I don't think I have this issue on my unit(been using it for over a week now perfectly fine). However, I'm concerned because I'm awaiting a replacement unit with the same hard drive...what if my replacement unit no longer has the display issue I'm suffering from, but instead has the hard drive click + beep? If I swap the hard drive from my current unit into the replacement one would Apple notice? I'm doing a cross-ship so I'll be in possession of both units at the same time.
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Hard drive click + beep
- Thread starter wessto
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Yup. None whatsoever. I've been using this machine continuously for several days and haven't had a single click+beep-freeze. I'm sending my unit back because of display issues.
For everyone that's suffering from this, I hope Apple releases a firmware update to address the issue(if possible).
Heard click beep issue on replacement, (though much less than on previous MBP) and it was getting freezing continually, enough to get out phone, unlock, go to camera, switch to video, wait for autofocus, then press start, and get 5 or so seconds of beachballing. Goodwill gesture to the extent of partially compensating for the rising phone bill from calling them. Back it goes to Apple, after an hour or so on the phone after an hour with a Genius. Way too much hassle, and compensation credit v likely to be heading straight into a external hard drive. Local Apple store hadn't seen any issues like it, but were concluding all the symptoms pointed to a HD issue worthy of just getting a replacement.
So I have had this computer for 5 days know and have counted 14 beeps between two user accounts, and 6 momentary freezes since I started counting yesterday. So it is obviously not a user problem it's a system wide problem and probably a HD problem.
But has anyone pinpointed what is causing this?
I am going to call Apple and see if I can get yet another replacement.
But has anyone pinpointed what is causing this?
I am going to call Apple and see if I can get yet another replacement.
Got a new MBP 17" with the 500gb 7200 drive, it arrived from Apple last Monday. I haven't heard any clicking, but I did get the beep, but only a handful of times, and only when I was importing CDs into iTunes - in other words, while the hard drive was actually working. But no system freezes or hangs or anything like that. I wouldn't say that I'm alarmed yet, but "mildly concerned" is about right. I figure calling AppleCare won't do anything at this point since it seems they're still trying to diagnose and come up with a fix on their end. So I'm just going to continue to use it as normal, use Time Machine normally as I always do, and hope for the best. Hopefully everything will continue to run fine at least until Apple has a definitive answer for what's going on. I've had a lot of computers and hard drives over the years, and I've never had one beep at me before. If I didn't know any better, I might think my new MBP was trying to flirt with me...
So I called Apple and said the computer was beeping and freezing, they told me to do an Erase and Install because it was probably a software problem. So I did that and when the computer booted up the first thing it did was beep and a few minutes later it froze for about 10 seconds. I called them back and they are sending me a replacement (aka - replacement #2, first on had bad RAM, this on had a bad HD) I am really hoping this third one doesn't have any problems, I'm not sure they would send send me a third replacement.
Well, in a way you're more likely to - if they didn't agree it was legitimate the first 2 times, they wouldn't have sent replacements. From a consumer's point of view, whilst not wanting to hack Apple off, they in a way might want to go more out of their way to help due to the raised inconvenience, rather than just clam up. Well, my hopeful pov anyhow - with replacement #2 busy being made in Shenzen...
Issue has made it to TUAW - http://www.tuaw.com/2009/07/09/7200rpm-drives-trouble-some-macbook-pro-owners/
recognising the Apple thread on the click beep issue.
A good tale to remind you to back up your data. Your biggest investment is your hardware, and your data.
Hard to tell if replacing the hard drive, or computer entirely will solve the problem. This hardware new is around £1,700 and up, or $3,000 or so and up. At least one person swapped out the drive to a 5400rpm - no issues, and a 7200rpm Seagate drive without the G-Force tech and had no issues. (model ST9500420AS, NewEgg item #N82E16822148374.)
Strangely the non G-Force drive has been on backorder everywhere for months apparently whilst the G-Force models were available. DIdn't Seagate ship a whole lot of faulty drives in Apple laptops a while back?
http://forums.seagate.com/stx/board...drives&message.id=13633&query.id=11350#M13633
From a post on the thread, it seems that Engineering are looking into it, and that they've taken their quota of machines at the moment to look at, but recommends calling Apple Care anyway so the number of people with the problem is documented properly (calling Apple care number might be different from Tech Support).
As of July 8th, gmb12 notes that after speaking with Apple Support, engineers updated the technical bulletin (June 29th) regarding this and are calling the click / beep "normal behaviour" and aren't planning on fixing the issue... However, since this, Apple Care are still offering replacements etc, so it seems a bit disjointed to say the least. Then you get updates for the 9th saying that Engineering are still investigating the issue, and will update at least the poster once they have something to say. A user has put the G-Force drive into a Mac mini, and is getting strange noises, and freezing. (masterpol75). Update from McDionysus from 9th July - talking to Apple reps saying that they've captured enough MBPs to instigate an investigation, but that currently those with model #s ending with ASG are apparenlty not regarded as having issues . Specifically there may be a noisebut no system freeze is associated (in their view currently) with it.
As bruce.mckenzie says:
Other related issues:
Heat of drive/ bottom
Loose underside panel that flexes on touch
Excess vibration of unibody - emanating from left of touchpad but vibrating whole laptop
Long >10-20 second system freezes.
Drive checks out fine using S.M.A.R.T. (though an Apple Genius has informed me that SMART doesn't usually show anything conclusive anyway).
Beep occurs with or without headphones on, with or without sound on.
Apple put the Seagate 500GB 7200rpm drive (ST9500420ASG) in. Strange as this is the G version - G-Force version of the Seagate drive. THe MBP's already have SMS - Sudden motion sensing in them and is enabled by default. (turning it off doesn't seem to help though).
All machines will be 4GB or higher, and for 17"MBP either 2.93 or 3.06GHZ processors - which makes the beachballing seem even stranger. Other machines with 7200rpm haven't had this issue. Woudl a drive park then unpark then park then unpark within a few secconds?
