How to Fix a Noisy Hard Drive
A noisy hard drive, in most cases, is the fugue before the funeral. But there are some contingencies to be aware of and some possible steps that might fix the problem. It could be the case that corrupted software is forcing your hard drive to continually recalibrate itself, but the chances are slim. Nonetheless, make sure you run a complete diagnostic before cracking open your tower. If the diagnostic does not fix the noise, you can be sure it is a hardware issue.
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Instructions
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Back up all your data before cracking open your PC tower. Should your hard drive fail outright while you are investigating, you will never forgive yourself. An external hard drive is the best place to back up your data.
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Remove the tower cover and observe. Is the noise coming from the hard drive itself or from the fan? Both pieces of hardware are suspect given that they possess the most mechanical components.
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Indulge in a sigh of relief if the fan is the culprit. Replacement fans are relatively inexpensive and easy to install. Follow the installation instructions, and enjoy the rest of your day.
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Don't despair if the hard drive is the culprit. All is not lost. It could be the case the metal support straps holding the hard drive in place are causing the internal components to vibrate unnecessarily. This is where the industrial rubber bands come in handy.
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Remove the metal support straps holding your hard drive in place and replace them with the industrial rubber bands. Simply screw the rubber bands into the hard drive and then into the tower casing.
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With your hard drive suspended by rubber bands, turn on your computer and observe. If the noise is gone, you have solved your dilemma. If the noise persists, it is time to invest in a new hard drive.
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Tips & Warnings
When working with computer components, be sure the computer is unplugged to avoid any electric shock.
Resources
- Photo Credit Photo courtesy of Softpedia.com.
