Hard drive click + beep

[NovemberWhiskey]

Has anyone else noticed that the laptop is not performing well due to this HDD issue?

I do not think it is just a click-beep problem--the sounds are symptoms or collateral effects of the HDD hanging.

My system is just not performing well.

 

[t0mat0]

Has anyone else noticed that the laptop is not performing well due to this HDD issue?

I do not think it is just a click-beep problem--the sounds are symptoms or collateral effects of the HDD hanging.

My system is just not performing well.

Clicks (though not all of them) are linked with freezing momentarily - but the strange thing was the lag when booting up from a diagnostic drive at Genius bar - couldn't relaly work out why the Genius said that it was running laggy if it was just a drive issue... Oh well - we'll find out more as it goes along.

 

[horrgakx]

Haven't any of you watched SciFi films??? All the best computers beep randomly.

 

[BrerBear]

Has anyone else noticed that the laptop is not performing well due to this HDD issue?

I do not think it is just a click-beep problem--the sounds are symptoms or collateral effects of the HDD hanging.

My system is just not performing well.

Yes. After living with this problem for a week now, I'm getting more and more convinced there are fundamental drive problems beyond just the click/beep/pause. Maybe the click/beep/pause is just the extreme case.

I'm on a new 17", 3.06GHz, 4 GB RAM, 7200 RPM Seagate drive. Pretty much top-of-the-line. My previous machine was the original model 17" MacBook Pro from just over 3 years ago.

During basic operations like web surfing or programming, I get annoyed by the click/beep/pause (CBP!), but it's not a preventing me from my tasks.

However, I also run games, which push the system to the limit. For example, I play World of Warcraft, which loads a very large amount of textures and effects from the disk as you start new encounters that have not been loaded into memory yet. Overall, the game is almost 5 years old and not that demanding outside of memory.

On my 3 year old Macbook, new encounters load quickly and I don't get interrupted. On my new machine, over the course of the first minute or so of an encounter when the textures and effects are being loaded from disk for the first time, I will constantly get system hiccups, even without the CBP. It's almost unplayable until everything is loaded into memory, then the pauses are much less frequent.

I'm starting to get really nervous that multiple people are reporting that Apple reps are hearing of this for the first time. That seemed plausible a week ago, but not now. It seems widespread across various forums. Apple should be on top of this by now and be tracking the issue, if they actually care.

 

[adamjackson]

I installed the fix. restarted. no worky.

 

[NovemberWhiskey]

For those of you that got exchanges/returns, with whom did you speak to?

I have been on the phone for an hour and have found no resolution. They just keep sending me to different departments.

It's really getting quite absurd.

 

[t0mat0]

For those of you that got exchanges/returns, with whom did you speak to?

I have been on the phone for an hour and have found no resolution. They just keep sending me to different departments.

It's really getting quite absurd.

Went to internet, found out what to test (PRAM, SMART, disk utility verify disc etc, )did all that. Made Genius appointment, got confirmation from them, then called Aftersales, whilst in the Apple store. Said truthfully it was my main machine, I needed it for thesis work, that it'd taken x days to arrive, and since within 14 days, looks like hard drive problem that could be failure imminent, that I wanted a replacement sent out, and that i'll return the old one when the new one comes thank you very much. Had to escalate tone and firmness a little, but got the deal - YMMV

Getting to right dept helps (having been transferred to the Spanish dept for 15 minutes instead of aftersales/tech support/refunds - bought through HE so had option of going through that dept too).

Fingers crossed, the replacement isn't making a squeak. The bottoms flexible as last one, but the vibration is much less (still there with the resonant buzz feeling if you move fingers round the left hand side of the trackpad, but much better than MBP i'm returning.

If you can, get a Genius appointment and call from the Apple store - helps credibility as info will be on your account, and you'll get Apple help either way.