Previous unibody MBP's haven't had any issues afaik with 7200rpm drives. However, the Seagate 7200.4 drive (as opposed to older 7200.3 drive) has a higher performance (100Mb/s vs 83Mb/x and apparently this is why HD spin up is noisier. (as per gabriel chan post). Doens't explain the beep.
One problem is that many Geniuses don't see that many CTO 17" MBPs go past them so can't really gauge issue frequency.
From what one users mentioned, Apple Engineers were aware of the issue since at least July 1st.
Just to break the pages down thus far:
Unless otherwise mentioned - i'm assuming the 7200rpm drive = Seagate ST9500420ASG
Beeping issue can happen at any time, whilst still, on flat surface. With or without disc in CD drive. On battery or on mains.
Assuming that all the users on the posts are genuine (and why not) - I've counted around 100 MBP users with issues - i'd make that an issue affecting over £160,000 worth of MacBook Pros.
Condensed user information from the Apple thread:
wessto - MBP 15 inch 7200rpm drive gives beep. Mentions user who doesn't get this when using bootcamp. Spoke with Apple expert on phone, recommended GEnius bar, or authorized repair facility. Applied firmware update, still getting click beeps. Apple engineering - said "this sounds a lot like a hardware failure. We strongly recommend you to take the computer to the nearest Apple retail store to visit a Genius Bar and have the problem diagnosed and fixed". - Not given option to keep MBP till new replacement arrives. Genius bar hadn't heard of issue. Issue getting more frequent, ordering replacement drive of same model without G protectin to see if that changes anything.
Craig Upton - Noticing same
romit - MBP 15" (seemingly beeping from top right of Mac)
Deniz Durmus - 15" MBP -seeing small freezing as it beeps
macboi45 - MBP 17" 3.06GHz. Apple asked to take into an Apple store. Beep sounding from LHS. Spoke to Apple - Replacement allowed - but have to send the old one in first and wait a week or two. Displayed a humming vibration, then increase in chirping sounds.
KBeat - 3.06GHz MBP. Drive checks out ok with SMART and other tests. Applied 1.7 firmware - seemed not to have more beeps.
ADKIM - 3.06GHz MBP - Described isolating it for them as coming from CD/DVD tray. - RHS beeping. Applied firmware update, still getting beeps. Taken to Genius Bar - reset PRAM. Still click beeping, didn't know what the issue was at the bar.
user2112 - 17" MBP
iStu91 - 2008 MBP - Had a phase of click beeps.
CLBlake -MBP
gabriel chan - 2.8GHz MBP
baddit - 3.06GHz - Reset SMC after advised to by Apple Care - problem went away, but only for an hour. Getting a replacement machine. Told by Genius that the only other time he'd head a beep like that is from a failing hard drive. Recommended a replacement as they don't carry 7200rpm drives.
Rusty Mitchell - 3.06GHz - Genius bar - had no idea - agered to hold off for now.
Ryan Thomure - Tempted to buy External HD just in case
byanfriedman - 15" 2.53GHz - Might take to store if gets worse
BrerBear - 3.06GHz 17" - Affects whole performance of machine - small systemwide freezes around the beep. Issue getting worse.
theocurrie - Same noise
tomtubbs - MBP 17" Click beeps. Checked drive out with SMART, disk verify etc, took to Genius bar, recommended to request replacement, did, got replacement. Replacement had less beeping, but still clicks, and much larger freezes >10 seconds usually
Benjamin Apollo - MBP 2.8GHz - Seemed getting some issues when moving MBP
Xylon - Chirp click, with momentary freezes of system. Spoke to Apple Care, who wanted to get the machine replaced. Spoke later to Apple Care and told that engineers are looking into the problem.
evilpluto - 17"MBP - Click beep out of the box, sound coming form top left. Called Apple Care who appeared to have an internal tech bulletin about this. Referred to tier 2 who gathered my information for submitting to the engineers.
Stefan2908 - 17" MBP - Periodic slowdowns with beachball - 5 seonds or so (On a 3.06GHZ machine with 8GB of RAM!) happening under low load. Had his Hard drive fail on him.
enigma62333 - 3.06GB MBP - Noticed after setup click/chirp beep, happening during times of spurious HD usage, not during heavy data acess, with short but definite freezing during it. Called Apple support - told that it would be best if Apple employee witnessed claims. Before sorting a Genius appointment, got a call from Apple - who told the user that Apple wanted to ship a new laptop, and test the old laptop. Replacement MBP had the click/chirp starting during initial use of it. Called Apple - went to another genius appointment to verify position, to request to get a replacement HD or at least get a 54000rpm and get credit for difference. Got beeping from the new 7200rpm drive.
Slawrensen - 17"MBP - click beep - seeing it occur in Vista under bootcamp (thuogh less frequently). Spoke with AppleCare - talked with a product specialist - told he could bring MBP into Genius bar for diagnosis.
eddyspaghetti - 15"3GHz MBP - Click beep but no performance issues.
Stefan2908 - Constant clicking using VMWare Fusion XP. Spoke to Apple Care - they said that the reason for being more aware of the drive noise is due to much faster access speeds. (but this doesn't at all explain the beep, or the short of long freezing/beachballing, just maybe the click) - told to take it to Genius bar for veification if concerned (and that usually if there's a hardware issue looking at SMART status it's show an issue - which directly contradicts what i've personally been told by a Genius rep). getting the chirping linked with beachballing, with chirping getting worse.
shippo007 - 15" MBP - "Electronic chirp" every 30 minutes or so. Zapped PRAM, looped hardware diagnostics etc all without a change to the condition. No specific action causing it it seems. Talked extensively with Apple, and an Apple staff have read the thread. Received an email from one of the Apple phone support staff asking to go into system profiler to then send to Apple some info so engineers could analyze their system. Getting a replacement with a 5400rpm drive to avoid risk of issue.
andylaandy - 15" MBP - Beep once every hour or so. Told it was entirely normal for the 7200rpm drive to do this beep whilst at Genius bar. Then spoke with Apple on the phone - and told it's not normal, and apologized for being told this. resetting setting didn't help.
cooljdude - Sometimes when moving laptop just a bit gets little chirp noise from 15" 09 MBP.
ryanhovland - Chirping - with varying frequency, from every 15 seconds to once every half hour. Happens more often when accessing a file, but occasionally just random. Wnet through diagnosis with Tech SUpport with data capture etc with no luck. Asked fore replacement as within the 15 day return period. replacement not exhibited anything after a week.
user2112 - 17"MBP - Sounds like chirp coming from upper left corner, randomly.
mseeley11 - 15" MBP - chirping(beep) issue - Saw Genius Bar which said "some chirping is pretty common".
