Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

My MBP is still making a sound even though I'm not moving it around.

D

doxavita

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Jul 6, 2010
614
3
I have set my MBP on a stable surface, yet it still produces a small tick sound every 15 seconds or so.


Another user posted this in my previous thread:

"It may also be this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJmpervXe9M

Just take the bottom casing off and remove the black piece will two little silver pokey things. haha I don't know how else to describe it. It scratches against the bottom casing when there is pressure on the bottom. I don't understand why its there but taking it out does nothing. "

So it could also be some part/surface doing friction with the case's bottom. What should I do?
 
Looking from over the keyboard, to the bottom right "quarter" of the MBP.
 
doxavita said:
Looking from over the keyboard, to the bottom right "quarter" of the MBP.
Click to expand...

Sorry, not really familiar with how current models are laid out so I won't be able to say for sure. The worse thing is that it's the hard drive. They tend to start making clicking sounds right before dying. Hopefully it's not that.
 
I was told at first that it was the motion sensor locking the hard drive in place. But right now there's no movement at all, and that tick is still going. My 2010 13" MBP is only about a month old or so.
 
doxavita said:
Looking from over the keyboard, to the bottom right "quarter" of the MBP.
Click to expand...

Like Vincenz said, that is the area where the hard drive sits. If it's making a noise, that could be an indication of a problem coming soon. I'd say you should back everything up and then visit a Genius bar if you have an Apple store nearby.

You can also open up the bottom of the computer (it's only 10 screws and it's very easy) and see if there is something loose in that area before making the trek to a store.
 
bamf said:
You can also open up the bottom of the computer (it's only 10 screws and it's very easy) and see if there is something loose in that area before making the trek to a store.
Click to expand...


Is that safe to do? Wouldn't that void any warranties?
 
doxavita said:
Is that safe to do? Wouldn't that void any warranties?
Click to expand...

If you have an aluminum unibody (2009 or 2010) MBP, then the hard drive and memory are considered "user serviceable". You have to take off the bottom of the MBP to get to both of them, so no you would not void your warranty doing so.

If you have a 2008 (or older) "plastic" MBP, then the HD is technically not user serviceable (and i believe it may not be in the spot you've indicated the noise is coming from anyway).
 
bamf said:
If you have an aluminum unibody (2009 or 2010) MBP, then the hard drive and memory are considered "user serviceable". You have to take off the bottom of the MBP to get to both of them, so no you would not void your warranty doing so.

If you have a 2008 (or older) "plastic" MBP, then the HD is technically not user serviceable (and i believe it may not be in the spot you've indicated the noise is coming from anyway).
Click to expand...
there was a plastic mbp?
 
OP, if you are still worried. bring it to an apple store and see what they say. The only sound I get is when the HD is running and this is a spinning noise. I am not aware of any clicking sounds, etc.
 
Your not crazy i have a 15" i7 and have the same sound and i have an SSD in the computer so it is not the harddrive. It almost sounds like a fan the just clips something every 15-30 secs. I haven't yet opened my computer up yet but its interesting to see i'm not the only one with this issue.
 
fcortese said:
OP, if you are still worried. bring it to an apple store and see what they say. The only sound I get is when the HD is running and this is a spinning noise. I am not aware of any clicking sounds, etc.
Click to expand...

The issue with bringing it to the apple store is that you would have to have everyone in the store stop what they are doing for a min just to hear the sound. It is a very faint noise at least for mine.

Wow i just watched your video and man is yours bad. Mine is every 15-30 secs sometimes. That would drive me crazy. Bring it in to the apple store and get that checked out. Let everyone know what they find.
 
doxavita said:
I was told at first that it was the motion sensor locking the hard drive in place. But right now there's no movement at all, and that tick is still going. My 2010 13" MBP is only about a month old or so.
Click to expand...

Browse around the forum. There are quite a few people who have the same type of problem. Most the time, it is still the motion sensor. Sometimes the sensor is just to sensitive. Do your palms rest on the computer when you use it? If it's too sensitive, even that can mess with it. There is a way to reduce the sensitivity of it, but I can't quite remember how it's done. Which is why you should browse around the forums :) haha
 
Well, took my MBP to Best Buy's Geek Squad, the diagnose took less than a minute. I was told that it was perfectly normal for the MBP to make sounds once in a while. And that it could be a combination of motion sensor, hard drive, some gyro spinning, plus some drive fragmentation taking place over time.
 
doxavita said:
Well, took my MBP to Best Buy's Geek Squad, the diagnose took less than a minute. I was told that it was perfectly normal for the MBP to make sounds once in a while. And that it could be a combination of motion sensor, hard drive, some gyro spinning, plus some drive fragmentation taking place over time.
Click to expand...

and did they charge you $100 for this google diagnosis?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back