replaced by the end-user without having it sent in for repair. If it's an aftermarket drive, and if it's Seagate, just call them up and tell them you got clicking. They'll swap it out w/o any issues even if the diagnostics says everything is fine. Ask for an Advanced Replacement, one will be shipped to you and you have 30 days to ship the old one back. Gives you more than enough time to test the new drive and transfer all your data over.

Good Luck!

-Vb-