Humming disk drive?

[hugodrax]

What causes a harddrive to make a humming type vibration. Is that a drive getting old and need to be swapped? its annoying because my mac pro tower is silent otherwise.

The noise started about a month or so ago but I had this drive for a few years now.

If the machine is on after it was a sleep for about an hour the noise dissipates a little.

[flatfoot]

What causes a harddrive to make a humming type vibration. Is that a drive getting old and need to be swapped? its annoying because my mac pro tower is silent otherwise.

The noise started about a month or so ago but I had this drive for a few years now.

If the machine is on after it was a sleep for about an hour the noise dissipates a little.

I'd try to re-tighten the screws with which the drive is attached to the sled. Might also be the spindle-bearings since the noise fades when the drive is warmer...
For hard disks are not really expensive, I'd suggest you swap it for a new one. Then you're on the safe side and this will also give you more capacity and speed.

[pprior]

Mac pro computers have issues with certain hard drives and resonance.

If it's a HUMM and not a whine, then this is a good possibility.

try putting a small folded up piece of paper above the drive in question between the sled and the crosspiece and see if the vibration goes away.

Do a search on resonance and mac pro and you'll find lots more on this.