ArinS - Clicking.
PacNW - No chirp aka beep with a CTO with the SSD configuration.
jeffottawa -Chirping many times a minute.
ckbcowboy - Same issue
Gary Kay - 15" MBP - issue almost immediately n recieving laptop. Momentary pausing when it happens.
Isaak Kwok - Same chirp issue.
William Russell -Intermittent chirp. Spoke to tech support 7th July and told the chirp is normal operating behavior (a sign the chirp might be being misinterpreted with the beep, that some are calling a chirp). Worth asking tech support to transfer you to Customer Relations, as pointed out by sgginc - if you received the laptop within the past 15 days, it's within your rights to get it returned (and replaced).
CLBlake - 15"MBP - Got replacement due to this.
Prentiss Riddle - Requested support call using the web form - https://selfsolve.apple.com/EXPERT/GetProductList.do .(US/Canada only) and got a call back imediately, and informed APple engineering are aware of the problem, have "captured" a number of machines suffering from it, and are working on a solution. Menioned toto contact Apple tech support, politely escalate to level 2 (?).
No info on what they think it might be, how prevalent it is, or whether getting a replacement is advisable at this time. No official way to record you have the problem to be notified of a fix - told byt the support staffer to follow these discussion threads! Told the problem is limited to "special" drives - not standard drievs - ie it's a 7200rpm issue.
tmenguy - 15"MBP - beep and system hiccup.
Steve Lessard Jr - 17" MBP 3.06GHz - system hiccup associated with the beep
LarryKeith - 17"MBP - click beep
davidtorro - Got stock 13" and put Seagate Momentus 7200.4 ST9500420AS 500GB 7200 RPM 2.5" SATA 3.0Gb/s Internal Notebook Hard Drive in himself with no issues.
enigma62333 - Replaced the 7200rpm drive with an old 5400rpm drive from a 2006 MacBook. Moved the Seagate frive into an external USB enclosure and got the proof that it's the drive - see http://discussions.apple.com/post!reply.jspa?messageID=9726102
WilberBeast - Clip beep issue
ljfrugn - Same issue
clutterskull - same issue. Clicks on second day, beeps slightly after that with system freezing as well, occurring at least once every 10 minutes, sometimes in flurries of 1 every few seconds. Got a replacement drive from Apple - getting click beep, but no system freeze now.
phasey - Click beep issue.
Steven Proctor - same issue
sq1a2ep - Sae clicking sound, with no beep evey now and again.
Yahoo! Guy - 15" MBP with issue, approximately 6 times an hour
mathinc - Click beep issue. Talked to Apple tech, who said the sound is drive parking and unparking. "things learned" - Seagate firmware update needed. No firmeare update info in their system yet. Apple will replace your machine, but if CTO they'' need to ship it in. Talked to Apple and told they were aware of the issue, but didn't have notes on teh solution.
-=+ Grumpy +=- - Click beep issue, triggering sometimes from iTunes usage.
jensfranke - 15"MBP with click beep.
forhisglory - 3.06GHz 17"MBP click beep issue. Issues a replacement.
Paul Swagerman - Click beep issue.
Skippo88 - 15"MBP 2.8GHz -Same issue. Spoke to AppleCare, hadn't heard of the issue. Did disk utility, disk repair, permission repair, reset PRAM and SMC, still no joy. Explained the excalation procedure if problem continued - Either ring customer services and get a complete exchange on the laptop as it's within the 14 day cooling off period in, or take into Genius bar for further diagnostics (though what diagnostics would they run that hadn't already been run?). Saw reduced clicking after resetting PRAM and SMC, but still experiencing it, so not fixed the problem.
BrerBear -found on the Segate forum that a person tried to install a
Interesting message over on the Seagate forums: http://forums.seagate.com/stx/board/message?board.id=ata_drives&thread.id=13692
Guy on Seagate forums - tried to install a Seagate 7200.4 ST9500420ASG drive into their MBP, and had some concerns. Called Seagate, and a supervisor apparently acknowledged that because the drive has G-Force protection, it shouldn't be used with a Mac that has a Sudden Motion Sensor (SMS).
KBeat mentions that Apple has previously recommended disabling SMS when using Seagate drives with G-Force, but they haven't done so with the MBPs!!
replaced with a non g-force 7200rpm drive, and all beeping, chirping, clicking, stuttering went. Putting the old G-Force drive into an external FW enclosure, the behaviour transferred over, except the beeps, but still got stuttering and clicking.
CaseyM - Click beep issue.
gsterndale - Spoke with Genius - told that Apple is "investigating this issue".
niceitdude - Getting issue.
Steve Schmadeke - Not getting beeps, but getting system freezes - between 25-30 seconds and only affecting those applications that happen to be reading or writing to the disk at the time.
bushfreakz - 17"MBP 3.06GHz with issue.
btheriau - 15"MBP 2.8GHZ issue.
Allergic -click, beep, freeze.
blaisos - click beep issue. Took machine into Cabot Circus (UK) store and GEnius offered replacement HDD of the same ind.
eat_sleep_fish - Click chirp issue, with accompanied beach balling.
