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how to repair a hard drive that is clicking

by Dr. Keara Kozey I Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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[Solution] Fix Clicking Hard Drive

  1. Use the original USB cable to connect your hard drive to the computer or try another USB cable.
  2. Connect your hard drive to one of the rear USB port on your computer instead of the front ones.
  3. Connect your hard disk to another computer.
  4. Take your hard drive out of the disk enclosure and connect it to the computer directly.

Part of a video titled How to Repair a Broken Hard Drive With Beeping or Clicking ...
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Full Answer

How do you fix a dead hard drive?

  • If you're using an external hard drive, this is as easy as unplugging it from your computer and plugging it into a different one. ...
  • Internal hard drives present a more complicated problem. ...
  • Before removing a hard drive, make sure your computer is unplugged and the battery is disconnected (if applicable).

More items...

How do I recover a dead hard drive?

How to Recover Hard Drive Data from Dead Computer | 3 Methods?

  • Method 1. Use A Hard Drive Enclosure - Cost-Effective Tool! It is known that an internal hard drive is built into your computer and is not an external device. ...
  • Method 2. Get an Adaptor Kit - The Cheapest Tool! ...
  • Method 3. Wondershare Recoverit Software - The Most Convenient Way! ...

How do you troubleshoot a hard drive?

  • Boot the computer and try to catch some noise.
  • Power off the system.
  • Disconnect the power cord from the system.
  • Remove the power cable when the hard disk is not detected, or the hard disk you are trying to fix.
  • Reconnect the power cord to the system itself.
  • You then have to boot the system to check if the hard disk sound is audible.

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How to fix a physically broken hard drive?

  • Remove the drive and repeat the first step. ...
  • If needed, reheat the device and, while holding the drive in one hand, sharply spin and hit the drive on a hard surface. ...
  • Repeat the first step. ...
  • If you can hear a rhythmic "click" in time with the movement, the chances are that the drive heads are free on their mounts and are not jammed. ...

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What to do if hard drive is ticking?

Here are the steps to troubleshoot a clicking hard drive:Check if the connection cable is broken. ... Check if the power cable is loosened. ... Check if you are using a compatible drive. ... Connect the clicking (external) hard drive to another computer.More items...•

Why is my hard drive clicking?

The printed circuit board in your hard drive connects electronic components. Sometimes, that board or the head stack assembly is damaged by a power surge or surges. When either of these are damaged, the hard drive cannot function properly, and the result is a hard drive noise that sounds like a click or tick.

What is click of death hard drive?

On a hard disk drive, the click of death refers to a similar failure mode; the head actuator may click or knock as the drive repetitively tries to recover from one or more errors. These sounds can be heard as the heads load or unload, or they can be the sounds of the actuator striking a stop, or both.

How long will a clicking hard drive last?

First, it's important to mention that the hard disk clicking noise is internal, and 99 times out of 100 means that the drive will be dead within the next 7 days. It is NOT repairable for long term use, at least not without professional tools.

Can a clicking hard drive be fixed?

This most likely can't be replaced. But, you can still get your data back. Although it can be tempting to run your own backup or recovery programs this can put your drive at further risk. Continuing to operate your hard disk drive can further the damage.

Can hard drive be repaired?

Hard drive repair is possible, but they should NOT be reused after a recovery! Of course, HDDs can be repaired! However, a repaired HDD should not be reused, but rather, have its contents recovered immediately and then be discarded as it cannot be trusted to work into the future.

How do you know if your hard drive is fried?

If you repeatedly see one of these symptoms, chances are your hard drive is gradually failing:Scrambled file or folder names.Random error messages when opening, moving, or saving files.Files that fail to open.Corrupted data within your files.Disappearing files or folders.

How can you tell if a hard drive is bad?

Common signs for a failing hard drive include sluggish performance, unusual noises (clicking or loud component sounds), and an increase number of corrupted files. These are textbook symptoms for the inevitably of a failing hard drive and action should be taken quickly to save your files from being lost.

How much is data recovery on a hard drive?

It's no secret: Hard drive data recovery can be expensive. For an individual hard drive, costs can vary from $100 to upwards of $2,000 — and while data recovery is reasonably affordable in the vast majority of cases, consumers have understandable concerns about pricing.

