Clicking Noise issue *resolved*

I have a Seagate and I did this - it works though it seems everything runs a little hotter (1-2 degrees C). Thanks.

 

I think I might have found out one reason why the hdparm scripts weren't working. The UAC (may it burn in hell forever) might have been blocking the hdparm program. I figured there was a problem when it wouldn't let me delete an AutoIt exe file. Anyways, having disabled UAC, the simple one-line bat script appears to be doing the job. Still having issues with the deadsimple script but progress is being made.

 

worked for me - but I turned off UAC after about 1 minute once I got Vista.

 

Alright, its been essentially 21 pages of grueling back and forth, researching, and additional hoopla.

I did all the fixes listed here before and after doing all the tweaks listed here:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=166532

The clicking still persists...
I have a Seagate 250GB 7200RPM - ST9250421ASG. I here the little "click" noise with the HDD Light blinking every second or so... I have tried:

1) NHC
2) BIOS Acoustic Settings
3) HDParm
4) Running HD Tune

My Laptop is Dell XPS M1530 T9300 4GB running Windows Vista Premium.

Does anyone still have this problem or did everyone correct it, it seems like everyone reached a solution eventually. Sometimes the problem gets better; as in it clicks/blinks once every 3 seconds, but then again ever so often it does the long spinning clicking noise that "sounds like crunching paper" for about 20 seconds straight...

One peculiar thing is when I use Auto-it to run the script, the little icon that appears in the taskbar is there, and it looks fine, but as soon as I click on it, the script then pauses and starts to blink with a red X indicating that its paused, and I am unable to unpause it. Does this mean I have some operation holding up my HDD from doing what I want it to do... I turned UAC off long ago, Windows Indexing service is off, Google Desktop is off....

I am out of ideas. Maybe I can call Dell and they will give me a SSD 64GB. If anyone can help it would be greatly appreciated. I have included a screen shot of HD Tune for what its worth.

 

But the Auto-It script worked, right? Mine worked as advertised - I dropped the script into my StartUp folder and it ran at startup as well as wake-up from Sleep mode. I never clicked the icon in the tray, I just moved it out of the startup folder when I wanted it to stop. However, that fix made everything run hotter - both CPU and HDD temps. I cut it off today and the click is back. I am buying a new drive!

 

Nope, the script did not work anyway. I was just pointing out the weird anomaly happening.

 

Nope that won't work. It's an Auto-It script .. it's not a batch file. Keep the extension I gave the file (.au3) so that Auto-It is invoked to access it. If you don't keep the .au3 extension it won't work.

After installing Auto-It, right-click my script in your browser and do Save. As I said earlier in this post, keep the original file extension. You can probably skip the compiling step completely and just drop the script (with .au3 extension) straight into your Startup folder. If you want to compile anyway, rightclick the script in Explorer and do "Compile Script". Then drop the resulting executable into your Startup folder.

Clicking the tray icon pauses execution of the script. To resume you just have to right-click the icon and untick "Script Paused". Or are you saying that it is still unpausable even if you select that option?

 

For anyone wanting to see if the script actually works, look at the bottom of the script:

Comment out the first function call with a semicolon, and remove the semi-colon from the test-version. This will result in the command-prompt being left open to show you if the hdparm call succeeded. Like so:

To test the new script, close the resident script or executable if it is already running, then either run the modified script as is, or recompile it to update the executable.

If you have no idea what I just said in the last sentence, simply remove the script or executable from your Startup folder, reboot to make sure it's no longer running .. and run/compile the new script.

 

Thats correct, once paused, its unpausible. Even so, when the script is running it still does not prevent the clicking. Any ideas?

 

Yeah, I later realized my mistake. I'm still working on it when I have the time. One question: you advise saving hdparm to C:\Windows; does it matter at all where I put Auto-It?

My one nugget of advice to others is make sure your UAC is not interfering with your code attempting to start up HDparm or anything. I'm pretty certain it was inhibiting my .bat script (not deadsimple's) from doing so, as after I disabled UAC it worked.

 

Well after doing just about everything possible, I finally just said screw it, and had the hard drive replaced. Good bye Seagate, hello Samsung.

 

Nah just install Auto-It wherever, that doesn't matter at all.

Even if you unpacked hdparm elsewhere, you just have to put hdparm's folder name into the "$HDPARM_PATH" parameter at the start of my script, then re-compile. Example:

But yeah, definitely enable the test function as I mentioned a few posts ago to make sure the script is working. Alternatively, manually put the hard-drive into the noisy mode with hdparm before suspending/hibernating. Then just listen to the hdd to see if my script forced it into quiet mode when the machine starts up again.