UncleJezza - Click beep issue occasionally.
celestun - 17"MBP with click beep issue.
choe - Infrequent beep issue with associated momentary system freezes.
bmt216a - Occssional click beeping. Genius bar Apple rep seemed familiar with the problem but wasn't characterizing it as widespread, and willing to replace the drive. Recommended the quickest solution was to send to Apple for a replacement.
Naushad = Got message from Apple store (who'd previously ordered a replacement drive) that they wouldn't replace the drive as beeping and chirping was completely normal.
anthm999 - Random beeping, with momentary system freezes.
Jonas Rasmussen - 17" 2.8GHz - Got a replacement but both have same issue.
tony12 - 15"MBP - Click beep unpredictabel 5 or so times an hour, not associated with any particular operation.
*removed name* - Beeping issue. AppleCare recommended Genius appointment, who tested it, and said they couldn't seem to find anything wrong with the hard drive.
bruce.mckenzie - loud random beeps/ squeaks with no clicks.
McDionysus - Contacted Apple about click beep issue.
chnews - 17" MBP
Sheepless - Click beep issue, with 1 - 2 second freezes
kallle - click beeping issue all the time
fmotta - 17" 2.8GHZ With click beep issue
joe_chow - Beep issue -
braynb - Click beep issue. Having gone through support, was able to get a new HD installed.
Terry Braun - Intermittent beep - no joy with Apple telephone support, arranged Genius appointement.
Forrest Brown 0 17" MBP - chirping and with a noticeable fereze.
arjanvm - Click beeps though nothing under XP natively (presumably under boot camp).
nittanys1 - Click beep issue, and problems with dashboard apps
Grain8 - no issues under Windows. (note that some do, some don't)/.
xBrandonx - Click beep pause issue.
ejoshua - Click beep issue. Apple Care acepted there was an issue, got a replacement sent out without issue.
R_H - 2.93 GHx MBP - No beeping - but horrific freezing/ pausing occuring oftern - getting freezes even though swapped out the HDD for a cloned 500GB 5400rpm Hitachi drive -
JakeCast - Same lick beep issue.
JordanX - Same issue.
MichaelWaterfall - 15"MBP - chirping randomly.
dylanodonnell - Beeping drive.
scheetz - Click beeping drive. Called Apple and got an official response that this is normal behaviour.
tranceman07 - Upgraded with a Seagate drive without G-Force protection and still got pauses and click sounds (used model ST9500420AS)
Clay-walk had the non G-protection version and got noise., and so replaced the drive.
trolliedp - Click beep issue and getting semi-hard locks for 20-30 seconds at a time, often during high IO periods. Nothing reported in /var/logsystem.log - (can agree with this).
feedback to apple on http://www.apple.com/feedback/macbookpro.html
recognising the Apple thread on the click beep issue.
A good tale to remind you to back up your data. Your biggest investment is your hardware, and your data.
Hard to tell if replacing the hard drive, or computer entirely will solve the problem. This hardware new is around £1,700 and up, or $3,000 or so and up. At least one person swapped out the drive to a 5400rpm - no issues, and a 7200rpm Seagate drive without the G-Force tech and had no issues. (model ST9500420AS, NewEgg item #N82E16822148374.)
Strangely the non G-Force drive has been on backorder everywhere for months apparently whilst the G-Force models were available. DIdn't Seagate ship a whole lot of faulty drives in Apple laptops a while back?
http://forums.seagate.com/stx/board...drives&message.id=13633&query.id=11350#M13633
From a post on the thread, it seems that Engineering are looking into it, and that they've taken their quota of machines at the moment to look at, but recommends calling Apple Care anyway so the number of people with the problem is documented properly (calling Apple care number might be different from Tech Support).
As of July 8th, gmb12 notes that after speaking with Apple Support, engineers updated the technical bulletin (June 29th) regarding this and are calling the click / beep "normal behaviour" and aren't planning on fixing the issue... However, since this, Apple Care are still offering replacements etc, so it seems a bit disjointed to say the least. Then you get updates for the 9th saying that Engineering are still investigating the issue, and will update at least the poster once they have something to say. A user has put the G-Force drive into a Mac mini, and is getting strange noises, and freezing. (masterpol75). Update from McDionysus from 9th July - talking to Apple reps saying that they've captured enough MBPs to instigate an investigation, but that currently those with model #s ending with ASG are apparenlty not regarded as having issues . Specifically there may be a noisebut no system freeze is associated (in their view currently) with it.
As bruce.mckenzie says:
Other related issues:
Heat of drive/ bottom
Loose underside panel that flexes on touch
Excess vibration of unibody - emanating from left of touchpad but vibrating whole laptop
Long >10-20 second system freezes.
Drive checks out fine using S.M.A.R.T. (though an Apple Genius has informed me that SMART doesn't usually show anything conclusive anyway).
Beep occurs with or without headphones on, with or without sound on.
Apple put the Seagate 500GB 7200rpm drive (ST9500420ASG) in. Strange as this is the G version - G-Force version of the Seagate drive. THe MBP's already have SMS - Sudden motion sensing in them and is enabled by default. (turning it off doesn't seem to help though).
All machines will be 4GB or higher, and for 17"MBP either 2.93 or 3.06GHZ processors - which makes the beachballing seem even stranger. Other machines with 7200rpm haven't had this issue. Woudl a drive park then unpark then park then unpark within a few secconds?
Previous unibody MBP's haven't had any issues afaik with 7200rpm drives. However, the Seagate 7200.4 drive (as opposed to older 7200.3 drive) has a higher performance (100Mb/s vs 83Mb/x and apparently this is why HD spin up is noisier. (as per gabriel chan post). Doens't explain the beep.
One problem is that many Geniuses don't see that many CTO 17" MBPs go past them so can't really gauge issue frequency.
From what one users mentioned, Apple Engineers were aware of the issue since at least July 1st.
Just to break the pages down thus far:
Unless otherwise mentioned - i'm assuming the 7200rpm drive = Seagate ST9500420ASG
Beeping issue can happen at any time, whilst still, on flat surface. With or without disc in CD drive. On battery or on mains.
