I have the newest model Mac mini and recently upgraded to Mountain Lion. The Mac is about 9 months old and I have noticed that I hear the drive writing a lot more than I ever noticed before. I did a disk verify and it said "Mac HD is Ok". I talked to apple support and they were cool, even tho my hardware phone support was up, they just did it as software support for my recent OS purchase. Any one else notice a drive start to make more noise? I really hope it's not the drive failing because replacing it is a pain in the ass and the closest apple store is about 2 hours away.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Hard drive has become noisier
- Thread starter brangates
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Noisy in what sense? Clicking noises? Also, you don't have to take it to that Apple Store, you can send it off to Apple.
If your hard drive makes more noise then it used to then it is time to buy an external hard drive for backup. Actually, if your hard drive doesn't make any noise then it is time to by a backup drive as well
And if you don't have AppleCare, that might be a good idea as well. Would be a shame if the noisy hard drive failed after 12 1/2 months.
However, it is also possible that the position of the Mac Mini on your desk makes a difference; if you moved it or put things on your desk that reflect the sound, that could make a difference.
yeah thats the thing i am most concerned about is it failing a week after my one year warranty. I have 38 days left, so if in maybe 2 weeks it has gotten worse I will take it in. I have time machine running on a external and most of my important data is backed up on another external as well, so back ups are not a problem. Sending it into apple would be to much of a hassle. This is my main machine and school is starting in a couple weeks. The only back up machines i have would be a powermac G4 and a iPad.
A drive might just get a little noisier... and keep running for years.
The -type- of noises it generates makes a difference. If you hear "whirring", it may just be the platters spinning. If you hear "clicks" and "grinds", that could indicate more serious problems.
Since you're well-backed-up, I'd just keep using the drive "as is". Just -stay- backed-up, and if the drive fails at some point, then just replace it and restore on the new drive from your backups.
I'm writing this on a 2004-vintage PowerMac g4 that still has the original drive inside. There's also another drive in it that may be -older-, still running, too. In the drawer I have backup files on a bare drive I found in a computer laying in the street. Works for me.
The -type- of noises it generates makes a difference. If you hear "whirring", it may just be the platters spinning. If you hear "clicks" and "grinds", that could indicate more serious problems.
Since you're well-backed-up, I'd just keep using the drive "as is". Just -stay- backed-up, and if the drive fails at some point, then just replace it and restore on the new drive from your backups.
I'm writing this on a 2004-vintage PowerMac g4 that still has the original drive inside. There's also another drive in it that may be -older-, still running, too. In the drawer I have backup files on a bare drive I found in a computer laying in the street. Works for me.
here is a discount mac mini applecare link
http://www.jr.com/apple/pe/APP_MD010LL_SL_A/
129 not 149 no tax in every state but NY and maybe CA. use code USMEDALS GET $5 OFF. LASTLY 5% off with your discover card. So with luck maybe 118.
The L.A. Computer Co. has AppleCare for $95 and $7.53 for FedEx Ground delivery. It's a reputable authorized Apple retailer. I've order from the company several times. Just be sure to avoid eBay auctions or be prepared to be disappointed...
Any new noise from a drive makes me nervous. If you have all your data backed up then No Worries.
Any new noise from a drive makes me nervous. If you have all your data backed up then No Worries.
thats normal, dont worry about the noise. Moreover, you should backup you computer anwyays. Having said that, do consider upgrading to a SSD sometime next year, they will be hell cheaper. SSDs are tottally silent, more reliable and faster of course. And a two year HDD is still in good reselling condition.
Regarding backup, Time Machine is great.
Regarding backup, Time Machine is great.