 

Hi all, can you tell me is this NHC tool works on vista 64, because it is giving me ERROR -> Could not load the NHC driver. I installed it on my vostro 1500, because it has the same clicking sound. I was tald by some friend that this sound is because the power supplay of the hdd is not enough. Tell me what to do this sound is sticking in my brain.

 

I have tried a few of these tips here.. Still ticks? Anything else I should look at?

XPS 1530, Vista-64 bit, Fujitsu 230GB 5400rpm HDD.


Thanks

 

Hello, i tried some tips from this thread, but i'm still not getting quiet HDD
But, i noticed, that when i have my HDD in ATA mode, then hdparm works. But i have a SATA HDD with support for all SATA features (NCQ, etc...) so i want to use it in SATA (AHCI) mode. I also have a Turbo Memory module which don't work when HDD is in ATA mode. So what should i do?? I don't want to run the system with HDD in ATA mode, but when it is set to AHCI, i can use hdparm, NHC, or whatever and it don't work. I have a WesternDigital WD3200BEVT drive, which is 320GB, SATA2, 5400rpm drive. Thanks for any answer

Oh, and the OS is Vista Ultimate x64 or Vista Home Premium x86 and install of XP is not a solution for me Thanks

 

I guess there is not a definite solution?

 

i just tried this with a usb floppy that i've used for multiple OS installs. uhh it didn't work, when it reads the floppy upon boot it says "remove disk and reboot" or something like that this is frackin annoying.

has anyone gotten this to work??

 

the hdparm method worked for me and my seagate. I made the .bat file and put it in my startup folder as outlined on pg 18. silent drive, no head parking.

 

Ok, I have read every single post in this thread. I am sure that I have the same problem. I have Vista and I read that NCT is uncompilable with it, so my only option is HDparm. The link that people provide has about 4 different files and I am not sure which one to choose. Which one is for Vista?

 

Hi guys,

Can somebody please help me out with this.

I recently bought a XA 2528 Amilo Fujitsu Siemens with a Seagate ST9160821AS hard drive (firmware 3 with 160gb) and since I ever started working with it there's one kind of an irritating click-peep sound every 20 seconds or so.

It's not a constant clicking sound or whatsoever, nope, it really is a very short CLICK-PEEP sound every 20 seconds from the hard drive, kinda hard to hear but it's getting on my nerves by now.

I'm on VISTA and tried that NHC thingy but it didn't solve my problem.

It sounds like my hard drive is doing something every 20 seconds like some kind of a service or so but I dunno how to turn it off.

Somebody pleaaaaaaase help me with this

 

Same problem here... you call it a chirp noise, I call it click-beep

Can someone help me out with this?

(I couldn't contact napalmb and he hasn't been online for a time now)

 

Everytime I run this program my moniter just all of the sudden turns dim? Anyone know whats wrong.

I have a m1530 with 1440*900 resolution with led backlid and I'm on Vista 32 bit

 

As far as I read the topic, you should use HDparm instead of NHC. I used NHC as well (on VISTA) and my monitor dimmed too, so I stopped using it since it didn't help that click-beep sound I had/have.

By the way, I need HDparm as well, does someone know where to get it for Vista? It seems to be designed for Linux when I google it.

EDIT:

please read http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=168425&page=12

for HDparm for Vista and the other instructions

 

I wanna add something to my story, this thing appears to happen when my laptop is idling for a moment, e.g. when I'm reading something on the screen...

Every startup of my notebook, when the cpu is doing some stuff at the beginning I never hear that click-beep sound... after a while when the cpu has ended doing his thing and system is completely idle, the click-beep starts (not noisy)... every 20 seconds or so.

Sometimes it's also a click-click (not noisy at all) sound but regularly a click-beeep.

 

Damn it, HDParm doesnt's seem to work either, whenever I type hdparm -M 254 /dev/hda I get FUNCTION NOT IMPLEMENTED

 

I have the new 320GB Seagate Momentus 7200.3 and it did not work with the any value from 0-254. It was clicking like mad.

For the new Momentus "hdparm -B 255 hda" did the trick and made it the most silent drive i ever had in my Notebook.

BTW, you should not mess with any -M commands (Advanced Acoustic Management) as this drive does not like it and will just hang up within a few seconds after the setting is made.

 

Prema, whats your bios setting? Performance? Quiet? Bypass?

 

I do not have a dell and no such settings in my clevo M570U.

 

ok, I have vista 32 bit, fairly certain the HDD is a Western Digital, and is 320GB 5400 rpm, how exactly do i get rid of the clicking?

 

please help!

 

CMON!!!!!!!!!!lol, please, anyone?