Assuming that all the users on the posts are genuine (and why not) - I've counted around 100 MBP users with issues - i'd make that an issue affecting over £160,000 worth of MacBook Pros.
Condensed user information from the Apple thread:
wessto - MBP 15 inch 7200rpm drive gives beep. Mentions user who doesn't get this when using bootcamp. Spoke with Apple expert on phone, recommended GEnius bar, or authorized repair facility. Applied firmware update, still getting click beeps. Apple engineering - said "this sounds a lot like a hardware failure. We strongly recommend you to take the computer to the nearest Apple retail store to visit a Genius Bar and have the problem diagnosed and fixed". - Not given option to keep MBP till new replacement arrives. Genius bar hadn't heard of issue. Issue getting more frequent, ordering replacement drive of same model without G protectin to see if that changes anything.
Craig Upton - Noticing same
romit - MBP 15" (seemingly beeping from top right of Mac)
Deniz Durmus - 15" MBP -seeing small freezing as it beeps
macboi45 - MBP 17" 3.06GHz. Apple asked to take into an Apple store. Beep sounding from LHS. Spoke to Apple - Replacement allowed - but have to send the old one in first and wait a week or two. Displayed a humming vibration, then increase in chirping sounds.
KBeat - 3.06GHz MBP. Drive checks out ok with SMART and other tests. Applied 1.7 firmware - seemed not to have more beeps.
ADKIM - 3.06GHz MBP - Described isolating it for them as coming from CD/DVD tray. - RHS beeping. Applied firmware update, still getting beeps. Taken to Genius Bar - reset PRAM. Still click beeping, didn't know what the issue was at the bar.
user2112 - 17" MBP
iStu91 - 2008 MBP - Had a phase of click beeps.
CLBlake -MBP
gabriel chan - 2.8GHz MBP
baddit - 3.06GHz - Reset SMC after advised to by Apple Care - problem went away, but only for an hour. Getting a replacement machine. Told by Genius that the only other time he'd head a beep like that is from a failing hard drive. Recommended a replacement as they don't carry 7200rpm drives.
Rusty Mitchell - 3.06GHz - Genius bar - had no idea - agered to hold off for now.
Ryan Thomure - Tempted to buy External HD just in case
byanfriedman - 15" 2.53GHz - Might take to store if gets worse
BrerBear - 3.06GHz 17" - Affects whole performance of machine - small systemwide freezes around the beep. Issue getting worse.
theocurrie - Same noise
tomtubbs - MBP 17" Click beeps. Checked drive out with SMART, disk verify etc, took to Genius bar, recommended to request replacement, did, got replacement. Replacement had less beeping, but still clicks, and much larger freezes >10 seconds usually
Benjamin Apollo - MBP 2.8GHz - Seemed getting some issues when moving MBP
Xylon - Chirp click, with momentary freezes of system. Spoke to Apple Care, who wanted to get the machine replaced. Spoke later to Apple Care and told that engineers are looking into the problem.
evilpluto - 17"MBP - Click beep out of the box, sound coming form top left. Called Apple Care who appeared to have an internal tech bulletin about this. Referred to tier 2 who gathered my information for submitting to the engineers.
Stefan2908 - 17" MBP - Periodic slowdowns with beachball - 5 seonds or so (On a 3.06GHZ machine with 8GB of RAM!) happening under low load. Had his Hard drive fail on him.
enigma62333 - 3.06GB MBP - Noticed after setup click/chirp beep, happening during times of spurious HD usage, not during heavy data acess, with short but definite freezing during it. Called Apple support - told that it would be best if Apple employee witnessed claims. Before sorting a Genius appointment, got a call from Apple - who told the user that Apple wanted to ship a new laptop, and test the old laptop. Replacement MBP had the click/chirp starting during initial use of it. Called Apple - went to another genius appointment to verify position, to request to get a replacement HD or at least get a 54000rpm and get credit for difference. Got beeping from the new 7200rpm drive.
Slawrensen - 17"MBP - click beep - seeing it occur in Vista under bootcamp (thuogh less frequently). Spoke with AppleCare - talked with a product specialist - told he could bring MBP into Genius bar for diagnosis.
eddyspaghetti - 15"3GHz MBP - Click beep but no performance issues.
Stefan2908 - Constant clicking using VMWare Fusion XP. Spoke to Apple Care - they said that the reason for being more aware of the drive noise is due to much faster access speeds. (but this doesn't at all explain the beep, or the short of long freezing/beachballing, just maybe the click) - told to take it to Genius bar for veification if concerned (and that usually if there's a hardware issue looking at SMART status it's show an issue - which directly contradicts what i've personally been told by a Genius rep). getting the chirping linked with beachballing, with chirping getting worse.
shippo007 - 15" MBP - "Electronic chirp" every 30 minutes or so. Zapped PRAM, looped hardware diagnostics etc all without a change to the condition. No specific action causing it it seems. Talked extensively with Apple, and an Apple staff have read the thread. Received an email from one of the Apple phone support staff asking to go into system profiler to then send to Apple some info so engineers could analyze their system. Getting a replacement with a 5400rpm drive to avoid risk of issue.
andylaandy - 15" MBP - Beep once every hour or so. Told it was entirely normal for the 7200rpm drive to do this beep whilst at Genius bar. Then spoke with Apple on the phone - and told it's not normal, and apologized for being told this. resetting setting didn't help.
cooljdude - Sometimes when moving laptop just a bit gets little chirp noise from 15" 09 MBP.
ryanhovland - Chirping - with varying frequency, from every 15 seconds to once every half hour. Happens more often when accessing a file, but occasionally just random. Wnet through diagnosis with Tech SUpport with data capture etc with no luck. Asked fore replacement as within the 15 day return period. replacement not exhibited anything after a week.
user2112 - 17"MBP - Sounds like chirp coming from upper left corner, randomly.
mseeley11 - 15" MBP - chirping(beep) issue - Saw Genius Bar which said "some chirping is pretty common".
