Failure of a hard disk leads to the loss of information recorded on it, which is often very valuable to the owner. Therefore, it is necessary to closely monitor the operation of the drive in order to notice the signs of a malfunction in time.
Hard disk device
The full name of the hard drive is hard disk drive (HDD). The information is stored on a ferromagnetic layer deposited on circular metal or glass plates. The disk can consist of one or several plates, separated by separators made of non-magnetic material, which regulate the air flow inside the HDA and suppress the noise from the hard drive (another name for HDD).
Recording and reading of information is carried out using magnetic heads attached to the ends of the brackets. The head is held at a distance of several nm from the magnetic surface due to the air flow generated by the rotation of the discs.
Rotation speed is one of the main characteristics of a hard drive. The higher it is, the faster the access to information occurs.
At rest, with the disks stationary, the magnetic heads return to the parking area, where they cannot damage the magnetic layer. This zone is usually located at the spindle around which rotation occurs, or outside the discs. The non-contact method of writing and reading ensures the safety of the device.
Why does the hard drive click
Clicks are heard when the heads are positioned. If the system power saving mode specifies to turn off drives or enter hibernation mode, the clicks will sound quite often. Another reason for repositioning the heads can be an increase in the temperature inside the HDA.
Unstable power supply also affects the positioning accuracy of the heads and may cause clicking sounds. In the most unpleasant case, the cause of the clicks will be defects in the magnetic surface or the fact that the magnetic head does not see the servo marking of the sectors of the hard disk.
Clicks can be the result of a hard disk self-test, during which the firmware marks bad sectors.
What to do
To rule out power problems, try replacing the computer's power supply or connect the hard drive to a different system unit. Examine the appearance of the power connectors - if they are darkened, there may be poor connections and short circuits.
Check the hard drive for overheating - it may need forced cooling. If the HDD indicator on the front panel is on and the hard drive makes a clicking sound, this is an indication of difficulty in head positioning.
Test the disk with Victoria or MHDD programs. If the S. M. A. R. T. turn out to be disappointing, it is better to save important information to another medium and replace the hard drive.
