Comments on: Dread clicks and whirs: the sounds of hard drives failing http://boingboing.net/2011/02/05/dread-clicks-and-whi.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Mon, 20 May 2013 22:11:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: fxq http://boingboing.net/2011/02/05/dread-clicks-and-whi.html#comment-1018628 fxq Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1018628 It's funny, the dreaded clicks and whirs were the sounds of IOmega removable drives made when working. Well, mostly working. It’s funny, the dreaded clicks and whirs were the sounds of IOmega removable drives made when working. Well, mostly working.

]]> By: GeekMan http://boingboing.net/2011/02/05/dread-clicks-and-whi.html#comment-1018629 GeekMan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1018629 As an avid computer user and sysadmin, I've learned positively that the best way to diagnose the mechanical health of a hard disk is, indeed, how it sounds. Beware the click of death. As an avid computer user and sysadmin, I’ve learned positively that the best way to diagnose the mechanical health of a hard disk is, indeed, how it sounds. Beware the click of death.

]]> By: Cowicide http://boingboing.net/2011/02/05/dread-clicks-and-whi.html#comment-1018634 Cowicide Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1018634 <blockquote>If your hard drive makes noises like these and you are still able to access your files - backup immediately.</blockquote> Erm... sure, but you better not overwrite/update your previous backup at that point or it's likely to turn it into a shitpile of corrupted data. Make a NEW, separate backup from your old backups so you can at least salvage what you can before the click and pop concert started.

If your hard drive makes noises like these and you are still able to access your files – backup immediately.

Erm… sure, but you better not overwrite/update your previous backup at that point or it’s likely to turn it into a shitpile of corrupted data.

Make a NEW, separate backup from your old backups so you can at least salvage what you can before the click and pop concert started.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/02/05/dread-clicks-and-whi.html#comment-1018897 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1018897 relying on SMART health reports/status is NOT a replacement for a good backup plan[1]. I currently have two drives have no SMART errors which are unreadable. and just the mention of a WD2500 makes me twitch. [1] http://labs.google.com/papers/disk_failures.pdf, page 10 for more. relying on SMART health reports/status is NOT a replacement for a good backup plan[1]. I currently have two drives have no SMART errors which are unreadable. and just the mention of a WD2500 makes me twitch.

[1] http://labs.google.com/papers/disk_failures.pdf, page 10 for more.

]]> By: nixiebunny http://boingboing.net/2011/02/05/dread-clicks-and-whi.html#comment-1018645 nixiebunny Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1018645 On the other hand, there's the sound of a spindle bearing slowly going bad. We had a big 8" Quantum in a CP/M server with one of those that ran in the late 80s with no errors for years, all the while sounding like offroad 4x4 tires on the freeway. The noise would come and go gradually. We dragged the machine out of storage and fired it up many years later, just for laughs, and it still ran fine. On the other hand, there’s the sound of a spindle bearing slowly going bad. We had a big 8″ Quantum in a CP/M server with one of those that ran in the late 80s with no errors for years, all the while sounding like offroad 4×4 tires on the freeway. The noise would come and go gradually.

We dragged the machine out of storage and fired it up many years later, just for laughs, and it still ran fine.

]]> By: dcg http://boingboing.net/2011/02/05/dread-clicks-and-whi.html#comment-1018908 dcg Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1018908 Hard drives are cheap now so just get two and mirror them. Maybe that sounds cavalier, but a $60-$70 insurance policy is invaluable for all of your precious data. As another alternative, use an offsite backup service. Hard drives are cheap now so just get two and mirror them. Maybe that sounds cavalier, but a $60-$70 insurance policy is invaluable for all of your precious data.

As another alternative, use an offsite backup service.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/02/05/dread-clicks-and-whi.html#comment-1018660 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1018660 Yes, solid state drives won't make noise when they fail. But the freezer trick can work for them too. I had a 4GB thumb drive that died, couldn't mount on windows, mount on linux but failed to read, disappearing directories, etc. Solution: stick it in a -80C freezer (I work in a lab, dry ice would work too), stick it in a linux box, use dd to read the raw bytes and write to a file, mount that file as a files system, presto all my files back. Yes, solid state drives won’t make noise when they fail. But the freezer trick can work for them too.

I had a 4GB thumb drive that died, couldn’t mount on windows, mount on linux but failed to read, disappearing directories, etc.