ArinS - Clicking.
PacNW - No chirp aka beep with a CTO with the SSD configuration.
jeffottawa -Chirping many times a minute.
ckbcowboy - Same issue
Gary Kay - 15" MBP - issue almost immediately n recieving laptop. Momentary pausing when it happens.
Isaak Kwok - Same chirp issue.
William Russell -Intermittent chirp. Spoke to tech support 7th July and told the chirp is normal operating behavior (a sign the chirp might be being misinterpreted with the beep, that some are calling a chirp). Worth asking tech support to transfer you to Customer Relations, as pointed out by sgginc - if you received the laptop within the past 15 days, it's within your rights to get it returned (and replaced).
CLBlake - 15"MBP - Got replacement due to this.
Prentiss Riddle - Requested support call using the web form - https://selfsolve.apple.com/EXPERT/GetProductList.do .(US/Canada only) and got a call back imediately, and informed APple engineering are aware of the problem, have "captured" a number of machines suffering from it, and are working on a solution. Menioned toto contact Apple tech support, politely escalate to level 2 (?).
No info on what they think it might be, how prevalent it is, or whether getting a replacement is advisable at this time. No official way to record you have the problem to be notified of a fix - told byt the support staffer to follow these discussion threads! Told the problem is limited to "special" drives - not standard drievs - ie it's a 7200rpm issue.
tmenguy - 15"MBP - beep and system hiccup.
Steve Lessard Jr - 17" MBP 3.06GHz - system hiccup associated with the beep
LarryKeith - 17"MBP - click beep
davidtorro - Got stock 13" and put Seagate Momentus 7200.4 ST9500420AS 500GB 7200 RPM 2.5" SATA 3.0Gb/s Internal Notebook Hard Drive in himself with no issues.
enigma62333 - Replaced the 7200rpm drive with an old 5400rpm drive from a 2006 MacBook. Moved the Seagate frive into an external USB enclosure and got the proof that it's the drive - see http://discussions.apple.com/post!reply.jspa?messageID=9726102
WilberBeast - Clip beep issue
ljfrugn - Same issue
clutterskull - same issue. Clicks on second day, beeps slightly after that with system freezing as well, occurring at least once every 10 minutes, sometimes in flurries of 1 every few seconds. Got a replacement drive from Apple - getting click beep, but no system freeze now.
phasey - Click beep issue.
Steven Proctor - same issue
sq1a2ep - Sae clicking sound, with no beep evey now and again.
Yahoo! Guy - 15" MBP with issue, approximately 6 times an hour
mathinc - Click beep issue. Talked to Apple tech, who said the sound is drive parking and unparking. "things learned" - Seagate firmware update needed. No firmeare update info in their system yet. Apple will replace your machine, but if CTO they'' need to ship it in. Talked to Apple and told they were aware of the issue, but didn't have notes on teh solution.
-=+ Grumpy +=- - Click beep issue, triggering sometimes from iTunes usage.
jensfranke - 15"MBP with click beep.
forhisglory - 3.06GHz 17"MBP click beep issue. Issues a replacement.
Paul Swagerman - Click beep issue.
Skippo88 - 15"MBP 2.8GHz -Same issue. Spoke to AppleCare, hadn't heard of the issue. Did disk utility, disk repair, permission repair, reset PRAM and SMC, still no joy. Explained the excalation procedure if problem continued - Either ring customer services and get a complete exchange on the laptop as it's within the 14 day cooling off period in, or take into Genius bar for further diagnostics (though what diagnostics would they run that hadn't already been run?). Saw reduced clicking after resetting PRAM and SMC, but still experiencing it, so not fixed the problem.
BrerBear -found on the Segate forum that a person tried to install a
Interesting message over on the Seagate forums: http://forums.seagate.com/stx/board/message?board.id=ata_drives&thread.id=13692
Guy on Seagate forums - tried to install a Seagate 7200.4 ST9500420ASG drive into their MBP, and had some concerns. Called Seagate, and a supervisor apparently acknowledged that because the drive has G-Force protection, it shouldn't be used with a Mac that has a Sudden Motion Sensor (SMS).
KBeat mentions that Apple has previously recommended disabling SMS when using Seagate drives with G-Force, but they haven't done so with the MBPs!!
replaced with a non g-force 7200rpm drive, and all beeping, chirping, clicking, stuttering went. Putting the old G-Force drive into an external FW enclosure, the behaviour transferred over, except the beeps, but still got stuttering and clicking.
CaseyM - Click beep issue.
gsterndale - Spoke with Genius - told that Apple is "investigating this issue".
niceitdude - Getting issue.
Steve Schmadeke - Not getting beeps, but getting system freezes - between 25-30 seconds and only affecting those applications that happen to be reading or writing to the disk at the time.
bushfreakz - 17"MBP 3.06GHz with issue.
btheriau - 15"MBP 2.8GHZ issue.
Allergic -click, beep, freeze.
blaisos - click beep issue. Took machine into Cabot Circus (UK) store and GEnius offered replacement HDD of the same ind.
eat_sleep_fish - Click chirp issue, with accompanied beach balling.
UncleJezza - Click beep issue occasionally.
celestun - 17"MBP with click beep issue.
choe - Infrequent beep issue with associated momentary system freezes.
bmt216a - Occssional click beeping. Genius bar Apple rep seemed familiar with the problem but wasn't characterizing it as widespread, and willing to replace the drive. Recommended the quickest solution was to send to Apple for a replacement.
Naushad = Got message from Apple store (who'd previously ordered a replacement drive) that they wouldn't replace the drive as beeping and chirping was completely normal.
anthm999 - Random beeping, with momentary system freezes.
Jonas Rasmussen - 17" 2.8GHz - Got a replacement but both have same issue.
tony12 - 15"MBP - Click beep unpredictabel 5 or so times an hour, not associated with any particular operation.