 

[NovemberWhiskey]

Went to internet, found out what to test (PRAM, SMART, disk utility verify disc etc, )did all that. Made Genius appointment, got confirmation from them, then called Aftersales, whilst in the Apple store. Said truthfully it was my main machine, I needed it for thesis work, that it'd taken x days to arrive, and since within 14 days, looks like hard drive problem that could be failure imminent, that I wanted a replacement sent out, and that i'll return the old one when the new one comes thank you very much. Had to escalate tone and firmness a little, but got the deal - YMMV

Getting to right dept helps (having been transferred to the Spanish dept for 15 minutes instead of aftersales/tech support/refunds - bought through HE so had option of going through that dept too).

Fingers crossed, the replacement isn't making a squeak. The bottoms flexible as last one, but the vibration is much less (still there with the resonant buzz feeling if you move fingers round the left hand side of the trackpad, but much better than MBP i'm returning.

If you can, get a Genius appointment and call from the Apple store - helps credibility as info will be on your account, and you'll get Apple help either way.

So you got a new 7200 RPM drive and it doesn't have any problems? Or did you switch to the 5400 RPM drive?

 

[eVolcre]

FWIW, the 5400 RPM drive in the MBP17 has no sounds, clicks, beeps or vibration.

eV

 

[etoiles]

click-beep issue here, too... new 17" with 7200rpm drive. Got a 'genius' appointment for tomorrow, what are the odds that this will be the first time they hear of the issue

 

[wessto]

click-beep issue here, too... new 17" with 7200rpm drive. Got a 'genius' appointment for tomorrow, what are the odds that this will be the first time they hear of the issue

Make sure you post what you find out. Thanks!

 

[khakilad]

How strange is that noise.

I agree with previous posts that it does just sound like the head parking however under no circumstances should the drive actually effect the user or show a spinning ball.

could this be something to do with Apple shipping the 7200 500gb with the motion sensor in the actually hard drive conflicting with one built into the laptop?

 

[gonewestcoast]

How strange is that noise.

I agree with previous posts that it does just sound like the head parking however under no circumstances should the drive actually effect the user or show a spinning ball.

could this be something to do with Apple shipping the 7200 500gb with the motion sensor in the actually hard drive conflicting with one built into the laptop?

That's the general consensus. I'm very eager to hear what people do to successfully resolve this issue; at that point I'll probably do the same. Whether it involves switching to a 5400RPM drive, hoofing it into the Apple Store, etc. remains to be seen...

 

[t0mat0]

So you got a new 7200 RPM drive and it doesn't have any problems? Or did you switch to the 5400 RPM drive?

Went with the 7200rpm (knowing that i could get a 5000rpm switched in at local Apple store if I changed my mind).

Seems to be pausing/freezing from time to time - hard to tell if that's normal or a drive issue - will likely take it in to check it when i'm next by next week.

 

[wessto]

Same under bootcamp / winxp sp3

I have the same click + beep under winxp sp3 and bootcamp. Does not appear to be osx specific. Leads me to believe its more of a drive issue than anything.

 

[twingo]

FWIW, the 5400 RPM drive in the MBP17 has no sounds, clicks, beeps or vibration.

eV

My one week old Macbook Pro 17 with 5400 RPM drive has also this click and beep when i start it. It sounds very ugly. Does anyone know if the harddisks live will be affected by this or is it only a "sound-problem"?

 

[NovemberWhiskey]

My one week old Macbook Pro 17 with 5400 RPM drive has also this click and beep when i start it. It sounds very ugly. Does anyone know if the harddisks live will be affected by this or is it only a "sound-problem"?

Are you sure it is the 5400 RPM model?

You are the first person with the 5400 RPM drive that claims to have the problem. It's usually people with the 7200 rpm model.

 

[eVolcre]

My one week old Macbook Pro 17 with 5400 RPM drive has also this click and beep when i start it. It sounds very ugly. Does anyone know if the harddisks live will be affected by this or is it only a "sound-problem"?

Hmmm. You sure it isn't the SuperDrive? I've noticed that it makes some noise on waking.

I'll run my machine through the paces next week to see if the noise starts. As an aside, how do you check for dead pixels?

eV

 

[etoiles]

Make sure you post what you find out. Thanks!

