The hard drive is noisy when running. Is your hard drive making noise or crackling? What to do? Switching to power saving mode
Sometimes every PC user may encounter the problem of extraneous noise during hard drive operation. The hard drive is a mechanical structure containing rotating disks. Reading information from a hard drive is carried out using magnetic heads, which, when moving, create some noise. The type of extraneous sounds depends on the model of the hard drive and the case of the system unit. If the computer case is made of inexpensive materials and the inside is poorly assembled, then unpleasant sounds will be emitted throughout the system unit.
The hard drive stores all the information on the computer. Therefore, you need to take measures to save data as soon as you hear noise during the operation of the device. Because this is the first “bell” that it may soon break.
However, sometimes the simple operating condition may be accompanied by noise. Here you need to figure out why the hard drive is cracking.
- Replace the hard drive.
- Modify the acoustic level using the AAM option.
- Take measures to soundproof the case or buy a better one.
- Secure the hard drive with soundproofing pads.
- Defragment the disk.
Apparently, the second option for solving the problem raises the most questions. Let's look at what it is.
Reducing noise from a hard drive using AAM
Any HDD has the function of regulating the level of noise it creates using the built-in Automatic Acoustic Management (AAM) option. Its task is to reduce the noise of the device by reducing the speed of movement of the heads. But there is one negative factor here: using this option will automatically reduce the speed of the hard drive.
Which of these two options (speed or noise) will create more inconvenience, in which favor to give your preference is up to you to decide. You may not feel a reduction in the speed of your hard drive, but the annoying noise volume will noticeably decrease. If you still decide to fix the noise problem using AAM, then you need to download the WinAAM application. It is available for download and is completely free. It has a Russian-language interface and works without mandatory installation. You can get this program by following the link: http://www.withopf.com/tools/aam/winaam-292.zip.
On the window that appears, click “Continue”. Correcting security settings is completely useless in getting rid of hard drive noise, so it is better not to touch it.
In the first line you can read that at this point in time the noise level control is not activated. Click on the “Silent/Standard (128)” option to adjust the silent AAM level. Its value can range from 0 to 255. It is noted that influential abilities are possessed exclusively by extreme levels, that is, “quiet” or “loud.” Most hard drives don't pay attention to the intermediate levels. This is most likely the reason that the WinAAM application allows you to solve the noise problem with a click on one option.
After adjusting the noise level, the application will close. Re-open it, select “Continue”, then “Check”.
A window will open showing the random movement of the read head.
At this moment, you will have the opportunity to hear the operation of the hard drive with the updated AAM option. The difference is huge. In order to compare with the previous state of the hard drive, click the “Loud (254)” parameter. This action will speed up the hard drive and return the previous noise volume.
Mechanical methods for getting rid of HDD noise
When the application fails to get rid of the noise, you need to solve the problem manually.
- First, check the quality of the hard drive fixation. The hard drive must be firmly fixed and held securely in the grooves, all bolts must be sufficiently tightened.
- Consider which parts of the HDD mechanically touch the computer case. At the joints it is necessary to install special gaskets with an insulating function. You can move the hard drive mounting basket a little so that the part does not come into contact with the computer case. Doing this can help reduce noise.
- If it is possible to change the location of the hard drive, do so. It is necessary to ensure that the vibration of the hard drive does not transfer to the case.
If this fails to reduce the noise, contact technical support.
Why is the hard drive cracking?
When operating a computer (PC), users often complain about the presence of extraneous noise or crackling noise. The noise in most cases is caused by the operation of fans (coolers), but the cracking noise is most likely caused by the hard drive. Then the question arises: why is the hard drive cracking? There may be several reasons, such as a malfunction of the hard drive itself, or poor fastening, fixing the hard drive inside the computer case, due to which extraneous vibrations are created and the hard drive begins to rattle. True, for the sake of fairness, it should be noted that the hard drive actually constantly makes a characteristic noise, and this is quite justified, since the principle of operation of the hard drive is precisely that the magnetic heads begin to rotate while reading information. This is especially true for older HDDs.
If the noise becomes annoying or was not there before, but appears after a while, then this may also be a sign that the hard drive may soon fail. Also, the fact that the hard drive may be faulty may be indicated by the fact that with the appearance of noise, the computer began to work worse and slower, periodically freezes, produces various errors, or does not want to boot at all. Therefore, here you need to seriously think about checking the disk for errors.