*removed name* - Beeping issue. AppleCare recommended Genius appointment, who tested it, and said they couldn't seem to find anything wrong with the hard drive.
bruce.mckenzie - loud random beeps/ squeaks with no clicks.
McDionysus - Contacted Apple about click beep issue.
chnews - 17" MBP
Sheepless - Click beep issue, with 1 - 2 second freezes
kallle - click beeping issue all the time
fmotta - 17" 2.8GHZ With click beep issue
joe_chow - Beep issue -
braynb - Click beep issue. Having gone through support, was able to get a new HD installed.
Terry Braun - Intermittent beep - no joy with Apple telephone support, arranged Genius appointement.
Forrest Brown 0 17" MBP - chirping and with a noticeable fereze.
arjanvm - Click beeps though nothing under XP natively (presumably under boot camp).
nittanys1 - Click beep issue, and problems with dashboard apps
Grain8 - no issues under Windows. (note that some do, some don't)/.
xBrandonx - Click beep pause issue.
ejoshua - Click beep issue. Apple Care acepted there was an issue, got a replacement sent out without issue.
R_H - 2.93 GHx MBP - No beeping - but horrific freezing/ pausing occuring oftern - getting freezes even though swapped out the HDD for a cloned 500GB 5400rpm Hitachi drive -
JakeCast - Same lick beep issue.
JordanX - Same issue.
MichaelWaterfall - 15"MBP - chirping randomly.
dylanodonnell - Beeping drive.
scheetz - Click beeping drive. Called Apple and got an official response that this is normal behaviour.
tranceman07 - Upgraded with a Seagate drive without G-Force protection and still got pauses and click sounds (used model ST9500420AS)
Clay-walk had the non G-protection version and got noise., and so replaced the drive.
trolliedp - Click beep issue and getting semi-hard locks for 20-30 seconds at a time, often during high IO periods. Nothing reported in /var/logsystem.log - (can agree with this).
feedback to apple on http://www.apple.com/feedback/macbookpro.html
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I have this problem and my MBP freezes up for a period of 30-40 seconds a few times a day. To be honest, I put this down to OS X sucking (no doubt its overhyped) and not being capable of handling all the apps I had running. Now I see others are experiencing the same problem maybe I reached a rash conclusion.
I'm tempted to try running Windows 7 instead of OS X and see if that helps solve the problem....
I'm tempted to try running Windows 7 instead of OS X and see if that helps solve the problem....
My 7200 rpm HDD was clicking, and I don't know if this is similar to what you all are experiencing, but I discovered a fix for it online; posted here:https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/743200/
I have a 320GB Scorpio Black installed, and it was clicking every ten seconds or so until I applied this fix.
I have a 320GB Scorpio Black installed, and it was clicking every ten seconds or so until I applied this fix.
Try turning off "Sudden Motion Sensor"
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1934
<<To disable the Sudden Motion Sensor:
Find the current status of Sudden Motion Sensor:
1. From the Finder's Go menu, choose Utilities.
2. In the Utilities folder, open Terminal.
3. When the command line appears, type sudo pmset -g and press Return.
4. Type in the administrator password when prompted and hit Return. This command queries the computer for the current setting of the Sudden Motion Sensor, which you can determine by locating the ams entry (in Mac OS X 10.3) or the sms entry (in Mac OS X 10.4 and 10.5) and looking to the right to determine its value. The default setting is "1" (turned on).
Disabling the Sudden Motion Sensor in Mac OS X 10.4 and 10.5:
1. In Terminal, which should still be open from the previous step, you can disable the Sudden Motion Sensor by typing sudo pmset -a sms 0 and pressing Return (changing the setting to a zero disables the module).
2. Type your administrator password when you are prompted and press Return.
3. Type the sudo pmset -g command again to be sure that the setting has been applied.
Any changes that you make to the Sudden Motion Sensor setting remain in effect even after you restart the computer. If you choose to disable the Sudden Motion Sensor, Apple recommends that you re-enable it as soon as possible in order to take full advantage of the feature.
To re-enable the Sudden Motion Sensor:
Find the current status of Sudden Motion Sensor:
1. From the Finder's Go menu, choose Utilities.
2. In the Utilities folder, open Terminal.
3. When the command line appears, type sudo pmset -g and press Return. Type your administrator password when you are prompted and press Return. If you have the Sudden Motion Sensor turned off, the value of the ams entry (in Mac OS X 10.3) or sms entry (in Mac OS X 10.4 and 10.5) will be a zero (0). >>
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1934
<<To disable the Sudden Motion Sensor:
Find the current status of Sudden Motion Sensor:
1. From the Finder's Go menu, choose Utilities.
2. In the Utilities folder, open Terminal.
3. When the command line appears, type sudo pmset -g and press Return.
4. Type in the administrator password when prompted and hit Return. This command queries the computer for the current setting of the Sudden Motion Sensor, which you can determine by locating the ams entry (in Mac OS X 10.3) or the sms entry (in Mac OS X 10.4 and 10.5) and looking to the right to determine its value. The default setting is "1" (turned on).
Disabling the Sudden Motion Sensor in Mac OS X 10.4 and 10.5:
1. In Terminal, which should still be open from the previous step, you can disable the Sudden Motion Sensor by typing sudo pmset -a sms 0 and pressing Return (changing the setting to a zero disables the module).
2. Type your administrator password when you are prompted and press Return.
3. Type the sudo pmset -g command again to be sure that the setting has been applied.
Any changes that you make to the Sudden Motion Sensor setting remain in effect even after you restart the computer. If you choose to disable the Sudden Motion Sensor, Apple recommends that you re-enable it as soon as possible in order to take full advantage of the feature.
