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

[DonToro]

I bought last week four Barracuda HHD 1.5TB, model ST31500341AS; only one drive (f/w CC1H), sounds abnormal noise, clicking 10-20 seconds long, every 30 seconds / 1 minute. When this happens the system slows down and blocks for a moment. I did all the verify tests: full windows formatting, Seatools test, smart status information software: all tell me that the disc does not present problems. I tried to use the drive on different computers, different cables, different power supply.

In order to Seagate instructions my drive is not affected by 7200.11 Firmware Issues and a firmware update isn't necessary.

But this not true! My drive has the same problems mentioned by the other firmwares.

Today, I've open a case to Seagate support to ask them if my drive should be replaced.

I've sent my Barracuda to Seagate and I'm waiting for replacement (I hope).

Message Edited by DonToro on 03-04-2009 01:28 AM

[anti]

People need to stop running to blaming firmware.

You have one drive making audible clicks while the other 3 perform normally. Why do you even bother worrying about what some software tests tell you?

Exchange the defective drive at the place of purchase. You should have at least 14 day exchange at most retailers.

[Quest]

If firmware isn't the problem then hardware is? If so, the implication is that seagate is coming out with tons of harddisks that they do not want to recall, and is unable to fix remotely and everyone must RMA when they get one of these drives.

I too have the CC1H firmware and a similar issue on my drive.
Similarly, Seatools tells me there isn't an issue.

Technical support tells me my firmware is not affected (no bricking of drive) but unable to solve the clicking/pause issue.

Since my data is double-backed-up, I did not RMA.

It would be worse if got forbid I got a drive with another issue.
Lucky for me, I got 1 of these drives before I bought a bunch. Now I may switch to WD's 2TB.

I have been waiting for weeks for an answer and am following this page for ages.
Have only decided to post cos of someone's insensitive remark!

[anti]

If the problem was hardware specific to the whole line his other 3 drives would be clicking as well. Why would you take Seatools word over your personal observation? Your car keeps losing power and sputtering out but your OBD doesn't bring up a warning light so you think everything is good? That logic is as good as following a GPS off a bridge.

I've  encountered the same problem with the same drives. One out of the ten I've purchased was making abnormal noises. It was exchanged for a new one.

Switching to WDs for backups may not be such a bad idea until Seagate can work out their problems.

You didn't RMA because you have a copy of your data? I didn't take my car in for warranty because I have another one?

Make sense and I'll be a little more sensitive.

[Catch_ME]

I too have this very same problem.

When i first got the hard drive, it was working fine but i started hearing a click noise. This noise slowly became more frequent and troublesome. 

 Now it appears to be happening every 10 seconds. It is even happening when the computer is in standby. 

I've tried calling seagate support but it seems that they disabled their phone support. 

[anti]

Stick to just the RMA system. I don't recall having to actually talk to customer support to get one, but its been a while. If you've purchased the drive within the exchange period of your local retailer or shop, just exchange it.

[Catch_ME]

Okay, i have a 1.5TB drive.

Model Number: ST31500341AS

Firmware: CC1H

Just in case here is my basic system specs.

6GB RAM

Intel Q6600 Core 2 Quad

Asus P5W Intel 975X  chipset

Vista 64bit Business

Now this just off playing around with the drive today and will put up more in the future to help you guys out. 

I first receaved the Drive in late January. This drive worked perfectly and was great. I started transfering all my data from the 3 other drives on my system. I fill it up to 400GB by the end of the week. 

When playing a few games online or using firefox, it would on occasion pause. I dismissed this and didn't make a big deal out of it.

But in the last week, I started hearing clicking sounds. I thought this may be the same issue people are having with the firmware problems.  But it seems that it is an isolated problem.

I lot of people do not know what is wrong with their drives.

I decided to open up my computer have a real bad freeze on the entire system. I touch the Hard Drive and I cannot believe how hot this device is. It must have been over 80C. 

I shut down computer for 45 minutes. After I restart the machine, it seems to run fine. I figured immediatly that it has to be a heating issue. 

I decided to run a game and play for a good while. Left 4 Dead is the game that I was playing. 

The clicking noise comes back. It comes back at a faster rate then before. Before you know it, the drive is freezing every 10 seconds.

I open up the side of my case, bring a fan and have it blow into my computer.

Now the clicking noise still exists but doesn't seem to hang the computer this time. The freezing is gone except with one operation. I decided to download a list of pics. I load them in a folder. I browse to them and the drive hangs a little with the clicking sound just to load the thumb size pictures. 

It appears that the clicking sound(the head reseting) is just largly effected by heat. This must be a manufacturing defect in the drive itself as I've read around while searching in google. 

It appears that i may have to add a fan next to this hard drive in order to help with the heat.

If you guys can help me out here and try to open the side of your computer and tell me if cooling it off helps at all. At lease with the freeze or hang up. 

[anti]

Some advanced SMART utilities will tell you what temperature your drive has been exposed to. If your drive is doing that during normal operations I would immediately back it up and get it replaced.

If they send you another broken drive, wait a few weeks and send it back again. Make sure Seagate pays for shipping.

Repeat until they get it right.

[bart_bender]

I've the same issue

[XmemphistoX]

I have the same issue.  CC1H firmware... Click Click Click...