I'm having a similar issue, though it doesn't sound quite the same. It kind of feels like it's got something keeping it from moving smoothly and makes a sort of "crinkly" sounding noise. Almost like I spilled something stick in it. (And I absolutely did NOT do that.) But, like you, I don't really want to return it since I don't want a refurb and I'd rather not deal with reinstalling and the like.