How do I know if my SSD is dying?

5 Signs of SSD Failure SymptomsYour machine won't boot; you get the “No bootable device” or “No bootable medium” error message (on Windows), or a flashing question mark (on Mac devices)It runs excessively slow.Active applications often freeze or crash.Frequent Blue/Black Screen of Death errors.More items...

What noise does a hard drive make?

A healthy drive emits mild and regular sounds of whirring. Mentioned above, a solitary hard clicking sound can mean the heads are getting parked. But if a hard clicking persists or is accompanied by any kind of repeating clunking (or grinding) sound, then there is likely a physical issue with the drive.

Why does freezing a hard drive work?

When you freeze your hard drive, any water vapor within the drive turns into ice crystals. When you take the hard drive out of the freezer, those ice crystals start melting. The water left behind can and often does damage the drive's essential electronics.

Why does my PC click when I try to turn it on?

Your computer is full of fans to dissipate heat inside the computer – a fan over your processor, a fan on your graphics card, even a fan or two to blow all that hot air out of the back of your computer. This sort of clicking may be caused if the fan is clogged and can't turn properly – or if a fan blade is broken.

How long does a hard drive last after clicking?

You never know how long your hard drive will last after it starts clicking: an hour, or several months. So be sure that you have a backup. If you need to recover some data from the drive, do it now (it’s better to do it after you have created the disk image and, especially, from the disk image). DiskInternals Partition Recovery will help you ...

Why is my hard drive making a noise?

Why the hard drive is making noise. Problems can occur with any part of the hard drive: Problems affecting the hard drive can include: Servo marking damage: The device will try to read the information, and this process will result not only in long delays in the system but also a loud click.

How to restore data from external hard drive?

Method 2. Try a different connection. If the external hard drive clicks and you cannot access it, try connecting it to another PC. It may work, or it may not, but it’s definitely worth a try. If this works, then create a disk image or restore data from it. Method 3.

What to do if you don't have all your data?

If you do not have all the data, or you do not want to lose it and get rid of the hard drive, take it to repair service.

Can you create a disk image when you hear a clicking sound?

Creating a disk image is a great option when you hear a hard drive clicking since the disk image can be stored for unlimited time and you may use it only if necessary. In addition, this option is free in DiskInternals Partition Recovery.

What are the major causes of clicking hard drive?

Before knowing what the major reasons are, we should first understand how a hard drive works. The hard drive is a hardware storage device for storing our valuable private and business data. It has five main components inside its casing.

Different types of problems

The problem with heads, the magnetic parts on a hard drive, is one of the major reasons for clicking. Both bad and degraded heads are responsible for creating odd sounds. When a new drive starts clicking, usually within the first two months of use, it indicates a bad head due to a manufacturers’ defect.

Do it yourself or not?

This might sound promising, but it´s also a very sensitive task. The first question when it comes to data loss and data recovery is: “How much is your data worth?”. The answer will drive your action, you can try the DIY method, or you can ask for a professional data recovery service.

Conclusion

These were the most common causes of clicking sound produced by hard drives. Now that you know the reasons, it’s important to know what to do. If the hard drive begins clicking, power down your computer. The longer you leave the drive running, the more likely damage will be done to the hard drive’s platters, making data recovery more difficult.

Why does my hard drive keep clicking?

If your hard drive has been dropped, exposed to fire, or had water spilled on it, this can cause the clicking to occur.

Why does my disc drive make a clicking sound?

If the disc platter has sustained damage, then the actuator arm won’t work properly. It’ll attempt to locate the platter and swing back and forth , resulting in a clicking sound.

What happens if your hard drive is damaged?

If this becomes damaged your hard drive won’t operate correctly. The actuator arm will swing back and forth, trying to find the information, leading to the clicking you’re hearing.

How to tell if your hard drive isn't working?

There are a few ways to tell if your hard drive isn’t functioning properly. The most obvious is the clicking sound emanating from your drive.

Why put a hard drive in the freezer?

