What's that clicking noise?
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From: Steven Fisher on 29 Nov 2009 21:19 In article <48udnXQckYNzRo_WnZ2dnUVZ_sWdnZ2d(a)earthlink.com>, Paul Magnussen <magiconinc(a)earthlink.net> wrote: > My G4 (OS 10.4.11), which I've had for many years, has suddenly started > making 5 or 6 loud clicks when it boots up, or wakes from sleep. I > presume (without proof) that this is from disc seeks, since apart from > that everything functions normally. > > Is this cause for alarm? And if so, what should I do about it? > > Paul Magnussen If you're sure the click is new, it means your hard drive is dying. It may die tomorrow, or it might be six months from now when you've gotten used to it and are no longer worried about it. Steve
From: AndMagicSwordToo on 29 Nov 2009 22:45 Paul Magnussen <magiconinc(a)earthlink.net> writes: > My G4 (OS 10.4.11), which I've had for many years, has suddenly > started making 5 or 6 loud clicks when it boots up, or wakes from > sleep. I presume (without proof) that this is from disc seeks, since > apart from that everything functions normally. > > Is this cause for alarm? And if so, what should I do about it? > > Paul Magnussen It's a non-trivial chore if it's the boot volume. The program fsck can tell you quickly if the file system needs repair. That's one indication of a disk going bad. However, to be absolutely certain, you should need to back up the disk and then do a verify with a read/write/verify of each sector. I think Disk Utility does that, although I'm new to the Mac world, and perhaps there are other utilities that perform a more thorough job of verification. Whether or not you need to replace the disk, the job should require backing the disk up, then verifying, then restoring the system and the user's data to either the original or the replacement disk. -- Ctalk Home Page: http://www.ctalklang.org
From: JF Mezei on 30 Nov 2009 02:24 Your clicking noise could also be a fan starting up with a cable bundle close enough that the cables touch the blades until the fan produces enough airflow to "lift" the cable away. However, an obvious "click" would be from the disk drive as others have said. Disk bearings can sometimes make scary noises (not clicks though) and this does not mean impending doom. But clicks are about the heads making excessive movements and hitting a barrier at speed. I haven't read the whole thread yet, but I wouldn't be surprised if before the end of it, you were to declare that your disk is already dead.
From: JF Mezei on 30 Nov 2009 02:27 AndMagicSwordToo wrote: > It's a non-trivial chore if it's the boot volume. The > program fsck can tell you quickly if the file system needs > repair. If a disk has limited number of minutes/hours/operations before it dies, your priority is to run a backup FIRST AND FOREMOST. If you don't have a spare disk, copy DVD those documents that you created. You can re-install software (time consuming but possible), you can't re-install your own creations.
From: Mike Rosenberg on 30 Nov 2009 08:14
Erik Richard S�rensen <NOSPAM(a)NOSPAM.dk> wrote: > Since it's a G4, I'll recommend to replace the disk with a > WesternDigital Scorpio. You can get a 320gb for reasonable amount of > money - apprx. $100USd - maybe less depending on where you're living... How do you know he has a late G4 model that supports drives larger than 128 GB? -- My latest dance performance <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvB98fgse-s> Mac and geek T-shirts & gifts <http://designsbymike.net/shop/mac.cgi> Prius shirts/bumper stickers <http://designsbymike.net/shop/prius.cgi> |