Solution: stick it in a -80C freezer (I work in a lab, dry ice would work too), stick it in a linux box, use dd to read the raw bytes and write to a file, mount that file as a files system, presto all my files back.

]]> By: Tynam http://boingboing.net/2011/02/05/dread-clicks-and-whi.html#comment-1018679 Tynam Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1018679 I've just realised that when I finish soundproofing my PC's case, I'll have deprived myself of a valuable diagnostic tool. I’ve just realised that when I finish soundproofing my PC’s case, I’ll have deprived myself of a valuable diagnostic tool.

]]> By: Crispy Critter http://boingboing.net/2011/02/05/dread-clicks-and-whi.html#comment-1018936 Crispy Critter Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1018936 Mirroring or RAID are not substitutes for backups. If the server is stolen, washed away in a flood, or fried by a lightning strike, you better have backups somewhere else. Mirroring or RAID are not substitutes for backups. If the server is stolen, washed away in a flood, or fried by a lightning strike, you better have backups somewhere else.

]]> By: Jack http://boingboing.net/2011/02/05/dread-clicks-and-whi.html#comment-1018682 Jack Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1018682 Have to be careful with the “noise = problem” equation since some drives do have awkward sounds that have nothing to do with hardware failure. I have some Seagate 1.5TB SATA drives that make a noise one would think is a “nasty” grinding noise when they are initially powered up, but then are quiet when they run. In contrast, these drives replaced some whisper quiet Western Digital 2TB drives that never made a noise, but after a month died for no reason. Light normal use and *POOF* unmountable. Had to format to “recover” the drive. And let me tell you, zeroing out 2TB of data for an RMA can take 10-12 hours. Nasty. You know what does scare me? The noise of optical drives. Especially the slot drives on Macs. Holy crap do I not trust them when they start twittering and choking. Have to be careful with the “noise = problem” equation since some drives do have awkward sounds that have nothing to do with hardware failure. I have some Seagate 1.5TB SATA drives that make a noise one would think is a “nasty” grinding noise when they are initially powered up, but then are quiet when they run.

In contrast, these drives replaced some whisper quiet Western Digital 2TB drives that never made a noise, but after a month died for no reason. Light normal use and *POOF* unmountable. Had to format to “recover” the drive. And let me tell you, zeroing out 2TB of data for an RMA can take 10-12 hours. Nasty.

You know what does scare me? The noise of optical drives. Especially the slot drives on Macs. Holy crap do I not trust them when they start twittering and choking.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/02/05/dread-clicks-and-whi.html#comment-1018689 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1018689 Datacent is exactly wrong. 1) As noted above, never get into a situation where you need to try to do an emergency backup in the first place. Always back up. 2) If you start to hear strange noises on the drive, you don't have a backup, and you need to preserve valuable data, then pull out the power immediately. 3) Send it for data recovery at a proven data recovery company with their own clean room facilities. Yes, this is expensive, sometimes extremely expensive, but you need to weigh this against the value of your data. Handing it over to your cousin who runs the computer lab at a high school is not prudent, nor is giving it to the typical shop or freelancer who claim to have proficiency in data recovery. Datacent is exactly wrong.

1) As noted above, never get into a situation where you need to try to do an emergency backup in the first place. Always back up.

2) If you start to hear strange noises on the drive, you don’t have a backup, and you need to preserve valuable data, then pull out the power immediately.

3) Send it for data recovery at a proven data recovery company with their own clean room facilities. Yes, this is expensive, sometimes extremely expensive, but you need to weigh this against the value of your data. Handing it over to your cousin who runs the computer lab at a high school is not prudent, nor is giving it to the typical shop or freelancer who claim to have proficiency in data recovery.

]]> By: Jem http://boingboing.net/2011/02/05/dread-clicks-and-whi.html#comment-1019988 Jem Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1019988 No! That was the first thing to came to mind! Hard-drive click-house. Welcome to a new genre... No! That was the first thing to came to mind! Hard-drive click-house. Welcome to a new genre…

]]> By: manveruppd http://boingboing.net/2011/02/05/dread-clicks-and-whi.html#comment-1018709 manveruppd Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1018709 I remember that! I listened to some floppies loading so many times that I had memorised the "music" they made :) I remember that! I listened to some floppies loading so many times that I had memorised the “music” they made :)

]]> By: Jack http://boingboing.net/2011/02/05/dread-clicks-and-whi.html#comment-1018714 Jack Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1018714 Guys, check this out. Before hard drives and before floppies, I had to listen to this noise every time I wanted to load a cassette game into my Atari 400. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhOBSgiFna4 This is how I learned what patience is! Guys, check this out. Before hard drives and before floppies, I had to listen to this noise every time I wanted to load a cassette game into my Atari 400.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhOBSgiFna4

This is how I learned what patience is!

