Clicking Noise

[oilc172]

Hi, I was wondering if anyone has any ideas why my iMac has started to make a fas ticking, clicking noise on start up or when being woken from sleep mode. After a while it gets quieter and quieter and if I put the display to sleep and not the hard drive the noise stays away. As soon as I put the hd to sleep or reboot the iMac the noise returns, could it be the hd, if so why does it not do it all the time?

Many thanks

 

[leman]

I would suggest that you backup your data, clicking HDD usually indicates an incoming failure.

 

[charlieroberts]

I would be very careful!

Saw it happen one time
http://youtu.be/Tx1XIm6q4r4

 

[Butler Trumpet]

As others have said, yes this could be hard drive related. Please backup your data asap. But.... it could also be something as simple as a fan. I have seen random things stuck in the fans that cause all kinds of weird noises.

You might download SMC Fan Control to test this out. This program will max out your fans. It will be very loud... but you'll be able to tell right away if its the fan or not.

Good luck!