Single loud “snaps” occasionally from HD?

[nagromme]

The Samsung 80 GB hard disk in my original-release Air died, and was replaced a few months ago. But the new drive (still a Samsung HS082HB) has always made a snapping sound that the old drive never did:

* It’s just a single metallic snap or click, and I notice it only about twice a day, not all the time.

* It happens in the middle of ongoing drive access—not when drive sleep happens.

* It’s louder than any clicking I ever heard from my old Air drive or my iPod’s HD. (About as loud as clicking a Mighty Mouse. Not terrifying except that my old drive never did it.)

I’ve had no I/O problems or S.M.A.R.T. warnings yet, but then again my old Air drive died without S.M.A.R.T. warnings too. Should I be worried? Maybe the LACK of a loud click was a symptom of my old drive’s problem?

I’m calling Apple but I don’t expect much but a shrug. The new HD’s warranty is up soon and I am in fear of another failure. (Time Capsule will save my data but not my wallet )

 

[pvmacguy]

My 80gb does the same thing.

 

[Jophster]

The Samsung 80 GB hard disk in my original-release Air died, and was replaced a few months ago. But the new drive (still a Samsung HS082HB) has always made a snapping sound that the old drive never did:

* It’s just a single metallic snap or click, and I notice it only about twice a day, not all the time.

* It happens in the middle of ongoing drive access—not when drive sleep happens.

* It’s louder than any clicking I ever heard from my old Air drive or my iPod’s HD. (About as loud as clicking a Mighty Mouse. Not terrifying except that my old drive never did it.)

I’ve had no I/O problems or S.M.A.R.T. warnings yet, but then again my old Air drive died without S.M.A.R.T. warnings too. Should I be worried? Maybe the LACK of a loud click was a symptom of my old drive’s problem?

I’m calling Apple but I don’t expect much but a shrug. The new HD’s warranty is up soon and I am in fear of another failure. (Time Capsule will save my data but not my wallet )

Hi
Although I am new to the MBA, I know a thing or two about HDD.
What you are describing is completely normal providing it does not happen very often. (More than once per 20 mins)
It is simply the speeding up of the spinning disk and is common after waking up a laptop from sleep or accessing files etc.

Hope this helps.
Joe.

 

[nagromme]

Hi
Although I am new to the MBA, I know a thing or two about HDD.
What you are describing is completely normal providing it does not happen very often. (More than once per 20 mins)
It is simply the speeding up of the spinning disk and is common after waking up a laptop from sleep or accessing files etc.

Hope this helps.
Joe.

Thanks—but that’s not when it happens, actually. There are spin-up noises of course, the same as my previous HD. But this single, sharp "snap" happens randomly, when the drive has already been in use for some time, and isn’t stopping. For instance, it could happen in the middle of a long download. It could happen any time, as near as I can tell (but less than every 20 minutes for sure). What worries me is that the same model HD never did this in the previous year and a half.

Hopefully I’ll get more reports that it’s normal though And Apple just told me I have a longer warranty on the swap part than I thought (1 year).

 

[pvmacguy]

I have an apt. at the genius bar tomorrow for other issues on mine, I'll bring it up tomorrow.

 

[Mintin8]

Obviously, several sounds will come from the HD. But if it's as loud as a mighty mouse click, it shouldn't really be doing that. How many times per day would you say? Does it ever rise above two? I would also just back your stuff up to be sure.

 

[nagromme]

I’d say about twice, per day of heavy use. It varies a lot.

I do have a Time Capsule, which saved my bacon when the last HD died! Time Capsule has surpassed food and water as a necessity of life

 

[pvmacguy]

Mine does it way more than twice a day. More like 6 or more.

 

[nagromme]

Mine does it way more than twice a day. More like 6 or more.

It’s hard to say how often it happens that I don’t notice, of course. With other sounds around, something as loud as a mouse click can be overlooked.

 

[theappleguy]

It happens on my Rev A several times a day and the HDD is still working fine after two years, so I wouldn't be too concerned about it.

 

[Mhaddy]

I too hear this loud "snap" every once and a while. I think in the almost 2 years since I've had this thing, it's only "snapped" about a dozen times or more. I keep regular backups and still have AppleCare until 2011 so I'm not worried. Just ensure you have those backups current!

 

[evsp341995]

mine snaps every once in a while. I'm tired of all the noise that comes from the hdd and the slow read speeds. i just ordered myself a ssd. coming next week

 

[nagromme]

mine snaps every once in a while. I'm tired of all the noise that comes from the hdd and the slow read speeds. i just ordered myself a ssd. coming next week

Now you’re talking

I’ll keep an eye on it.