Strange clicking noise coming from my imac

[dynamicd]

Hey guys, thanks in advance for any replies. While I'm using my 700mhz 17" falt panel imac, once and a while I'll hear what sounds like a spinning sound and then a click. And while the "spinning" noise is happening my computer freezed for that second or two. It's really quite annoying. This happend a couple months ago for a day or so and then stopped until now. I'm thinking it's my harddrive but I'm not sure. Any suggestions?? Thanks again!

 

[grapes911]

I agree, it sounds like the hard drive. I'd make sure you make frequent backups and prepare for a crash. When? Today, tomorrow, in 5 years? No one can say, but clicking noises usually mean it will crash sooner than later.

 

[iMeowbot]

Try to pay attention to the noises and time them. If they're happening at ten minute intervals, it's a normal quirk of the hard drive.

 

[dynamicd]

The timing varies but just the other minute it probably happened about 5 or 6 times within that minute. I tried restarting and repairing permission but that didn't work.

 

[me_94501]

Your hard drive is likely dying. Back up what you can as soon as you can.

And just FYI: repairing permissions is not a magic bullet. It will not correct hardware issues. There's some controversy if it even helps with many software issues. *shrugs*

 

[grapes911]

And just FYI: repairing permissions is not a magic bullet. It will not correct hardware issues. There's some controversy if it even helps with many software issues. *shrugs*

There is absolutely no controversy if Repairing Permissions helps with software issues. It helps when the problem is a permissions problem, which is fairly common in a unix system.

 

[Sun Baked]

Try to pay attention to the noises and time them. If they're happening at ten minute intervals, it's a normal quirk of the hard drive.

I think it's thermal recalibration ... which happens when you hammer the drive.

But if it is happening a lot, the drive is dying quick.

Basically it's the HD eq. of the old Zip drive click of death.

 

[iMeowbot]

I think it's thermal recalibration ... which happens when you hammer the drive.

Deskstars of about that vintage recalibrate exactly every ten minutes no matter what, and depending on the ambient temp the process can make really, really strange noises or be totally inaudible. Somewhere I have recordings of the odder ones but a search isn't turning up what I want.

But if it is happening a lot, the drive is dying quick.

Yeah, sounds at irregular intervals are likely read retries.

 

[SmurfBoxMasta]

back it up
smak it up
jak it up.......

BEFORE it jaks U up

 

[iEdd]

back it up
smak it up
jak it up.......

BEFORE it jaks U up

lmao.

@Original poster, like everyone else I think it has to be a HDD problem. Backup all data onto an external HDD with superduper or something. Also if you have techtool pro or an apple hardware disk, do the hard drive diagnostic tests.