To re-enable the Sudden Motion Sensor:
Find the current status of Sudden Motion Sensor:
1. From the Finder's Go menu, choose Utilities.
2. In the Utilities folder, open Terminal.
3. When the command line appears, type sudo pmset -g and press Return. Type your administrator password when you are prompted and press Return. If you have the Sudden Motion Sensor turned off, the value of the ams entry (in Mac OS X 10.3) or sms entry (in Mac OS X 10.4 and 10.5) will be a zero (0). >>
If this was the case, then Apple should just release an update/patch that simply disables the sudden-motion-sensor, instead of having us hack around to do it.
It's been weeks now and their engineering department is still "working on it". What gives?
It's been weeks now and their engineering department is still "working on it". What gives?
This thread is hilarious.
The model number of the drive Apple is using is apparently the G shock version of the drive. If your laptop has built in protection you are not supposed to use that model, but they are stupid enough to do it anyway. You need to disable the macbook's motion detection and let the drive do its own.
I have the AS version of the drive (no g) and have never had this issue from day one.
The model number of the drive Apple is using is apparently the G shock version of the drive. If your laptop has built in protection you are not supposed to use that model, but they are stupid enough to do it anyway. You need to disable the macbook's motion detection and let the drive do its own.
I have the AS version of the drive (no g) and have never had this issue from day one.
Yeah on occasion I do get noticeable vibration, particularly in the palmrests. Its pretty minor, if i put a paperclip there I don't think I could see it more or hear it but I can definitely feel it in my hands. It happens almost exclusively when I'm doing more intensive activities (loading multiple apps, multiple installations, but nothing like video editing). I just figure that with the HD working a little faster it gives off more vibration and that the aluminum casing would absorb much of it, so I'm not too worried about it.
I only have normal clicking (startup and the HD protection safety feature).
I just followed these instructions to the letter, and successfully set SMS to 0.
I got the beep afterwards, so I think something else is wrong.
After reading your post, I was furious that I downgraded my drive to the 5400 rpm model, but after hearing the beep again I was glad.
Also, I get the beep whether in OSX or Windows 7 via bootcamp. I don't think it is an OS issue either.
Seems to be all about the hdd.
Yeah, I think it is just the drive itself that is bad. I changed my order to the 5400 RPM drive.
I feel for everyone that has these issues. I think this is my first time not upgrading something on my Apple purchase as I have the 5400 Hitachi in my 17" MBP bought back on June 12. I can hear the drive access ever so slightly but that's fine by me as everything seems well.
That's some list of issues going on there
I read about problems with Seagate before, not that things can't go wrong with others but that also swayed my decision in buying my new external for backing up all my stuff. I ended up going with the a G-Drive as I was looking at the WD or Seagate units at first.
Hope this gets straightened out for everyone so it's back to enjoying their MBP's.
That's some list of issues going on there
I read about problems with Seagate before, not that things can't go wrong with others but that also swayed my decision in buying my new external for backing up all my stuff. I ended up going with the a G-Drive as I was looking at the WD or Seagate units at first.Hope this gets straightened out for everyone so it's back to enjoying their MBP's.
To add to all of this,
I have a 500gb 7200rpm drive, in my Macbook pro 15" 2.8ghz, and I have never once heard this click or beep. I ordered it around June 15th maybe, it came in around the 25 (can't remember exactly.) At first I was very worried about the beep problem. But it never happened. I have been using this machine everyday, brought it to school and everything. The only problem that happened was an occasional beach balling which got solved complete by this post:
https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/8050524/
If you guys want me to check anything, I guess to compare to a beeping machine, I'm down.
I have a 500gb 7200rpm drive, in my Macbook pro 15" 2.8ghz, and I have never once heard this click or beep. I ordered it around June 15th maybe, it came in around the 25 (can't remember exactly.) At first I was very worried about the beep problem. But it never happened. I have been using this machine everyday, brought it to school and everything. The only problem that happened was an occasional beach balling which got solved complete by this post:
https://forums.macrumors.com/posts/8050524/
If you guys want me to check anything, I guess to compare to a beeping machine, I'm down.
Beep Click.
Is this one that can detect the HDD or what it is like sigr the beeping and clicking sounds.
I have a Seagate 500 GB / 7200 RPM in the G-Force now. And it says still beeps and clicks, and this is my 2 exchange model.
Will it help to switch to the non-G-Force?
Is this one that can detect the HDD or what it is like sigr the beeping and clicking sounds.
I have a Seagate 500 GB / 7200 RPM in the G-Force now. And it says still beeps and clicks, and this is my 2 exchange model.
Will it help to switch to the non-G-Force?
Amen. Out of the two 17" BTO 500GB 7200RPM units I'm currently in possession of, one of them suffers from the click+beep freeze, while the other DOES NOT. I repeat, DOES NOT. Both units with intensive HD read/write (60-70GB worth of data back and forth), and only ONE of the MBP's does the beep. I repeat, BOTH models are the EXACT same specs (I have two because I'm doing a cross-ship RMA), loaded up with the EXACT same time machine backup. One hard drive beeps, the other does NOT.
Unfortunately, the unit that had the beep issue was my replacement unit. I decided **** Apple, I'm going to replace this myself, so I took the non-beeping hard drive(out of the RMA unit that I have to send back), and put it into my MBP. Basically switched them around.
I originally thought this only affected a % of 7200RPM users. Now I'm convinced that it might actually be a majority. Anyway I feel lucky to have a non-beeping HDD, despite the fact that it doesn't belong to me. I don't think Apple will notice though.
Anyway, I still don't understand how one can have two IDENTICAL units, with the SAME BRAND/MODEL hard drive, but one does NOT suffer from the click/beep problem while the other does. Believe me, I tried but couldn't figure it out; it just doesn't make sense to me as it leads me to believe that many of these hard drives might just be defective(recall??), rather than a simple firmware fix(which explains why Apple engineers still don't have an answer to this problem(seagate has no response)).
Anyway, SHORT version: I have two uMBP's. One was built Mid-June and DOES NOT suffer from the click/beep issue. The other was built early July and DOES have this problem.
But every driver have this issue, or are there any people where the problems were sovled by replacing the drive?