Below we will discuss the main reasons why a hard drive is noisy.
The main reasons why a hard drive cracks
The first reason is poor fixation of the hard drive in the system case. There is only one way out - simply disassemble the system unit and securely fasten the hard drive. But often this is impossible to do due to the cheap case. In this case, one of the most common options among users is to hang the hard drive on pieces of twisted pair cable. Simply pull out the slide that holds the hard drive.
The second reason why the hard drive on a laptop and PC is noisy is the specific operation of a particular drive model. This is normal operating mode for it. True, if such noise is very disturbing, then you can resort to a method of reducing it by reducing the speed of rotation of the hard drive heads.
Hard drives have such a function as automatic noise management - Automatic Acoustic Management (abbreviated as AAM). Its essence lies in the fact that you can reduce the rotation speed of the magnetic heads and, thus, reduce the noise level. But in this case, the hard drive will read data slower. Therefore, here each user decides specifically for himself what is more important for him - the absence of noise or high performance.
This method is implemented by various software tools. There are many such programs on the Internet, so finding them will not be difficult. You can also simply enter the query: hard drive is cracking, what should I do, and the search engine will immediately return a lot of information and articles that mention specific names of programs through which the AAM mechanism can be implemented. The main point of all this software is that there are two numbers 128 and 254. The first is when the hard drive will work quietly, but slower, and the second is fast, but will make a lot of noise. You can try to find the optimal value for yourself experimentally.
The next most dangerous reason is a malfunction of the hard drive or evidence that it will soon need to be replaced or repaired.
What to do when the hard drive is noisy due to a malfunction?
When excessive noise from a drive is associated with its malfunction, it is necessary to check for errors. We tell you how to do this in Russian below.
Before checking, it is recommended to make a backup copy of all data. For such purposes, it is better to purchase an external hard drive that connects to a PC or laptop via USB. The check can be performed using standard tools using the operating system (OS) Windows XP/7/8/10 itself, or other software:
1. Check using standard operating system tools.
The Windows OS family provides the ability to check the hard drive for errors and automatically correct them. Simply select the desired disk using the right mouse button and select Properties in the context menu. Next, select Service and click the Check button. Be sure to check the box next to the items: “Automatically correct errors” and “Scan and repair bad sectors.” It is advisable that no processes or applications are running on the PC at this time, otherwise the system may display an error stating that it is impossible to perform the check, since this disk is currently being used by other applications and processes. If errors are detected at the end of the check, it is advisable to carry out additional diagnostics using proprietary utilities from the HDD manufacturer.
2. Checking with software from the manufacturer allows for more advanced diagnostics and has a number of additional tests. Such programs can also be found on the Internet or downloaded from the hard drive manufacturer’s website. If, as a result of such a test, problems are also found, then we can conclude that the cause of the excessive noise of the hard drive is its malfunction.
It is definitely determined that the hard drive is faulty. Options
So, as a result of the tests, it was determined that the hard drive is noisy due to the presence of errors, what to do in this situation? There are two options here:
— if the warranty period has not expired, then submit it to a service center for warranty repairs;
- if the warranty has expired, also take it to a specialized computer service, but you will have to pay money for repairs.
The worst case scenario may be when the hard drive is completely out of order and cannot be repaired. In this case, you need to raise money for a new hard drive. That is why it is useful to always have a backup copy of important data, because no one is immune from such situations.
A hard drive is a key component of a computer on which information is stored. Recently, more and more users are abandoning HDDs in favor of faster SSDs, but their cost still does not allow many to place all the necessary information on solid-state drives.
Why are hard drives noisy?
It is generally accepted that the noisiest component of a desktop computer and laptop is the cooler. However, if the cooling system is well designed, the operation of the coolers can be almost inaudible.
The next element of the system unit in terms of noise emission is the hard drive. During operation, mechanical heads move inside the device, which read information from magnetic disks, which leads to noise. Sometimes the hard drive begins to crack and make noise so much that it causes discomfort when working at the computer.
The noise level of a hard drive depends on many factors: its speed, age and condition, case materials and build quality, as well as some others. Accordingly, we can distinguish software and hardware methods for reducing the noise level of a hard drive during operation.
