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Loud iMac harddrive?

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wynnyk
Posts: 1638 - Karma: 555
So I bought a refurbished 27" iMac i7 2.93 about 2 weeks ago, and everything is going good so far with it, however it seems the hard drive is kinda loud at times. I haven't even done any editing on it yet or used any intensive programs or applications on it, but even when browsing on Safari, I'm hearing the harddrive make a sort of clicking/grinding noise. I'm not sure if this is normal or if anyone else here is having this problem (more of just an annoyance than anything).

Has anyone else with Macs or just with newer computers in general have this problem? (I know older ones tend to make similar noises a lot) Any solutions/suggestions?


Oct 16 2010 12:14AM
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deleted2
Posts: 958 - Karma: 107
it happens to mine also and i got mine new so nothings wrong
Oct 16 2010 8:21AM
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.jr
Posts: 5313 - Karma: 356
Its making clicking while using safari? Is the computer flat on the ground? Do you have an apple store near you? Typically when a hard drive clicks, it means its failing.
Oct 16 2010 7:18PM
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wynnyk
Posts: 1638 - Karma: 555
yeah, it often clicks/makes noise when using safari, or even no applications at all sometimes. Yes, it's a a flat surface (a desk) if that's what you mean. Yeah I have an Apple store about 20 minutes away, but whenever I check the harddrive using the disk utility application, it says it's OK.
Oct 16 2010 9:31PM
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.jr
Posts: 5313 - Karma: 356
Doesn't matter, still take it in. They've got some program that can check for things disk utility can't.
Oct 16 2010 9:40PM
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awesomeness17
Posts: 639 - Karma: 27
Mine did this. It happens to most macs from what I've seen (my brothers and my moms). Normally when it clicks I can't start up my mac, it shows a missing hard drive image at start up. But I take out the battery and put it back in, I think this messes with the hard drive which is right next to it. It isn't too big of a deal just super annoying. But on my brothers computer, the hard drive just completly fried.
Oct 16 2010 9:59PM
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Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
yeah take it in. its probably on its way out. and before that, BACK EVERYTHING UP if you havent already
Oct 17 2010 6:56PM
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wynnyk
Posts: 1638 - Karma: 555
yeah I just scheduled a repair appointment at the Apple store on thursday, but I don't have an external hd yet to back up all my stuff on, wouldn't they just transfer everything onto the old hd into the new one?
Oct 17 2010 7:14PM
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Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
if it hasnt failed by then. if its making noises it could very well fail in the next few hours. borrow one from someone. or just go get one. 100 bucks to not lose everything is worth it.
Oct 17 2010 7:20PM
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.jr
Posts: 5313 - Karma: 356
Dont risk it, go buy an external. Its gotten to be extremely cheap and one day you'll regret not backing up. You can get a 2tb for $100.
Oct 17 2010 7:21PM
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Dustin.
Posts: 13839 - Karma: 7,704
My mom has one and I've never heard it make a sound, same with my Macbook.  Silent.  I would take it in.
Oct 18 2010 11:12AM
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panojibber
Posts: 3382 - Karma: 216
Back everything up immediately. My parents had a similar issue and their hard drive crashed and they lost a ton of stuff on their computer. Shitty. I suggest using an external hard drive and using time capsule to back it up on there, then turn it off and take it in ASAP.
Oct 18 2010 5:45PM
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powday
Posts: 3055 - Karma: 326
I have a Aluminum Macbook Pro, when I watch HD videos on vimeo, ect...or use FCP my hard drive makes noises like its cooling itself down and working hard, but I've never heard a sketchy clicking or grinding...theres too much at stake to just let it be, definitely take it in
Oct 18 2010 5:58PM
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Ben.
Posts: 21463 - Karma: 683
thats not your hard drive thats your fan....
Oct 18 2010 6:08PM
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powday
Posts: 3055 - Karma: 326
haha I know, but its cooling down my Hard Drive...but yeah, I was pretty much just confirming what you guys are saying...Its a Macbook Pro, I treat mine like my baby...if your baby was sick, would you not take it to the doctor? hahaha
Oct 18 2010 6:13PM
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wynnyk
Posts: 1638 - Karma: 555
alright so I scheduled a doctors's appointment for my computer at the Apple store at noon on Thursday, should I go buy an external right now, and then just keep the computer off until it gets fixed? The noises seem to be happening more and more often, even when nothing's running, and especially at start up, they're also getting louder I'm finding.
Oct 18 2010 6:19PM
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powday
Posts: 3055 - Karma: 326
TURN DAT SHIT OFF
Oct 18 2010 6:22PM
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wynnyk
Posts: 1638 - Karma: 555
alright so I just bought an external and all my data is being backed up right now.
Oct 18 2010 8:29PM
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a_pla5tic_bag
Posts: 9215 - Karma: 5,398
when I turn my 13in macbook pro the hard drive makes some noises? My brothers doesn't do that, thats not normal either huh?
Oct 18 2010 8:36PM
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wynnyk
Posts: 1638 - Karma: 555
alright everything's backed up, and now another problem just came up: there's little specs of dust on the inside of the screen, like on the other side of the glass, in an area about 1cm in diameter. It's visible when the screen if off, and at the right angle, I can see when the screen is on too, and it's bugging me. Hopefully they can do something about this too since I dropped 2k on this thing, but we'll see.
Oct 19 2010 12:42AM
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howlongcanausern
Posts: 4982 - Karma: 1,737
there is probably nothing wrong with the hard drive.

some hard drives are nosier than others.

hard drives are like car tires: you just don't know when they're gonna blow

noises may be a sign that a hard drive is failing, but they typically don't get noisy right before they go, they just go.

if you can be without it for a while then taking it in may not be a bad idea, i guess

but the person who recommended an external hard drive is on track...backups are always a good idea
Oct 19 2010 7:00PM
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wynnyk
Posts: 1638 - Karma: 555
I took in into the apple store today, and some hipster over there looked at it, agreed it was louder than normal, then told me to take it home and send it to apple in the states on my own. So i call the online apple store, and then they tell me to take it back to the apple store, so that i can have them send it to the states to get get fixed/replaced. As of right now, I'm seeing some pretty mediocre customer service, it seems apple can't tell apart their left and right hands.
Oct 21 2010 10:57PM
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wynnyk
Posts: 1638 - Karma: 555
I took in into the apple store today, and some hipster over there looked at it, agreed it was louder than normal, then told me to take it home and send it to apple in the states on my own. So i call the online apple store, and then they tell me to take it back to the apple store, so that i can have them send it to the states to get get fixed/replaced. As of right now, I'm seeing some pretty mediocre customer service, it seems apple can't tell apart their left and right hands.
Oct 21 2010 10:58PM
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