Putting your hard drive in the freezer can help to constrict the mechanics. But, this is a very outdated technique. Once it thaws and warms up, it’ll lead to corrosion of the drive and electrical components. User Recovery Software for a Hardware Issue.

Why is my hard drive not getting enough power?

Electrical Problems. Sometimes your hard drive won’t be receiving enough power due to a defective power supply unit. If you have an alternative power supply source, then you can test this to see if it’s causing the clicking. These issues can also be caused by power surges and electrical storms.

What does it mean when your hard drive is older?

If you have an older hard drive, then it’s most likely a hardware issue. But, if you have a newer one it could be either hardware or software.

How to fix clicking on hard drive?

Plug your hard drive back in and turn on the computer. See if you fixed your clicking hard drive problem. If it's still making the noise, turn your computer back off and detach the hard drive again. Clean the rest of your hard drive with the dust remover spray. Before working on your computer, make sure it is on a level surface.

Why does my hard drive make a clicking noise?

Even though a clicking noise coming from your hard drive sounds like an annoyance, it actually means you have a severe problem. It's always recommended that you replace it to eliminate new issues from happening. However, if you feel comfortable playing around inside, you might be able to fix a clicking hard drive on your own.

How to get the clicking out of my computer?

Reboot the computer and check for the clicking. If it is still there then you will have to remove your hard drive and open it. Turn off your computer. Make sure you check with your computer's manufacturer for instructions on how to take it out and disconnect it from the motherboard. Advertisement.

What to do if your hard drive doesn't work?

Attach the hard drive again and turn the computer back on to see if it worked. If it did, replace the cover on your hard drive and put everything back in your computer. Unfortunately if this does not work, your hard drive is too damaged and will need to be replaced. Advertisement.

How to get rid of a noise in a hard drive?

Open your hard drive up using your precision screwdrivers and look to see if the arm is making the noise. Grab your dust remover spray. Holding the can at least 6 to 8 inches away, spray lightly around the arm. Any dust or dirt that has accumulated will be removed.

What to do if clicking hard drive is still working?

If the clicking hard drive is still functioning, attempt to back up the data on a USB or external hard drive.

How to fix a hard drive that makes a clicking noise?

Test to see if the power supply is supplying enough power. It can make the hard drive click. If it is the PSU, replacing it should fix the noise.

What is a hard drive arm?

The arm sweeps the read-write heads across the hard disc or platter – instead of a floppy plastic disc – as it stores or searches for information. Some hard drives have one platter; others may have 6 or more platters, each with two heads. The limiters keep the arm or boom positioned over the discs, so a quiet clicking isn’t unusual.

Why is my disc spinning?

If the disc stays spinning or idling, it may be something else that could be fixed with software.

Why is my hard drive not recognizing my PCB?

Due to the firmware failure, the heads are unable to match up with stored information, or it isn’t recognized. Replacing the PCB and chip may solve the problem if the information on the chip matches up with that stored on the discs. Although the hard drive is clicking, data recovery is possible.

Why does my arm make a clicking noise?

Each attempt can cause a clicking noise as it is stopped by the limiters.

Where are the heads located on a drive?

The heads are located at the end of the actuator arms and float across each platter on the air current produced by the discs rotating at 5,400 to 12,000 RPMs. They read or write data without actually touching the surface. There is usually a stack of platters in a drive with data stored on both surfaces.

How To Trouble Shoot Hard Drive Clicking Problems?

Here are a few troubleshooting tips you can try when advanced diagnostics didn’t take care of the problem are!

Why Is My Hard Drive Clicking?

The potential causes of hard drives clicking include problems of the magnetic parts, insufficient power supply, corrupt service area, and misaligned HGA.

Why does my hard drive make a clicking sound?

When the platter’s design gets damaged, it won’t perform the same way and the disk head reaches the end of the damaged platter, the clicking noises come up . When it occurs regularly, it will damage the read write heads, too. Therefore, your hard drive makes a clicking sound.

How long does a clicking hard drive last?

Aged magnetic parts - Clicking Hard drive is also because of the degrading health of its parts with years of usage. Good quality HDDs can last up to 5 years. But continuous usage for 1-2 years ages the device rapidly. Insufficient supply of power - When your ...

