Macbook Pro (2011) - Grinding/Clicking

[Gala]

I have noticed that once every 6-7 weeks or so I hear a weird noise coming from the area of the disc drive. It sounds like it starts up, clicks, and then stops. It last maybe 2-3 seconds. Is this something I should be worried about? Should I bring it by Apple? I've been figuring that since it only happens randomly they won't be able to check anything.

Also, how hot the Macbook Pro get? Sometimes I feel like it's smoking hot if I use it on my lap. To the point that if its on my skin I usually put something under it.

 

[billycuth]

I have noticed that once every 6-7 weeks or so I hear a weird noise coming from the area of the disc drive. It sounds like it starts up, clicks, and then stops. It last maybe 2-3 seconds. Is this something I should be worried about? Should I bring it by Apple? I've been figuring that since it only happens randomly they won't be able to check anything.

Also, how hot the Macbook Pro get? Sometimes I feel like it's smoking hot if I use it on my lap. To the point that if its on my skin I usually put something under it.

Sounds like a failing hard drive. I assume you have a traditional spinning disk, right?

 

[Puevlo]

Back up your data and take it in. That thing's gonna fall apart.

 

[Gala]

Sounds like a failing hard drive. I assume you have a traditional spinning disk, right?

Yes, but the sounds seem to come from the CD drive area in the back right of the computer. Man, I'm glad I brought this up I just thought it was normal. How could I have prevented this for the future.

 

[billycuth]

Yes, but the sounds seem to come from the CD drive area in the back right of the computer. Man, I'm glad I brought this up I just thought it was normal. How could I have prevented this for the future.

A click is generally a hard drive starting to fail. You can't prevent it, it's one of the weaknesses of traditional hard drives. It sucks.

I don't know my way around macs enough yet, so as far as the anatomy and knowing where all the parts are, I don't know. I wouldn't worry about where the sound is coming from though. That distinct click noise is hard drive.

 

[Gala]

Back up your data and take it in. That thing's gonna fall apart.

A click is generally a hard drive starting to fail. You can't prevent it, it's one of the weaknesses of traditional hard drives. It sucks.

Thanks a lot I'll bring it in ASAP. Is this something that they give me a refurbed computer for or do they switch the hard drive out?

 

[Mrbobb]

Waitdaminute.

So u have this machine for a year and this *just* started to happen? OK.

Because if u just got the notebook, this could be normal. Some HD goes into a self-calibration mode. This is a very soft chirp, audible only if ur in a quiet room and the notebook's fan hasn't come on.

 

[Gala]

Waitdaminute.

So u have this machine for a year and this *just* started to happen? OK.

Because if u just got the notebook, this could be normal. Some HD goes into a self-calibration mode. This is a very soft chirp, audible only if ur in a quiet room and the notebook's fan hasn't come on.

It isn't a soft chirp. It sounds like a loud grind/stop/release that you can hear if the TV is on. I researched some stuff on my own and it doesn't sound like the "click of death".

I read that there is a mechanism that locks the hard drive when the computer is moved or tilted to prevent the hard drive from getting scratch. The sound it makes sounds more like what I would expect this to sound like. I have a Genius appointment for next Wed and I'm going to get it checked out just to be sure, considering I didn't get the Apple Care and my year is almost up.