Barracuda XT, Barracuda, Barracuda Green, DiamondMax and other desktop SATA and IDE drives

[Jessica39]

I have a HP Media Center with a Seagate 500 GB SATA 3g ST3500630AS.

For about a month now and at random times it makes this buzzing noise.

To get it to stop I have to tap at my computer. Or if I shutdown the computer

it wil make a winding down noise.   But my computer is working fine.  

I used the SeaTools and it told me that:

SmartCheck-Test Unavailable;  Short DST-Pass;  Long DST-Pass

Short Generic-Fail;  Long Generic-Fail (Note: It went up to the number 232 error and then

said FAIL)

What do I do next?  Do I get a new hard drive? Is there something I can download that

will fix the Error's on the Long Generic Fail.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

Jessica

[fzabkar]

Try running SeaTools for DOS. It will offer to "repair" any bad sectors.

http://www.seagate.com/support/seatools/

Otherwise, try a more comprehensive SMART diagnostic and benchmarking tool. Look for reallocated sectors or pending sectors.

HD Sentinel (DOS / Windows/Linux):

http://www.hdsentinel.com/

HDDScan for Windows:

http://hddscan.com/

See this article for SMART info:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S.M.A.R.T.

[Jessica39]

-In waiting for a response here. 

I did run a Hardware and Diagnostics that comes with my HP computer.   

It said Random Seek, Funnel Seek, Surface Scan and Surface Scan 2 I passed all those.

-I did try the Free version of the Hard Disk Sentinel and it says:

The Hard Disk Status is PERFECT.  Problematic or weak sectors were

not found and there are no spinup or data tansfer errors.  

No Actions Needed.

In the TEMPERATURE:  Current--says 48' degrees Celsius 

Average Today 48.00 'C;  Maxium Temperature Today 48'C

Yellow Temperature Limit reached.  If the drive temerpature continues to increase

 then it is recommended to use a hard disk cooling device. 

Note: my fans are working on my computer.  But does the above mean I should replace them.

The HDDScan I didnt try because it doesnt say its for Windows Vista.

thanks for you help 

[fzabkar]

HD Sentinel's author is recommending something like these:

http://www.my-batteries.net/images/coolingpad/Dual-Cooling-Fan-3.5-PC-Hard-Disk-Drive-HDD-Cooler-Fan.gif

http://59.124.16.10/items/Pic/19-18/19-18-1.jpg

http://www.hardware.info/images/news/scythe_ita_kaze_hdd_cooler02.jpg

I would think that the fans in a Media Centre PC would be quiet, low RPM, temperature controlled types. I doubt they are faulty. Rather, I suspect that the air flow past the hard drive isn't the best. While 48C is within spec for the drive, IMHO it is on the high side. I would aim at somewhere below 40C.

[Jessica39]

btw that temp is with the case off.  I havent put the case back on since the buzzing noise started.

I am going to get one of those Fans you suggested. 

When I turned my computer on it started out at 23 degrees and after it loaded went to 47 degrees and as soon as it got loaded 

it started the buzzing noise.  I tapped around my computer and got it to stop.

The temp has been at 47-48 degrees since its been turned on (about 3 hours)

I still dont know what to do about the buzzing noise.   

thanks 

Jessica

[fzabkar]

Jessica39, you wrote that "as soon as it got loaded it started the buzzing noise".

Are you sure the buzzing is coming from your hard drive? Can you feel the drive vibrating?

Could the noise be coming from the CPU fan or power supply fan? When the load increases, the CPU heats up, and its temperature controlled fan automatically ratchets up in speed. Likewise with some power supplies.

You can watch this happening with hardware monitor software such as Speedfan and others:

http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php

HWMonitor:

http://www.cpuid.com/hwmonitor.php

Core Temp (CPU temperature):

http://www.alcpu.com/CoreTemp/

[Jessica39]

the buzzing noise is happening more often and last's longer.  Tapping around the computer to get it to

stop doesnt seem to help. The computer can just be turned on and im not using it and it will start buzzing.  The buzzing is either the cpu cooler or hard drive.   

I have the Hard Disk Sentinel Program and today it told me

that I have 18 Bad sectors on the Disk surface.  The contents of these sectors were moved to a spare area.   The Health is 82% and 41 degrees.  In the Temperature Tab it says Yellow Temperature reached.

and that I need to use a hard disk cooling device.  

If this was your computer what would you do..

[fzabkar]

I would install a hard drive cooler.

I would also keep watching the reallocated sector count. If it starts increasing on a regular basis, then backup and be ready to replace the drive.

As for the buzzing, just press your finger lightly against the hub (not blades) of your CPU fan. Don't stop the fan, just see if you can change the quality of the buzzing. Alternatively, roll up a piece of paper and use it as an earhorn.

You could also disconnect the SATA power connector from the hard drive. If the buzzing persists, then it'll be coming from somewhere else.

[Jessica39]

its not making any noise right now but Im going to do your suggestions. thanks so much for replying

and helping me..

[Jessica39]

I believe its to be the Hard drive.  The buzzin noise started just now so

I put my hand lightly on the Hard Drive and presses very easily and the sound changed

and took my hand off and the sound was there.  The sound went higher and lower

as I pressed on it..

Any suggestions on a hard drive.