What software to use to fix a hard drive?

There is plenty of hardware diagnostic software available online for fix a hard drive. You can install them for free like Seagate Seatools, HDD Scan, HD Tune, and more. Once you’ve found the right software for you, close all your other programs while running diagnostic for optimal results.

What is a disk read/write head?

It has a disk read/write head in every system which hovers over the platter of the hard drive . It quickly scans the platter when reading or adding data. This can be anything from images, videos, documents, etc.

Do external hard drives need data termination?

You may have gotten lucky the first time around and you’ve managed to save all your data, but in other cases, some external drives require data termination. A clicking hard drive is more common than you think. With the years of innovation, you’d think someone would’ve invented a way to make hard drive last longer.

How to Fix a Clicking Hard Drive?

However, this problem may be less delicate; sometimes after some slight movement, the connection of your hard disk can be altered, check well that the cables are correctly connected either to the motherboard or to the USB connection. Even, the accumulation of dust can be a factor for the hard disk to have a malfunction; if so, you should only clean the input ports and this may be enough for you to no longer hear the clicking sound.

Why does my hard drive make a clicking sound?

One of the most recognizable problems of the disk is the clicking and beeping sound, which may be related to a malfunction or wears.

Why does my hard drive hear clicks?

This can cause the magnetic platter to not rotate at the proper speed and therefore you may hear clicks. It can also happen that you have obtained an apocryphal cable or one of dubious origin, which means that it is not of the same quality as the original and has a lack of compatibility with your drive. Try to change the cables of your hard drive, the wear of the original cables may have been the source of the problem.

Why is my hard drive not working?

It may be that some hardware component is not working properly (normally the motherboard is the one that affects your hard drive if it is failing) and it is not a problem with the hard drive. Try connecting it on another computer to verify it, in this way you will get an absolute answer if the problem resides on your disk or another device on your computer.

Why is the price of a repair disk so high?

The disadvantage is that sometimes the price to repair it is considerably high because specific auto parts must be obtained and sometimes it is difficult to make the changes. The most recommended decision is to buy a new disk since sometimes the price of the repair is quite high.

How to recover deleted files on Mac?

Mac Version. Step 1 Choose a drive to scan. Once you've installed and opened the software, select the drive where the deleted data was located. Step 2 Select the files to recover/restore. Now all you have to do is select the folder or folders you want to recover/restore and click on "Recover".

How long can you keep a hard drive in the fridge?

Put your hard drive in a sealable plastic bag and keep it in a fridge, freezer, or refrigerator for a few hours; once you take it out, you just need to make sure it's dry, so the colder it is, the better it will probably work.

Why is my hard drive making a clicking noise?

The hard drive is making clicking noise sometimes because of different failures. Clicking hard drive recovery is not impossible; you can even finish it by yourself independently. When you hear a sudden clicking noise, you could try to copy data off hard drive quickly to rescue important files.

What to do if your external hard drive is clicking of death?

When you encounter hard drive click of death on the external drive that can be found in Windows Disk Management, you can easily recover data from it with MiniTool Power Data Recovery.

How to scan external hard drive for malware?

Step 3: select the target external hard drive to scan by clicking on the “ Scan ” button ...

How to make a bootable CD?

Step 2: make a bootable CD/USB device with the Bootable Media Builder ( which is included in a full edition of Power Data Recovery ).

Why is my preamplifier clicking?

Preamplifier is easy to be damaged if the heat is too high or the hard disk is suffering from a shock. Once it is dead, data read and write will be affected and clicking noise will appear.

Why is my external hard drive not detected?

In contrast, hard drive clicking and not detected turns into the most common symptom when it is the external hard drive that has been damaged somehow. When your external hard drive fails to be detected on Windows when making a clicking noise, you should first try to figure out whether it is really not detected ( check in Disk Management) and then fix it.

What is the head of a disk?

According to Wikipedia, the head is the small part of a disk drive that moves above the disk platter and transforms the platter’s magnetic field into electrical current ( read the disk) or, vice versa, transforms electrical current into a magnetic field ( write the disk ). So once the hard disk head is damaged, ...

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