[gentoo-user] {OT} HD makes weird noise, smartmontools says OK

[gentoo-user] {OT} HD makes weird noise, smartmontools says OK

[Grant]

A desktop Seagate 320GB hard drive of mine sometimes makes a buzzing
noise.  I ran 'smartctl -t long /dev/sda' and I get:

Num  Test_Description    Status                  Remaining
LifeTime(hours)  LBA_of_first_error
# 1  Extended offline    Completed without error       00%     11740         -

Does the noise mean I need to replace the drive, or would
smartmontools tell me if there was a problem?

- Grant

Re: [gentoo-user] {OT} HD makes weird noise, smartmontools says OK

[Paul Hartman]

On Wed, Apr 15, 2009 at 6:19 PM, Grant <emailgrant@gmail.com> wrote:
> A desktop Seagate 320GB hard drive of mine sometimes makes a buzzing
> noise.  I ran 'smartctl -t long /dev/sda' and I get:
>
> Num  Test_Description    Status                  Remaining
> LifeTime(hours)  LBA_of_first_error
> # 1  Extended offline    Completed without error       00%     11740         -
>
> Does the noise mean I need to replace the drive, or would
> smartmontools tell me if there was a problem?

Any weird noises from a hard drive scare me... make a backup as soon
as possible. In fact I had a 320GB Seagate drive start making funny
noises recently (but in my case it was the click of doom and the drive
going offline).

However, in case it's just a weird noise caused by it spinning at just
the right speed with the heads at just the right place which is
causing some vibration, you might try adjusting the acoustic settings
on it with hdparm to see if it makes any difference (if supported, and
if you dare). Or maybe even re-seat the drive in the case.

The fan on top of my case randomly starts vibrating and makes the most
awful buzzing noise. If I touch the case in a certain spot it goes
away (until I remove my finger). :) I usually just give it a couple
whacks and it stops... but that's probably not a good course to take
with a hard drive. :)

Re: [gentoo-user] {OT} HD makes weird noise, smartmontools says OK

[Grant]

>> A desktop Seagate 320GB hard drive of mine sometimes makes a buzzing
>> noise.  I ran 'smartctl -t long /dev/sda' and I get:
>>
>> Num  Test_Description    Status                  Remaining
>> LifeTime(hours)  LBA_of_first_error
>> # 1  Extended offline    Completed without error       00%     11740         -
>>
>> Does the noise mean I need to replace the drive, or would
>> smartmontools tell me if there was a problem?
>
> Any weird noises from a hard drive scare me... make a backup as soon
> as possible. In fact I had a 320GB Seagate drive start making funny
> noises recently (but in my case it was the click of doom and the drive
> going offline).
>
> However, in case it's just a weird noise caused by it spinning at just
> the right speed with the heads at just the right place which is
> causing some vibration, you might try adjusting the acoustic settings
> on it with hdparm to see if it makes any difference (if supported, and
> if you dare). Or maybe even re-seat the drive in the case.
>
> The fan on top of my case randomly starts vibrating and makes the most
> awful buzzing noise. If I touch the case in a certain spot it goes
> away (until I remove my finger). :) I usually just give it a couple
> whacks and it stops... but that's probably not a good course to take
> with a hard drive. :)

I was hoping it was that type of noise but after testing and
reseating, it's some kind of an internal noise.  It started a month or
so ago and sometimes it stops.  Is there any other type of test I can
do to see if the thing is healthy?

- Grant

Re: [gentoo-user] {OT} HD makes weird noise, smartmontools says OK

[Paul Hartman]

On Wed, Apr 15, 2009 at 7:18 PM, Grant <emailgrant@gmail.com> wrote:
>>> A desktop Seagate 320GB hard drive of mine sometimes makes a buzzing
>>> noise.  I ran 'smartctl -t long /dev/sda' and I get:
>>>
>>> Num  Test_Description    Status                  Remaining
>>> LifeTime(hours)  LBA_of_first_error
>>> # 1  Extended offline    Completed without error       00%     11740         -
>>>
>>> Does the noise mean I need to replace the drive, or would
>>> smartmontools tell me if there was a problem?
>>
>> Any weird noises from a hard drive scare me... make a backup as soon
>> as possible. In fact I had a 320GB Seagate drive start making funny
>> noises recently (but in my case it was the click of doom and the drive
>> going offline).
>>
>> However, in case it's just a weird noise caused by it spinning at just
>> the right speed with the heads at just the right place which is
>> causing some vibration, you might try adjusting the acoustic settings
>> on it with hdparm to see if it makes any difference (if supported, and
>> if you dare). Or maybe even re-seat the drive in the case.
>>
>> The fan on top of my case randomly starts vibrating and makes the most
>> awful buzzing noise. If I touch the case in a certain spot it goes
>> away (until I remove my finger). :) I usually just give it a couple
>> whacks and it stops... but that's probably not a good course to take
>> with a hard drive. :)
>
> I was hoping it was that type of noise but after testing and
> reseating, it's some kind of an internal noise.  It started a month or
> so ago and sometimes it stops.  Is there any other type of test I can
> do to see if the thing is healthy?

