subject: Is Your Computer Making Hard Drive Noise? [print this page] You will find a few noises you by no means need to hear. Right up there on the list is a funny noise from your hard drive. A scraping, grinding, or rattling noise suggests there is surely a problem. Ahead of when we analyze what may be creating these noises, there is a first priority. For those who have no recent backup, it is the first thing you need to do, starting with the most essential data files first. If you act quickly when you first hear an unusual noise, you have a rather good probability of backing up in advance of when the hard disk fails.
Okay, now that we possess a data backup we can attempt to troubleshoot the source of this noise coming from your hard disk. Hard disk drives contain a number of moving parts. The platters (where the computer data is saved and read from) spin at tremendous rates of speed measured in RPMs. Even a slow drive nowadays goes at minimum 5400 revolutions per minute. The actual spindle that the platters sit on also spins at that speed. Then you will have an armature that moves the device that reads the platters that continuously moves from the outside edge to the center.
Any of these moving components can wear out and start producing noises. You can't really replace the inside parts due to cost and techniques which means that your only choice is to replace the hard drive. As I pointed out above, when you directly act once you hear the very first peculiar noise, your hard disk might keep working a little longer. Quite a few new hard disks are available with software applications that may very easily move your complete hard drive contents to your new one. So it is a huge benefit of moving the contents from a functioning hard disk drive to the new hard drive.
Transferring the contents is really a huge time saver because you won't need to reinstall your operating system and any other computer programs. And there are many other pieces of data like your email, address book, Browser Favorites, and also security passwords or network configuration settings. You by no means realize how much stuff you have on your personal computer until you lose it. Moving the total system software programs and data is significantly simpler and you won't lose anything.
If your hard disk drive doesn't arrive with software to copy the contents of your old hard drive to a new one, you can find a couple very good software programs you can easily obtain to do it. My first preference would be Acronis Migrate 7. It costs about $40 and may be used to produce a backup image too. There are other software programs out there but none as straightforward and bulletproof as Acronis.
If it comes to replacing your disk drive, you will discover certain aspects of your first hard drive that you simply need to examine to make sure the new one is equivalent. Many times you are able to improve the size as well as the speed of your new hard drive for greater overall performance and more data storage. Lets say you had a 250 Gig SATA disk drive, that operates at 5400 RPM which may be going to fail soon by the sound of it. You can readily get a 500 Gig SATA drive that operates at 7500 RPM (the faster it spins, the more quickly you'll be able to store and retrieve data) for around $65.
So you just doubled your storage capability and enhanced your access speed significantly. These new hard drives are available with rather simple instructions on replacing your old disk drive. If the application that will copy the total hard drive comes with your specific selection it'll have data on specifically how to handle this, often step by step directions. Acronis Migrate 7 also contains complete guidelines and is developed for even a new user. And Acronis has excellent support as well when you have any questions.
So in the event you hear a hard drive noise, the time to react is right then and there. Instantly backup all your files first. Then as quickly as you can, acquire a replacement hard disk drive and install it. It will be a minor concern. But it you disregard the hard disk drive noise, I guarantee you'll have a much bigger problem and likely lose some important files.