]]> By: Roy Trumbull http://boingboing.net/2011/02/05/dread-clicks-and-whi.html#comment-1018717 Roy Trumbull Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1018717 Back when many layer disk packs sat atop something like a washing machine I had an odd experience. It was very easy for a damaged pack to damage other packs if you did a swap. Quickly a small disaster became a great disaster. After working my old boy network for what it was worth I got an unlisted phone number for a one person company. I was desperate. The deal was the pack and a certified check for $1200. After describing the problem I asked what the chances were for recovery. He said, "I've recovered data after an atomic bomb went off." From my days in aerospace I knew I'd reached the twilight zone of the spook world. I sent the pack and the money. It came back in satisfactory condition. I used him twice more. Back when many layer disk packs sat atop something like a washing machine I had an odd experience. It was very easy for a damaged pack to damage other packs if you did a swap. Quickly a small disaster became a great disaster.
After working my old boy network for what it was worth I got an unlisted phone number for a one person company. I was desperate. The deal was the pack and a certified check for $1200. After describing the problem I asked what the chances were for recovery. He said, “I’ve recovered data after an atomic bomb went off.” From my days in aerospace I knew I’d reached the twilight zone of the spook world. I sent the pack and the money. It came back in satisfactory condition. I used him twice more.

]]> By: technogeek http://boingboing.net/2011/02/05/dread-clicks-and-whi.html#comment-1018734 technogeek Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1018734 Caution; old-machine stories can quickly become a rathole that takes over any online conversation... (he says, manfully resisting). Caution; old-machine stories can quickly become a rathole that takes over any online conversation… (he says, manfully resisting).

]]> By: 5string http://boingboing.net/2011/02/05/dread-clicks-and-whi.html#comment-1019268 5string Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1019268 I can't hear them over the sound of my hard drive failing. I can’t hear them over the sound of my hard drive failing.

]]> By: Julian http://boingboing.net/2011/02/05/dread-clicks-and-whi.html#comment-1018525 Julian Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1018525 Am I the only one who started clicking multiple play buttons at random to make music? Am I the only one who started clicking multiple play buttons at random to make music?

]]> By: phisrow http://boingboing.net/2011/02/05/dread-clicks-and-whi.html#comment-1018535 phisrow Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1018535 I'm pretty sure that when a hardened data-recovery outfit describes a sound as "making nasty drilling noise" you really wish you had backed up immediately yesterday. "Making nasty drilling/screaming sound", of course, is even worse... I’m pretty sure that when a hardened data-recovery outfit describes a sound as “making nasty drilling noise” you really wish you had backed up immediately yesterday.

“Making nasty drilling/screaming sound”, of course, is even worse…

]]> By: tigersnarl http://boingboing.net/2011/02/05/dread-clicks-and-whi.html#comment-1018536 tigersnarl Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1018536 I picture a scene at the datacentre where one analyst is playing the recordings while another calls put the make and model a la Gone in 60 Seconds remake. Probably while wearing sunglasses. I picture a scene at the datacentre where one analyst is playing the recordings while another calls put the make and model a la Gone in 60 Seconds remake. Probably while wearing sunglasses.

]]> By: graphicsman http://boingboing.net/2011/02/05/dread-clicks-and-whi.html#comment-1018541 graphicsman Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1018541 hey what happened to Noriko? http://bit.ly/gBPON6 That was a lovely mix of loving love for dying HDD sounds hey what happened to Noriko? http://bit.ly/gBPON6 That was a lovely mix of loving love for dying HDD sounds