You could try booting SeaTools for DOS from a floppy/CD/USB, it may be
able to do more specific tests on your drive than S.M.A.R.T. is
capable of.

http://www.seagate.com/www/en-us/support/downloads/seatools

(they used to have a Linux version, but it's old and doesn't support
things like SATA...)

Re: [gentoo-user] {OT} HD makes weird noise, smartmontools says OK

[Albert Hopkins]

On Wed, 2009-04-15 at 16:19 -0700, Grant wrote:
> A desktop Seagate 320GB hard drive of mine sometimes makes a buzzing
> noise.  I ran 'smartctl -t long /dev/sda' and I get:
> 
> Num  Test_Description    Status                  Remaining
> LifeTime(hours)  LBA_of_first_error
> # 1  Extended offline    Completed without error       00%     11740         -
> 
> Does the noise mean I need to replace the drive, or would
> smartmontools tell me if there was a problem?
> 

If a tree falls in the forest and no one hears it does it make a sound?

Re: [gentoo-user] {OT} HD makes weird noise, smartmontools says OK

[Grant]

>>>> A desktop Seagate 320GB hard drive of mine sometimes makes a buzzing
>>>> noise.  I ran 'smartctl -t long /dev/sda' and I get:
>>>>
>>>> Num  Test_Description    Status                  Remaining
>>>> LifeTime(hours)  LBA_of_first_error
>>>> # 1  Extended offline    Completed without error       00%     11740         -
>>>>
>>>> Does the noise mean I need to replace the drive, or would
>>>> smartmontools tell me if there was a problem?
>>>
>>> Any weird noises from a hard drive scare me... make a backup as soon
>>> as possible. In fact I had a 320GB Seagate drive start making funny
>>> noises recently (but in my case it was the click of doom and the drive
>>> going offline).
>>>
>>> However, in case it's just a weird noise caused by it spinning at just
>>> the right speed with the heads at just the right place which is
>>> causing some vibration, you might try adjusting the acoustic settings
>>> on it with hdparm to see if it makes any difference (if supported, and
>>> if you dare). Or maybe even re-seat the drive in the case.
>>>
>>> The fan on top of my case randomly starts vibrating and makes the most
>>> awful buzzing noise. If I touch the case in a certain spot it goes
>>> away (until I remove my finger). :) I usually just give it a couple
>>> whacks and it stops... but that's probably not a good course to take
>>> with a hard drive. :)
>>
>> I was hoping it was that type of noise but after testing and
>> reseating, it's some kind of an internal noise.  It started a month or
>> so ago and sometimes it stops.  Is there any other type of test I can
>> do to see if the thing is healthy?
>
> You could try booting SeaTools for DOS from a floppy/CD/USB, it may be
> able to do more specific tests on your drive than S.M.A.R.T. is
> capable of.
>
> http://www.seagate.com/www/en-us/support/downloads/seatools
>
> (they used to have a Linux version, but it's old and doesn't support
> things like SATA...)

Thanks Paul, sounds like extra noise isn't an absolute kiss of death.

- Grant

Re: [gentoo-user] {OT} HD makes weird noise, smartmontools says OK

[Grant]

>> A desktop Seagate 320GB hard drive of mine sometimes makes a buzzing
>> noise.  I ran 'smartctl -t long /dev/sda' and I get:
>>
>> Num  Test_Description    Status                  Remaining
>> LifeTime(hours)  LBA_of_first_error
>> # 1  Extended offline    Completed without error       00%     11740         -
>>
>> Does the noise mean I need to replace the drive, or would
>> smartmontools tell me if there was a problem?
>>
>
> If a tree falls in the forest and no one hears it does it make a sound?

No?

- Grant

Re: [gentoo-user] {OT} HD makes weird noise, smartmontools says OK

[Alan McKinnon]

On Thursday 16 April 2009 01:30:56 Paul Hartman wrote:
> The fan on top of my case randomly starts vibrating and makes the most
> awful buzzing noise. If I touch the case in a certain spot it goes
> away (until I remove my finger). :) I usually just give it a couple
> whacks and it stops... but that's probably not a good course to take
> with a hard drive. :)

That's dirt in the bearings causing tiny wear patterns that just happen to 
vibrate at a resonant frequency to buzz. When it gets bad enough they wobble 
on the drive shaft and shake. Same principle as squeeking disc brakes.

Solution is a new fan. Cleaning with aerosol lubricant products temporarily 
helps.

-- 
alan dot mckinnon at gmail dot com

Re: [gentoo-user] {OT} HD makes weird noise, smartmontools says OK

[Neil Bothwick]

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On Wed, 15 Apr 2009 17:18:23 -0700, Grant wrote:

> Is there any other type of test I can
> do to see if the thing is healthy?

Save some really important data to it that isn't backed up anywhere else.


-- 
Neil Bothwick

A friend of mine sent me a postcard with a satellite photo of the
entire planet on it, and on the back he wrote, "Wish you were here."

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