How to use hardware to reduce hard drive noise during operation
Typically, the older the hard drive, the louder it becomes. This is due to the wear of its elements, and a strong crackling sound from the drive indicates its imminent failure. However, if there are no plans to replace the hard drive yet, you can vibration-proof it in the computer case. There are two options on how to do this:
Another option for solving the problem of noisy computer components is to replace the case with one that has good sound insulation.
How to programmatically reduce hard drive noise during operation
If the hard drive cracks, buzzes loudly or knocks during operation, you can try to fix it using software. As mentioned above, when a hard drive operates, mechanical heads move inside it and search for information on magnetic disks. Accordingly, there are two ways to reduce the noise from their movement:
Important: Please note that reducing the noise level of a hard drive involves reducing the speed of head movement, and accordingly reducing the speed of the drive. However, in ordinary user tasks such a decrease is almost unnoticeable.
Quite recently, I already told you about the ways in which you can... In particular, the article talked about a program that can control coolers in your system unit. But coolers are half the problem. Most users experience a lot of noise coming from their hard drive. Moreover, some hard drives are so loud that they become the main cause of computer noise.
But, in fact, there is nothing wrong with this. After all, a hard drive, also called a hard drive, is a mechanical device in which there are several rotating disks, which, in fact, make noise. Internal drives are similar to regular CDs, but they operate on a completely different principle.
Thanks to the magnetic heads inside the hard drive, information is read. During this process, the discs move and create noise. For some users, hard drives rattle, for others they crackle and even creak, then you should. The noise produced depends on the hard drive model and the stability of the computer case. If the system case is cheap and its walls are thin, then the noise from the hard drive will be transmitted throughout the case. Poorly secured parts will vibrate, creating even more noise.
To reduce the crackling noise, you can do the following:
- Replace the old noisy hard drive with a new one, having first learned about its noise level.
- Use the AAM settings to change the acoustic noise level.
- Check the sound insulation of the housing. Perhaps this is the problem and after replacing it with a new one, the computer will run quieter.
- Install the hard drive on special soundproofing pads or use a soundproofing case for the drive.
- Defragment your hard drive. But it is not a fact that this procedure will help you. And if after this the hard drive starts to work quieter, then soon the noise will return again.
Reducing hard drive crackling using AAM
Any hard drive has such a function as controlling its noise level using the internal AAM setting. (Automatic Acoustic Management). The principle of this setting is very simple: the speed of movement of the heads is reduced, which allows the hard drive to operate much quieter. But this setting reduces not only the noise level, but also the speed of the hard drive as a whole.
Here you need to choose what is more important for you - the speed of the hard drive or the noise from it. Perhaps, after setting up, you will not notice how the speed of the hard drive has dropped, but there will be no more crackling noise during operation.
In order for you to be able to start adjusting the volume of your hard drive, you need to download the “WinAAM” program. This program is completely free and it is better to download it from the official website.
The program has a Russian interface and to work, you do not need to install it. You launch it directly from the archive and configure it. Once you open the program, you will see a window with options for choosing how the program works.
You need to click the “continue” button. We don’t go into the security settings at all, since they cannot in any way affect the noisy operation of the hard drive.
When you run the program, you will see that the first line will say “noise control is not active at this time.” You will need to select “Quiet/Standard (128)” to set the “quiet” AAM value. Although Since the program has a range of values from 0 to 255, you need to select the “Quiet/Loud” value, since intermediate options are not displayed on the operation and noise reduction of the hard drive. It is for this reason that the program contains only one button you need, so as not to rack your brains with choosing a value for the program to work effectively.
Once the value is set, the program will close automatically. You need to run it again and click the “continue” button, and then “check”.
After the program runs, you will see a window that will contain all the information about the chaotic movement of the hard drive's read head, and you will hear how your hard drive will sound in a new way. I'm sure the hard drive will start working much quieter. For comparison, you can press the “Loud (254)” button and hear how noisy the hard drive was working with before all the settings.
By clicking on the same button, you will return all default settings and the hard drive will continue to operate at the same speed.
If this program does not detect your hard drive, then I recommend using “HD Tune.” The essence is the same.
Actually, that's all. Now you can independently control the noise level of your hard drive. If the operation of the hard drive is accompanied by crackling noises and various kinds of clicks, then I definitely recommend using any of the programs to make the hard drive work more quietly if the noise bothers you. Thank you for being with us!
