Hard drive issues?

[TubsAlwaysWins]

I'm trying to install Ubuntu and the hard drive I'm installing it on is clicking and beeping. It didn't do this earlier, and now it is. I never dropped it or anything. What's wrong and how do I fix it?

[DBKorea]

if its clicking, then if there's any data on it, get it off, then try and troubleshoot.

[S7117]

I'm trying to install Ubuntu and the hard drive I'm installing it on is clicking and beeping. It didn't do this earlier, and now it is. I never dropped it or anything. What's wrong and how do I fix it?

is it a minor or loud clicking and is it more of a scratching sound?

[S7117]

I'm trying to install Ubuntu and the hard drive I'm installing it on is clicking and beeping. It didn't do this earlier, and now it is. I never dropped it or anything. What's wrong and how do I fix it?

 

if its clicking, then if there's any data on it, get it off, then try and troubleshoot.

I would back everything up... However.... spinning hard drives do make some noises like he described...

 

The pin has to make contact with the spinning platter disk on the inside so it will make a minute clicking sound..... beeping wise... is it electronic or mechanical beeping?

[TubsAlwaysWins]

is it a minor or loud clicking and is it more of a scratching sound?

It's like a minor clicking

[TubsAlwaysWins]

I would back everything up... However.... spinning hard drives do make some noises like he described...

The pin has to make contact with the spinning platter disk on the inside so it will make a minute clicking sound..... beeping wise... is it electronic or mechanical beeping?

It's like a system speaker beeping. Except coming from the hard drive (there's no speaker plugged into my computer)

[S7117]

It's like a system speaker beeping

when exactly and how many times does it beep... may be another unrelated problem...

[Guest]

Check the health of the HDD using an application known as "GSmartControl"

 

It is available in the USC or by typing the following into the terminal:

 

sudo apt-get install gsmartcontrol

[TubsAlwaysWins]

I'm using another power supply and an identical drive to compare. The good drive makes a loud (when you put your ear to it) noise when it starts. The other one does the same. The difference being you can hear the arm hitting something

[TubsAlwaysWins]

When it's plugged into my desktop psu it just clicks for a few minutes and then a beep starts to follow the clicks. It doesn't seem to do that on another power supply though

[TubsAlwaysWins]

I think I have a dead drive on my hands. The BIOS won't even recognise it's presence

[Captain_WD]

~snip~

 

Hey there

 

HDDs are mechanical units and do have moving parts. It is normal to to hear a small clicking noise as the actuator hovers over the platter in order to read/write data to it. 

If you have trouble recognizing the drive anywhere I would first try another SATA cable on another SATA port and see if that changes anything. I would also try the drive on another system (internally or externally). Booting from Linux Live CD might help in recognizing the drive. 

If you manage to recognize the drive the first thing you should do is backing up your data as any troubleshooting might further damage the drive and cause permanent data loss. 

I'd check the S.M.A.R.T status of the drive and see what the raw values would tell you. If you are not sure how to read them feel free to post them here and we will help you out.

 

Post back with some results!

 

Captain_WD.