Strange sounds from Seagate 200G hard disk

[Noya83]

I just installed my 250gb SATA Seagate and it makes some noises. It makes this "clinking/grinding" noise when writing data and when I open folders on it. I can cut and paste to the Seagate from my main SATA drive (Samsung SpinPoint) that I've abused for a year and a half, and it sounds as if the brand new Seagate has been abused. I've never heard another HD make the noises the Seagate makes.  NewEggs 15% re-stocking is a turn off.  The drive works...but I would rather exchange it, even for another one. I've never RMA'd anything, what should I write to get the RMA?

[Larry]

The same thing you did here plus system and operating system info.  There should be no restocking fee at Newegg on defective merchandice.

[Metal]

My Seagate Barracuda also makes loud noises, I wouldn't describe it as a "clicking" but more of a much louder version of the normal sound a hard drive makes when it is being accessed. It does this -a lot- especially when playing World of Warcraft and new areas are louding. The drive shows no indication of dying, it's just rather noisy. However, to be on the safe side, I am picking up a new HD tomorrow - I would like to know... is it possible for a computer technician to record all the media on this noisy hd and put it on the new drive? If so.. is it super expensive?  

[yaabaa]

Metal, you can do it yourself very easily using the free hard disk manufacturers utility - for Seagate, use Disk Wizard:

http://www.seagate.com/support/disc/drivers/discwiz.html

See the middle section called, "Disk Wizard for Windows".  Click the, "Learn More," link and check the info, taking particular note of the sections titled, "As the Boot drive removing the old drive from the system".

Andy

[river_side88]

I posted earlier about returning my defective Seagate 200GB SATA HDD. I returned it and got a repaired defective disk, and it still has the same problem!, i.e. clicks and hangs. I also found out that my Seagate 120GB SATA also has the same problem!!! I'm running out of space and I have to RMA the two HDDs and may still get defective replacement disks. So that's 3 defective Seagate SATA disks for me.

My Seagate 250GB PATA works with no such problem, but time will tell.

I'm sure it's not the power cable, data cable or any static damage. Could it possibly be the power supply, as I only have a 350W PSU? Is it because SATA is still relatively new and Seagate haven't been able to make SATA HDDs that last or to manufacture less defective disks?

[Larry]

A quality, name-brand, 350 Watt power supply is sufficient for most PCs.

[sdas_sbl]

Hi Everyone,

I am Santanu from India.
I just bought my New Seagate Barracuda 80GB SATA NCQ HDD (ST380817AS) 2 days ago. Previously I had a Barracuda 40GB PATA which I sold to a friend. But from the very first moment I am noticing a strange noise that I haven't experienced in any PC before.

The noise comes from the hard-disk and is a strange KRRRR... sound (similar to one while driving a saw in wood or a knife on a rough board!). It only occurs while the drive is in use, ie. data is read or written to it, and not while its idle.

Regarding performance its great. I have no complains apart from this loud noise (audible clearly at night). I tried to copy a 1GB file from DVD to the disk and it copied in just 3 mins (the noise occured only at the beginning). So its working properly at the moment.

Dear friend, do u think I should ask my dealer for a replacement of this faulty drive, or is a normal problem! PLEASE HELP !!

Thanks!

[Larry]

I'd have to listen to it to be sure, but you probably need to replace it.

[sdas_sbl]

Hi Larry.

I will ask for replacement. But please tell me how should I explain this problem to Seagate. They are not ready to listen to noise issues till the drive crashes or has a major problem !

Your suggestion is expected. Thanks!

[Larry]

I don't use Seagate drives.

[biatche]

Thanks to this thread, I came to learn about this STIR technology. Anyways, now we know that this is causing it, question now is, what can we do about it?

What's a good practical solution? Can't seagate have a software for enabling/disabling it. Cuz seriously, the sound is VERY annoying.

Does STIR really help increase the lifespan of the drive? Anyone mind writing a cron script for windows to stop this very annoying sound?

Would writing dummy 1byte data to the disk every so long give a higher chance for the disk to fail?

[biatche]

from: http://forums.silentpcreview.com/viewtopic.php?t=16332&view=next&sid=6312bc1ca9a3f32967385c50e4b8acb0

I've got two Seagates with different firmware and a JVC nonFDB Samsung (I know, but it was the only one available in the COUNTRY)

The quietest of them all is the Seagate with the higher firmware, 3.18.

The 3.05 firmware Seagate has a buzzing sound at idle. Due to my very quiet system I can hear it and it becomes extremely annoying at times.

The Samsung whine is at a much higher frequency but is lower in overall noise level than the 3.05 Seagate. Suspended in my Sonata, it only becomes disturbing very late at night (3 AM or so). This drive does vibrate significantly more than the Seagates though, so suspension is advised.

So the Samsung is not bad as I expected. I could RMA it but I chose not to. I'll probably try some sort of melamine wrap sometime in the future.

To confirm it, I DO have 3.05 firmware on this drive... now how exactly do i get to 3.18, for one, i've never flashed hard drive firmware (im so worried about my data too)

and where exactly do i download this 3.18 firmware? urgh...

[biatche]

< deleted > can't edit post. i'm so wrong, my 3.18 firmware drive is also noisy.. stupid self-diagnosis noise......

[Ingmar]

Hi,

I have just finished building my own computer and I also had installed a couple of noisy Seagate Barracuda STIR drives. So not long after the first start up, the drives began emitting the same noise you all have been describing, with pretty much consistent durations and intervals. I was also informed by Seagate tech support that this was their very annoying STIR technology, which appearently cannot be turned off.
Luckily I only just got these disks and I am relieved to say I can return them to the online store I got them from.

Now my real question is, what drives to go with then !
Does anyone have any good suggestions ?
They have to be SATA and preferably include NCQ, and formost NOT HAVE STIR or equivalent technology that results in the same irritating harddisk activity. I have a cool WD 360GD 10k rpm too, and although reads and writes are 1990's-loud, it's completely silent when it should be, which is a far better deal than having a softer yet never ending seek buzz accompanied by railroad noises.    

So all suggestions are welcome  
Thanks everyone                    

[woyteg]

Hello everyone,

I got my seagate 200G sometime in December, good deal from Fry's. Everything was ok, I didn't have any problems till yesterday. It started making this noises (click). Because I kept all my work on that drive I decided to back it up ASAP and believe it or not, when I was done with the backup the drive died.

Well, I just wanted to share my experience with Seagate 200G*

*G = "good deal"