 

Hi,

Thanks very much.I bought a Dell 630 about 2 weeks ago and was also confronted with this 'clicking' sound which became very annoying.I found this BLOG and I must say you were right on the MONEY.I installed NHC and BOB became my new uncle and the noise is GONE!!!

Thanks for taking the time to share the 'FIX' with us!!!!

 

Hi Cyanize,

Thanks very much.I bought a Dell 630 about 2 weeks ago and was also confronted with this 'clicking' sound which became very annoying.I found this BLOG and I must say you were right on the MONEY.I installed NHC and BOB became my new uncle and the noise is GONE!!!

Thanks for taking the time to share the 'FIX' with us!!!!

 

Hi, I have the same hard drive and I use hdparm with the tool in attachment and clicking noise is gone
But, if you wake your laptop from sleep or hibernation, you probably must run the "HDD Acoustic" from your startup folder (Start->Startup->HDD Acoustic) or the clicking noise come again. So download and install hdparm and this tool and it should work

 

Thank you Cyanize! Just purchased a Dell D630 (with the XP downgrade) and didn't develop the problem until the third day. Tried the BIOS settings first but they didn't solve the problem. However, NHC instantly eliminated my chirpy-click. You're my hero...

 

I can't thank you enough, Cyanize! Your solution works great with my Dell Inspiron 1501.

 

My firends i want to know when i change Advance power management to Max performance , it may damage to my HDD or it isn`t bad or problem for HDD ?

 

Wow! Amazing, just got my XPS M1530 today and after a while noticed this clicking, went searching for a solution found this and it works instantly!!! Very impressive.

This is me just being really picky but i don't suppose there's anyway of solving this problem without having to put up with all the new icons in my tray, there's about 4 of them and i'd just prefer there to be nothing down there.... thanks for any help!

 

tim426:
i have a 1530 as well, with samsung 160Gb HD, wich software are you using? hdparm or NHC?
Used NHC and had the "dimming" issue.
Anyone, how do I use hdparm, i'm a nooby, this is my first notebook, i've seen that it runs in like a "DOS format", but no idea what to do, thanks a lot for your time.

 

pikinEW: Hi, don't worry with hdparm, just install it and install the "HDD Acoustic" file that i posted above. This should help you with clicking noise

 

ScorpionSX:
thanks, i'll let you know if it workd, (my noise isn't as terrible, bout cero noise would be nice)
What about HDDScan for Windows Ver. 3.1 for managing acoustics??
http://hddscan.com/

 

Actually, i didn't tried the HDDScan, but it looks good and i can try it tommorow if i would have some time

 

ok ScorpionSX, let me know any news

 

So, i made some short tests with HDD Scan, but it looks that you need to run it every time you turn on your PC. My HDD Acoustic runs automatically as it's copied to Startup folder. So you don't need to do anything else. Only install hdparm and my tool and clicking is gone. In my case HDDScan worked only when i have it run and set the Power Management setting manually. Maybe some next version will be better, but for now, i think the hdparm is the best solution

 

nice, haven't had time to try it yet, i'll do it first thing tonight.
Does HDD Acoustic impact the battery charge? .I mean, the time you can use the NB with out been plugged.

Sorry for my english

 

Well, the battery time may be short, but it's only minutes...maybe 5 or 10...i think that's ok...

 

Yes - I tried this on my Dell Inspiron 1720, WD Scorpio Black (WD3200BEKT) and the utility told me that my drive did not need the update. It still clicks even after I adjusted the BIOS to max performance mode.

 

For me setting it on Performance in BIOS, "NHC" or "HDParm -B 254 hda" didn't work, but I tried "-B 255 hda" as Prema (with same harddrive, Seagate Momentus 7200.3 320GB) did and voíla! Apparently "-B 255 hda" disables the Advanced Power Management - Is that a good or a bad thing performance wise? Is there some program I could use to easily see that my drive is performing normally?

Always found answers to any problems I've had with my laptop here, cheers!

 

@tinTTi

It´s running perfectly fast in that mode, i got the same results in PCMark05 with all settings from 0-255.

Since i got requests, i uploaded the files here for stopping the clicking of the Seagate 7200.3. This file only works if it is your first internal drive:

http://rapidshare.com/files/148837447/7200.3_HDD_UNCKLICKER.zip.html

enjoy the silence ;-)

 

Hi,

I've got the same clicking problem with my xps m1530.I installed hdparm."-B 254hda" command did not work.Than i installed HDD Scan v3.1 .The program does not recognize my HDD.I mean, the program does not show the brand of the hdd as on the picture :



And i can not perform any kind of tests.


Could someone help me to resolve this problem... Anytime i can throw my laptop through the window because of it's noise.