OT: Help with this hard drive sound

Chris H wrote on 6/28/2005, 8:06 PM

My external hard drive has suddenly started making a loud sound almost continuously. I am trying to decide if my hard drive is about to fail or if it the fan in the enclosure. Please take a listen and let me know what I need to replace, the drive or the enclosure. To date, the drive (a Maxtor Diamond Series 200GB) has worked with no problems so I am leaning toward the fan in the enclosure.

Thanks,

Chris

hard drive noise

Comments

Chienworks wrote on 6/28/2005, 9:09 PM

Sounds very fan-ish to me.

Coursedesign wrote on 6/28/2005, 9:32 PM

Fan.

p@mast3rs wrote on 6/28/2005, 9:33 PM

Its a fan. If it was a hard drive, you would hear grinding of the platters (like someone grinding their teeth.) Either replace the enclosure with a new one or replace the fan in the enclosure you have and everything should be just fine.

John_Cline wrote on 6/28/2005, 11:04 PM

Before you power up your external drive, stick a toothpick or something into the fan to prevent the fan from turning. Turn the drive on and if the noise isn't there, it's the fan.

John