HDD, aka hard drive, makes noise, clicks and creaks. Why and what can be done.
Most of the HDD noise has sound waves in the range of 1 - 3 kHz and consists of noise from two different sources.
This is the noise of a hard drive generated by the rotation of its spindle and the friction of mechanical parts directly inside the hard drive. This noise can only be reduced by modifying the hard drive components.
The noise we hear most is caused by the vibration of the hard drive inside the computer case. It, in turn, consists of vibration from the rotation of the spindle, as well as vibration from the read/write heads, which accelerate and decelerate many times per second.
Clicks in the HDD, for example, are produced by the positioner when it hits the limiter. A working hard drive may make clicking noises due to so-called thermal calibration, when the hard drive, in response to an increase in the temperature of the case and its components, reinitializes the read/write head positioning system.
In addition, the hard drive also clicks due to a bad, “rattling” or unstable power supply, when the heads go into the parking area and the HDD electronics restart. Another reason why a working screw clicks may be putting the hard drive into sleep mode, and if such settings are explicitly specified in the system's power saving properties, then a similar effect can occur quite often. It makes sense to mention offline scanning of the disk surface as one of the reasons why the HDD clicks. True, in this case, extraneous sounds from the hard drive will be caused by bad sectors of the hard drive, which off-line scanning tries to replace or exclude from the broadcast.
What to do?
Simply put, you can reduce the volume of sounds emitted by a hard drive in two ways - fix them in the case using soft mounts that prevent the transfer of vibration from the hard drive to the case and use the Automatic Acoustic Management function.
Is “creaking” the rattling sound of the propeller during operation or a constant hum? If the latter, then most likely resonance. Tighten or tighten the hard drive mount. What if there are two of them? The screws work silently one at a time, but together in the same case there is a hum. We recommend turning one of the screws upside down so that the rotation is in different directions. They turned it over. The sound has decreased by 80%. That means it.
Not everyone knows that the user can change the characteristics of the hard drive using the acoustic control function, which allows you to modify data access profiles (access patterns) and change the default hard drive mode (fast) to quiet mode.
Launch a utility like HD Tune Pro, enable AAM (Automatic Acoustic Management) and set it to quiet mode.
Download the Victoria program and use it to adjust the noise level of the hard drive (the noise is reduced by reducing the spindle speed).
All UltraATA/100 and Serial ATA hard drives have Automatic Acoustic Management (AAM), but you need special software to access it and change its settings.
Sounds with frequencies from 1 kHz to 3 kHz are characterized by the greatest sensitivity, so noise reduction at these frequencies is more effective than at other frequencies. This is where acoustic control technology comes from.
Most sound waves in the 1 to 3 kHz range consist of noise from two different sources. Firstly, this is the noise of the hard drive, generated by the rotation of its spindle and the friction of the mechanical parts directly inside the hard drive. This noise can only be reduced by modifying the hard drive components. But the noise we hear most is caused by the vibration of the hard drive inside the computer case. It, in turn, consists of vibration from the rotation of the spindle, as well as vibration from the read/write heads, which accelerate and decelerate many times per second.
The fastest way to move the heads is to accelerate them halfway towards the new track and then decelerate the rest of the way (called on-off search). There are many options to modify this operation, ranging from modification of acceleration and deceleration, as well as the required switching power supply. Adding Native Command Queuing, which parses and reorders all incoming commands to find the most efficient order of read and write requests, helps reduce the number of head moves, which can reduce access times and reduce noise.
Now let's move on to analyzing the situation when the hard drive is knocking due to a malfunction. As a rule, in this case, the positioning system, for one reason or another, is not able to receive signals from the hard disk heads indicating that the head “sees” the servo markings. In this case, the hard drive creaks, whistles, knocks or makes other sounds that excite the soul. The actuator moves the block of heads over the entire available amplitude, hence the entire set. The HDD also makes knocking noises if there is a failure during the firmware loading process and it freezes, preventing the processor from controlling the internals of the screw. In all cases when a hard drive is knocking, qualified diagnostics are needed to determine the causes and develop an action strategy to successfully recover data from a knocking hard drive.
The hard drive is creaking or the HDD is noisy.