Well, the 'genius' said he hadn't heard of the issue (and for some reason wasn't interested to check out this thread or the other lengthy one on discussions.apple.com), but offered to have the laptop replaced right away.

Since it was a special configuration (drive update), he couldn't give me a new one from their stock, but after a little bit of pushing agreed to have me keep my computer until they get the replacement delivered to the store. I can then go in and make the exchange.

Knowing my luck (and Apple's silence on the issue), I'll probably get another machine with the same problem, but we'll just keep on playing this little game until things get resolved

 

[NovemberWhiskey]

Well, the 'genius' said he hadn't heard of the issue (and for some reason wasn't interested to check out this thread or the other lengthy one on discussions.apple.com), but offered to have the laptop replaced right away.

Since it was a special configuration (drive update), he couldn't give me a new one from their stock, but after a little bit of pushing agreed to have me keep my computer until they get the replacement delivered to the store. I can then go in and make the exchange.

Knowing my luck (and Apple's silence on the issue), I'll probably get another machine with the same problem, but we'll just keep on playing this little game until things get resolved

I went to see a genius yesterday, and he wouldn't do anything for me. He just told me to call 1-800-my-apple.

Could you elaborate on how you got the replacement? Did the genius order the new one right then and there?

 

[rick3000]

So far I have had two new MBP with a 7200RPM drive. The first one did not have any of these sound problems or momentary freezing symptoms, but the RAM was being quirky so they sent me a new one.
I've had this one for two days now, and have gotten the exact same sound in the audio clip at least 5 times, and my system momentarily freezes for 15-20 seconds about every half hour.
Are these freezes and this sound linked?
I am going to need yet another replacement?
Thanks!

 

[t0mat0]

Is the freezing issue a RAM or on-HD issue? heard click beep on replacement laptop -and it's been freezing more repeatedly, noticeable whenever it does it, as it's seconds of freeze at a time. Wouldn't mind just downgrading to 5400rpm, but if it's a MBP (minus the HD ) issue, then that's another thing to check and sort.

 

[BaronvdB]

my mba used to click and then beep after watching videos....my new mbp doesn't make the hd sounds you are having

 

[etoiles]

I went to see a genius yesterday, and he wouldn't do anything for me. He just told me to call 1-800-my-apple.

Could you elaborate on how you got the replacement? Did the genius order the new one right then and there?

I was lucky to have a really nice genius... he offered two options:

1. I could call Apple directly and have them send out a box for a return.
2. Leave the computer at the store and have them send it back for replacement.

I explained that I needed to finish a project for work and couldn't afford to spend days without a computer (all true), so he spoke to a manager and they agreed to let me keep my computer until the replacement arrived in the store. Now they clearly went beyond the call of duty on that exception (standard procedure is for Apple to only send out a new machine once they have proof to be in possession of an old one), and I am very grateful for that.

But I would absolutely expect them to help me out in the store when there is a reported issue with a brand new laptop! You had a bad experience in the store (I had my share in the past)... next time, ask to speak to a manager.

 

[NovemberWhiskey]

I was lucky to have a really nice genius... he offered two options:

1. I could call Apple directly and have them send out a box for a return.
2. Leave the computer at the store and have them send it back for replacement.

I explained that I needed to finish a project for work and couldn't afford to spend days without a computer (all true), so he spoke to a manager and they agreed to let me keep my computer until the replacement arrived in the store. Now they clearly went beyond the call of duty on that exception (standard procedure is for Apple to only send out a new machine once they have proof to be in possession of an old one), and I am very grateful for that.

But I would absolutely expect them to help me out in the store when there is a reported issue with a brand new laptop! You had a bad experience in the store (I had my share in the past)... next time, ask to speak to a manager.

Lucky. My genius was rude to me. He was very unpleasant, and refused to provide any type of useful service.

Unfortunately, I can't go around from store to store just trying my luck with the geniuses.

I don't understand why Apple can't just remedy the situation. I have been on the phone with like 10 different people now. It's really getting quite absurd...

If they don't fix the problem by this week, I am done with them.