]]> By: technogeek http://boingboing.net/2011/02/05/dread-clicks-and-whi.html#comment-1018542 technogeek Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1018542 Some time ago -- reported here on BoingBoing, I believe -- one of the drive manufacturers posted a set of audio files like this for diagnostic purposes, and then ran a contest for folks to remix them into music. I still have some of the resulting MP3's in my jukebox files, including the rap: My hard disk crashed My hard disk crizzashed That's where all my good porn was stizzashed... I'm waiting for someone to come up with a background program which periodically selects one of these sounds and plays it through the PC's speaker. Wouldn't convince someone who is using external speakers, but for those using internal it might give them a nasty turn until they figure out what's going on. Some time ago — reported here on BoingBoing, I believe — one of the drive manufacturers posted a set of audio files like this for diagnostic purposes, and then ran a contest for folks to remix them into music. I still have some of the resulting MP3′s in my jukebox files, including the rap:

My hard disk crashed
My hard disk crizzashed
That’s where all my good
porn was stizzashed…

I’m waiting for someone to come up with a background program which periodically selects one of these sounds and plays it through the PC’s speaker. Wouldn’t convince someone who is using external speakers, but for those using internal it might give them a nasty turn until they figure out what’s going on.

]]> By: heroic http://boingboing.net/2011/02/05/dread-clicks-and-whi.html#comment-1018799 heroic Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1018799 Here's my attempt at ambient hard drive death music: http://www.electronpusher.org/~jasmine/Corruption.mp3 Here’s my attempt at ambient hard drive death music:

http://www.electronpusher.org/~jasmine/Corruption.mp3

]]> By: inkfumes http://boingboing.net/2011/02/05/dread-clicks-and-whi.html#comment-1018544 inkfumes Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1018544 HD's run very quiet these days, but as a veteran I can tell when an HD is in distress from the noise it makes upon start up. Back in the day you could actually hear the difference between data being written and date being read from the platter. HD’s run very quiet these days, but as a veteran I can tell when an HD is in distress from the noise it makes upon start up.

Back in the day you could actually hear the difference between data being written and date being read from the platter.

]]> By: graphicsman http://boingboing.net/2011/02/05/dread-clicks-and-whi.html#comment-1018546 graphicsman Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1018546 ahhh, here we go. Linky goodness NOW WITH MORE ROBOTS http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIP03m75P1I ahhh, here we go. Linky goodness NOW WITH MORE ROBOTS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIP03m75P1I

]]> By: MrScience http://boingboing.net/2011/02/05/dread-clicks-and-whi.html#comment-1018548 MrScience Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1018548 Good grief, that gave me the heebie jeebies to listen to. The anxiety one feels when their drive fails, bottled up in an mp3 and ready to go! Good grief, that gave me the heebie jeebies to listen to. The anxiety one feels when their drive fails, bottled up in an mp3 and ready to go!

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/02/05/dread-clicks-and-whi.html#comment-1019828 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1019828 At the first Seagate HDD, when the drive gained full speed (ca. 3 seconds after start)...Is that short "click" normal or not? I'm having it on my notebook since the beginning. It occurs like once every 10 minutes or so. Does anybody know? At the first Seagate HDD, when the drive gained full speed (ca. 3 seconds after start)…Is that short “click” normal or not? I’m having it on my notebook since the beginning. It occurs like once every 10 minutes or so.
Does anybody know?

]]> By: DarthVain http://boingboing.net/2011/02/05/dread-clicks-and-whi.html#comment-1019830 DarthVain Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1019830 SSD Silent but Still Deadly... SSD

Silent but Still Deadly…

]]> By: DarthVain http://boingboing.net/2011/02/05/dread-clicks-and-whi.html#comment-1019834 DarthVain Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1019834 Modern OS's, Vista and 7, both seem to do a good job running disk diagnostics to warn you BEFORE drive failure. I know Vista has notified me once about a failing drive, which I immediately backed up and then sent back to the manufacture for warranty. Much better and probably more accurate than being a disk whisperer... Modern OS’s, Vista and 7, both seem to do a good job running disk diagnostics to warn you BEFORE drive failure. I know Vista has notified me once about a failing drive, which I immediately backed up and then sent back to the manufacture for warranty.

Much better and probably more accurate than being a disk whisperer…

]]> By: SonOfSamSeaborn http://boingboing.net/2011/02/05/dread-clicks-and-whi.html#comment-1018558 SonOfSamSeaborn Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1018558 Make a sound file of the long, desperate, hopeless boredom of sitting cross-legged on the floor next to the freezer as you try to recover whatever data you can off your disk before it thaws. Make a sound file of the long, desperate, hopeless boredom of sitting cross-legged on the floor next to the freezer as you try to recover whatever data you can off your disk before it thaws.

]]>