Hard disk noise

dr. john zoidberg

Today, I was downloading a couple of huge files, while also trying to play a 100 MB QuickTime movie, when I heard noises that I wasn't used to hearing from my 12" DVI PowerBook's internal hard drive. These noises were definitely louder, (but not LOUD) and more distinct, and of a different pitch than the usual 'ticks'. It sounded like the disk was struggling a bit. But the thing is I have never heard these noises in the four months that I owned it. After putting the machine to sleep, and waking it up a few hours later and using the computer lightly, these noises seem to be gone. Am I being paranoid, or could there be something wrong with my hard drive? How can I tell?

billybobsky

Did it sound like grinding?



If not you are probably fine (but this no way constitutes a professional evaluation).

dr. john zoidberg

It didn't sound like grinding, or friction, but a little like wheezing, like the drive was trying to catch up. I don't know how to describe it...



I know for sure it's not the fan or my optical drive.

dmband0026

Go into Applications/Utilities/Terminal and type in:

Code:

diskutil info disk0







It will give you a bunch of jargon about crap you don't really need to worry about now. The line you need to be concerned with is the one that says SMART status: If on that line it says anything but "Verified" than you have reason for concern. If it says Verified than you should be good. Make sure you have a backup however just in case your drive does go south.

dr. john zoidberg

Okay, cool.



Could my disk have been "thrashing?" The noise sounded slightly like a "whizzing."